I chose Dr. Madry for a tummy tuck in November 2024 to address the excess abdominal skin left after…read morehaving two very large babies. At our initial consultation on June 12, he was polite but seemed rushed and didn't spend much time discussing details. Still, he offered to perform the procedure at a reasonable price, so I decided to move forward.
The surgery itself went smoothly, but recovery was incredibly painful. I couldn't stand upright for weeks. By January, I noticed swelling in my upper abdomen, which I initially assumed was just part of the healing process. Unfortunately, the bulge continued to grow rapidly, and I knew something wasn't right. I called Dr. Madry's office and was told he was leaving the country and wouldn't be available for another two weeks. At that point, the swelling was about the size of a lemon and getting bigger every day.
When I expressed my concern, I was shocked by how I was treated. The office staff was dismissive, defensive, and even blamed me for not coming in sooner. Dr. Madry later called me from overseas and also made me feel shamed and at fault. They referred me to another surgeon at Good Shepherd who was covering for him, but I was told he wouldn't be able to see me for another week. Meanwhile, the bulge had grown to the size of a grapefruit. After some research, I realized I was likely dealing with a seroma--a fluid-filled pocket left behind after surgery.
As a professional photographer, this growing mass made it extremely difficult to work. In desperation, I contacted my previous surgeon in Chicago, Dr. Michael Lee, who drained a significant amount of fluid from the area. I continued to see him for repeat aspirations--about ten times--until it became clear that this was not sustainable financially or logistically. Emotionally drained and hesitant to return to Dr. Madry after my experience, I resorted to draining it myself every few days. It's a painful and risky process, involving sterilizing the area and inserting a four-inch needle into my abdomen.
Dr. Lee has now advised that I'll need another surgery to permanently resolve the seroma. It will cost $5,000 and require two weeks off work. I've had over ten surgeries in my life and never had any issues--until now. This has been my worst medical experience. Not only is the seroma still present, but the incision from the tummy tuck is large and poorly done. I also continue to have significant swelling that gives the appearance of a pot belly--on top of the seroma in my upper abdomen.
Looking back, I deeply regret not investing in a more experienced and compassionate surgeon. I wish I had paid more for someone who would've treated me with care and delivered better results. This has been emotionally, physically, and financially devastating.