Introducing “The Body Patient” – A Patient’s Perspective on Plastic Surgery with Houston’s Dr. Ravi Somayazula—Part 1 of Tummy Tuck

January 25, 2018

1/25/2018

What better way to know what to expect from our board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ravi Somayazula and staff at Body by Ravi Plastic Surgery then by directly getting input from an actual patient. We are starting an interview series called “The Body Patient” where we will conduct an interview with a recent patient. For our inaugural interview, we chose a recent tummy tuck patient. Get to know our recent tummy tuck patient, Jennifer, so that you could learn about her journey, from her point of view.

Tell us a little bit about yourself?

I currently work in sales and I’m always on the go. I like to keep a busy lifestyle and lead a very active life. I’m 31 years old and I have a 11-year-old son who is in the sixth grade. We live in the Memorial neighborhood in Houston, Texas. And I’ve been a Houstonian my entire life.

What made you consider plastic surgery?

Although I’m not currently married, I’ve always thought about potentially have more kids down the road. As the years have passed by, I eventually realized the possibility of having more children was becoming less and less likely. I have been researching tummy tuck surgery in Houston ever since I had my son more than 10 years ago. After my pregnancy I started dropping the extra weight, but I unfortunately realized that my stomach would never look the same again. Regardless of how much I worked out or how much weight I lost, the extra, loose skin has always made me feel self-conscious, especially in a bikini. I also didn’t want to go under the knife twice, which may have been necessary if I did have another child. So, I kept putting off my tummy tuck until I was for sure done having kids.

What plastic surgery procedures did you have?

Dr. Ravi Somayazula performed an abdominoplasty with liposuction of my abdomen and waist. I also chose to have liposuction of my bra rolls, lower back and arms at the same time.

What were you looking for in a plastic surgeon and plastic surgery practice?

First and foremost, I looked for a plastic surgeon who was board certified. I also wanted a plastic surgeon who specialized specifically in body contouring since I knew that every plastic surgeon had their area of expertise. To me, it was just a matter of finding someone who I am comfortable with but also had the experience in tummy tucks I was looking for. I did plenty of research online by reading reviews and looking at before and after pictures. I was impressed with the fact that Dr. Ravi had hundreds of positive online reviews. I was especially pleased that his patients mentioned his great bedside manner and how he made them feel so comfortable. Of course, I also felt that he had the best before and after pictures; to me, his tummy tuck pictures were just unbelievable. I really wanted to find the best plastic surgeon in Houston and someone that I would recommend to my friends without any reservations.

What were your thoughts about Dr. Ravi and the staff during your experience?

I initially called to office to get some information and set up a consultation. I was treated kindly and very professionally. At my appointment, my first impression was way better than I had expected. First and foremost, the office is drop dead gorgeous. I did expect to be greeted the same as at most other doctors’ offices, with just a “Hi, please sign in and take a seat”. However, at Body by Ravi Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics, I was welcomed by the friendly front desk coordinator Karla who greeted me with open arms and was very engaging in conversation. Instead of treating me like just another number, or just another patient, she made me feel at ease and comfortable from the get-go. I met with Natalie, the patient coordinator, and off the bat we hit it off. We had a conversation and felt it was more than just the standard medical Q & A’s. She genuinely tried to get to know me and my personal reasons for being there for my consultation. When meeting with Dr. Ravi I instantly felt comfortable, and never at any point felt rushed. He was thorough in his explanation of the procedures he recommended to me and what my alternatives were as well. He was very knowledgeable and answered all my questions before I even asked.

Why did you eventually choose Dr. Ravi to perform your surgery?

I chose Dr. Ravi because of his experience, results, and bedside manner. He listened to all my concerns and made me feel like I was making the right decision to finally proceed with surgery. I met with a few other surgeons and even though they had great results, I just didn’t feel the same level of comfort with them. Dr. Ravi gave me his undivided attention and was actually available to meet with me during the initial consultation, unfortunately other doctors were not the same.

Our next blog will have the conclusion of our interview with Jennifer. She will give you advice on getting prepared for surgery, her recovery and if she was happy with her results. To learn more about Tummy Tucks (or other procedures, such as Breast Augmentation, Mommy Makeovers and Brazilian Butt Lift), please call us today at 281-242-1061 or email us to schedule your initial consultation. Dr. Ravi is a board -certified plastic surgeon who specializes in cosmetic contouring surgeries of the breast and body. Our staff and Dr. Ravi would be excited to discuss a tummy tuck in person!