Real Patient Stories

Kim's Tummy Tuck Transformation

Kim, a 38 year old sales manager, needed plastic surgery after an operation to remove 32 tumors from the outside of her uterus, a procedure called a myomectomy. The myomectomy removed 23 pounds of tumors and required cutting of her abdominal muscles. After such dramatic weight loss all in her abdominal area, Kim expected her jeans to fit more comfortably, but instead her stomach area quickly expanded because of the slack in her abdominal muscles.

Kim was increasingly bothered by her unflattering belly. One of her coworkers had gastric bypass surgery about a year before, and recommended Kim consider a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) with a cosmetic surgeon in the New Jersey area. When Kim visited her coworker's surgeon, she was unimpressed and unconvinced.

For a while, Kim put her plastic surgery plans on the back burner, until she mentioned the possibility of having an abdominoplasty to her primary care physician. He encouraged Kim to contact New Jersey cosmetic surgeon Dr. Evan Sorokin. At her consultation, she found Dr. Sorokin to be much more thorough and personable than the other surgeon she visited, and she was pleasantly surprised by how honest and realistic Dr. Sorokin was.

"When I talked with the first surgeon, I had the sense that he was overpromising, which gave me doubts. But Dr. Sorokin was very upfront that surgery could only do so much. Plus, I had bad skin texture on my thighs, and he was honest that he could improve the appearance of my cellulite with liposuction, but I wouldn't be in the running for Miss New Jersey anytime soon."

An Incredible Experience

To trim the fat and loose stomach muscles around her abdominal area, a tummy tuck was clearly in order. Dr. Sorokin also recommended liposuction along Kim's thighs and upper hips, both to improve skin texture and create a slimmer profile. During the consultation and again the morning of the surgery, Dr. Sorokin reviewed with Kim how these procedures work, what the recovery process is like, and what results to expect.

When he saw that she appeared very nervous the day of the surgery, Dr. Sorokin took the time to talk through Kim's worries and fears. "It was just a case of pre-surgery jitters," says Kim, "but I appreciated his concern, and I went into the surgery really confident that I made the right choice."

In fact, Kim was impressed all the way through with the level of communication. "Everything happened just like he said it would," added Kim. "And he blew me away with his follow-up. In fact, both Dr. Sorokin and Alisha [his patient liaison] called me the evening after my surgery to make sure I got home OK, and they continued to check in on me throughout the weekend."

Recovering from Abdominoplasty and Liposuction in New Jersey

After a significant amount of pain following the myomectomy, Kim was prepared for discomfort following her abdominoplasty and liposuction as well. "As I expected, the day after my surgery just wasn't pleasant," she says, "but every day gets a little better, and Dr. Sorokin takes steps to offset discomfort, like placing a pain pump." She was prepared for the emotional shock that some patients experience when they first take off their bandages and see the surgical scars, but Kim still had a hard time looking at the scarring. "My first shower, when I got out of the compression suit and looked down at the scar across my stomach, that was tough for me emotionally."

Kim took off a week from her job and then returned to work full-time, though for a couple weeks she was very tired at the end of the day and "glad to go home." She felt back to normal about a month after the procedure and was allowed to resume her exercise routine about two weeks after that.

Her Tremendous Results

How does Kim feel now, after she is well on her way to a complete recovery? She enjoys the trimmer look and smoother skin she was able to achieve through liposuction, and her surgical scars are beginning to lessen in appearance, with the help of the medical-grade Scar Guard product that Dr. Sorokin provided. She enjoys going to her follow-up visits. "I consider Dr. Sorokin both a surgeon and a friend," she says. "Before my last visit, I changed my hair color, and both Dr. Sorokin and his staff members complimented me on how great it looked. That's just unprecedented in my book."

"Dr. Sorokin is really the complete package: top-notch technique combined with excellent bedside manner," Kim adds. "I was starting from a really rough place and I still can't believe how flat he got my stomach," she says. "You could bounce a quarter off my stomach now, it's that tight and firm."

This procedure may not be suitable for every patient. All patients must be evaluated by a physician as to the appropriateness of performing the procedure. The above testimonial represents the individual's response and reaction to the procedure; however, no medical procedure is risk-free. Associated potential risks and complications should be discussed with the physician rendering this procedure.