AboutAlan M. Engler, MD, FACS Expertise Dr. Engler has answered over 2800 plastic surgery questions for Allexperts. His expertise is in cosmetic plastic surgery including breast surgery (breast enlargement with implants, breast reduction, breast lifts), liposuction, eyelid surgery, tummy tucks, facelifts etc.
Dr. Engler has been listed as one New York`s Top Doctors, and as "One of the World's Most Famous Aesthetic Surgeons" (Aesthetic Surgery, TASCHEN Books, Angelika Taschen, Editor). He is the author of 4 books, including "BodySculpture" (a best-selling plastic surgery book on breast surgery, liposuction and tummy tucks), "EyeScapes" (Plastic Surgery of the Eyelids), "Restylane," and "The Slim Book of Liposuction."
Dr. Engler has two US Patents for surgical instruments that he's designed, and has appeared on numerous television shows, including The Tyra Banks Show, The Ricki Lake Show (four times), and the Dr. Keith Ablow Show. Videos of his appearances are available on YouTube (SEARCH FOR "DR. ENGLER"). His website is www.bodysculpture.com.
Experience Dr. Alan Engler is a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York and the author of BodySculpture - Plastic Surgery of the Body for Men and Women (ISBN 0966382749) one of the top-selling plastic surgery books on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, etc.
Education/Credentials Dr. Engler graduated from Yale University (undergraduate) and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University (medical school). He did his residency training in General Surgery and, after that, Plastic Surgery, at the Montefiore Medical Center in New York. He is on the faculty of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.
Question QUESTION: It has been 2 months since I had a tummy tuck, liposuction in stomach and sides. I am 4' 11", petite, never had 'love handles', but I had a big belly after having 3 children. I was told that if I did lipo as well I would end up with a lovelier figure.
To date, my tummy is still very big, almost as big as it was prior to having done the TT, very hard, I am continuously in pain, and I have dog ears and extra skin on both sides of my hips, very very hideous looking.
The pain is like tearing, ripping on the insides, piercing at times. I have been on 4 different sets of antibiotics (each set for 10 days) and was told that it was for prevention of any possible infections. I was told at one point that I had an infection from a suture inside and it was best to take the antibiotic. I also had some blood coming through the hole where the drains were on 2 separate occasions the last being 4 days ago. The area now looks closed up.
I can finally stand upright, but not for more than 2 hours as the pain gradually attacks me and I have to lie down. I also get these severe "contractions" ie, severe stiffness in my abdomen whenever I sit for about 1 hour. I have to lie down for at least 30 minutes before it goes again, only to re-occur as I sit again. I cannot walk properly and often time I am crouching over as in the earlier days of my tummy tuck, as the tearing/ripping of my insides happens.
I had 2 ultrasounds done and they both said that I have severe 'subcutateous' swelling but not enough fluids to be drained.
I was being told that things would subside in time, well it has not, now I am being told that my case is abnormal but there is nothing to be concerned about and that I may have scar tissue and I should be doing ultrasound, massage and lazer in the abdomen area.
Needless to say, I am very disappointed. I have always been very healthy, this was my first surgery, and I regret it terribly. I just want to get better and go back to work.
Please help me! I am anxiously awaiting your reply.
Thank you.
ANSWER: Hi Anna,
There's more about plastic surgery at my site, www.bodysculpture.com.
I am very sorry for the problems you're having. This is an unusual recovery; most patients have a much easier time after their surgical procedures.
The good news is that it's still pretty early in your recovery process, particularly in view of the problems you had (ie, fluid draining out the holes, etc). And it sounds like your plastic surgeon has been proactive in assessing and trying to treat you.
I woud tend to agree with your PS that your recovery, while unusual, is not complete and that things will probably wind up a lot better than they are now. I also don't think there is really that much that you can do at this point, aside from the following:
1) Consider getting some other opinions. It's always difficult to ask a new surgeon to step in at this point in the recovery process, but you may want to try to do exactly that. Getting a few extra heads together may be helpful.
2) Wait a little longer. It can easily take up to six months, or even longer, to see the final results of body contouring procedures such as these. Having any sort of complications or difficulties during the recovery process typically prolongs that course. So - although it's easy for me to say - try to give it another two months, and THEN go for other opinions if you're still not better.
I'm very sorry, again; both for what you've experienced and that I cannot offer better suggestions. But I get the sense that things will settle down and be okay; just that it will take longer than average for that to happen.
I hope that this helps, and good luck,
Dr. E
www.bodysculpture.com
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QUESTION: Thank you very much for your reply.
I will get further opinions as suggested, but in the meantime,can you please help with the following:
Have you seen anyone who experienced the contractions I get? Would scar-tissue usually subside in the months to come? Do you think I should treat it with ultrasound, massage and lazer or let nature take its course?
Thank you again.
Answer Actually, I have heard of muscle contractions occurring during the healing process after many different types of procedures. Though I don't have clear evidence, I would assume that it is a result of persistent irritation (from the healing).
Normally, this will subside over time, and the scar tissue will soften up significantly, even if it doesn't disappear altogether. Ultrasound is used quite often to assist in this process and, while it is reported to be beneficial, I cannot cite evidence that it will help in a situation like this. That doesn't mean that it won't; just that I can't offer proof. It may well help the process and if you're okay going for the treatments it probably can't hurt. Otherwise, though, I would also expect to continue to improve on its own.
