Plastic Surgeon in Atlanta Georgia

Custom Packages/Post-Weight Loss Makeover: A Personal Story

We love all of our patients, but every now and then one comes along and gives our heartstrings an extra tug. Suzanne is one of those people. Her story is touching, and she wanted to share it, so we offered her this space. She has written her story herself, in her own words, and she's given us photos for you to see her transformation.

Suzanne's Weight Loss Makeover Journey:

I now believe that miracles do come true. As a child, I started putting on weight, and through my teenage years I kept packing it on. I really don't know what my highest weight was, but I do know at the time of my gastric bypass it was 353 pounds. I remember how much I was made fun of. How I couldn't fit behind a regular desk, and had to sit in a chair instead in college. I remember not being able to tie my shoes without help. I remember never getting asked to dances or getting to do things that normal girls my age could do. I remember how much I would dream to wake up one morning and know what it felt like to be normal.

I made the decision to have gastric bypass because I wanted to have a life for my children and myself. I wanted to know what it was like to really get to live, something for so long I hadn't been able to feel. The decision wasn't easy, and the journey was much harder; however I was able to lose the weight. Then something happened, something they they don't tell you in the meetings for gastric bypass. I was left with skin hanging everywhere. I assumed I would have some, but nobody told me it would be this bad. The only way I can really describe it would be that I looked like I had melted. I had worked so hard to lose the weight and was left with a body that needed so much reconstruction it was overwhelming. My stomach now hung like a skirt, my arms flapped like a bird, my thighs hung, my breasts looked like deflated balloons that hung to my waist, and my back was rolls of skin.

I began to look into plastic surgeons. I thought this process would be easy as well, but again I had to learn that it was a journey. I went and saw different plastic surgeons. I became so discouraged on how I was treated. Some didn't want to spend the time talking to me about what all would need to be done; they would just focus on one thing. Some said I couldn't ever fix it back to what it should have been. Some didn't want to do the lower body lift. Truthfully, some were just plain rude. It seemed that none of them were concerned with my vision and my needs.

I heard about Dr. Kavali on the radio and decided to give her a shot. When she came in the room, I remember thinking, "Well, here we go again." To my surprise, she sat and actually listened; she didn't interrupt me, she truly listened to what I wanted. Then she began to take her time and went over every aspect of what we could do. She answered every question I had. Then she introduced me to Nancy, who is her PA, and again Nancy listened to my wants and needs, and together we formed a plan. Now if you knew me, I never make a quick decision; I like to think things out and really know what I am getting into. Yet I knew at that moment this was the doctor for me. There was this feeling that it was right, and I scheduled my first preop that day.

On September 13, 2006, I had my first surgery. You talk about nerves!! In this surgery we were doing an inner thigh lift and lower body lift. Dr. Kavali and Nancy would be doing the procedure. It took about ten hours and I had to stay in the hospital overnight. I know the first question most people wanted to know is how is the pain? Well, if you have had gastric bypass, it is worse than that. However, by no means is it unbearable. Dr. Kavali does everything in her power to make you comfortable. She even uses an On-Q pain pump that releases medicine into your system to ease the pain. It hurts to stand up, and it hurts to sneeze! For me, after a week I was feeling much better, not my normal self; that returned about two months later. Dr. Kavali and Nancy checked on me regularly, in fact, I stayed at my parents' house and they even called me there to check on me. I was given phone numbers to reach them at anytime. I was given care that was way above the call of duty. For every tear I cried, they were there to wipe it and let me know it was going to be ok. Nancy will tell you that there are no tears in plastic surgery!! But if they happen, they will be there! I realized at that moment that I wasn't a "patient" to Dr. Kavali; I was part of her family, for she couldn't have given a family member better care than she gave me. I also have to say at this point that my parents went way above the call of duty too!

I did have some complications from the lower body lift, and this can be expected. I developed some wounds, and Nancy sent me to a wound care center because she realized immediatley what we were dealing with. The wounds, weirdly enough, didn't hurt, and I was hooked to a wound VAC for 9 weeks. Again, it wasn't painful, just annoying to carry around this machine all the time! But you need to understand that this was just part of the journey and the destination was yet to come.

Next surgery was on December 22, 2006. I had breast reconstruction with implants and an arm lift. This one was not as bad as the first one at all!! The pain was manageable, and truthfully it was just annoying because you can't stretch your arms out as much. Again my parents were there and helped me through it, although at this point I think they were ready to get rid of me. Dr. Kavali and Nancy were there just like before. I didn't have to worry about anything at all. I didn't develop any wounds from this surgery and healed pretty quickly.

Since those two surgeries, I have had some revisions done. I had to have more skin pulled where the lower body lift scar is on the front. I had to have my sides pulled tight again. You must understand that when you have this much work done, revisions may be necessary. I have no worries because I know I am in the best care. There is no way any doctor could have topped Dr. Kavali's care and work. Yes, I have a lot of scars, but they are fading. I have gained something more--I finally received the body of a 29-year-old!! Dr. Kavali and her staff put back together a puzzle that I didn't think would ever be able to be fixed. I don't know any way to repay Dr. Kavali, Nancy, and her staff for all they have done. Thank you so much to my parents, who stood beside me and put up with my crankiness, and who were there every step of the way. Thank you Cheryl (mom2) for loving me enough to be by my side. Thank you a million times over to Dr. Kavali, Nancy, and staff for everything that you did and continue to do.

As I sit here writing this, I face my next surgery this Thursday, September 13, 2007, on the anniversary of my first surgery. I can only push back tears of joy from how good I now look and feel. I was given the gift of life again, to actually get to live, and know what it feels like to be normal. I will always have the scars to remind me of where I have been, but I have life now, and I can't thank those who helped me reach that enough! The journey is not done yet, but Dr. Kavali has helped carry me through every moment of it, and this is a journey that no patient should have to take without your surgeon's hand!

I hope in writing this I can help someone who is thinking about having these procedures done, ease their worries, and know that they are picking the best surgeon out there.If you want someone who will have your best interest at heart, and see your vision, you have come to the right place.Dr. Kavali's office is not just an office with doors--it's a place where you are considered family and will receive care way beyond what most surgeons would ever consider.

They gave me the biggest gift in the world--they helped turn the caterpillar into the butterfly!!

---Suzanne C.

Suzanne has asked us to post her email address here on our site, and she wants anyone reading this page to know that you can contact her by email with any questions you have and for any support you may need in your own weight loss journey.