came from Canada to see Dr. Vela not because surgery was cheaper, but because I truly trusted his work and reputation. After flights, accommodations, consultations, tests, and surgery expenses, the total cost ended up being very similar to having surgery done in Canada -- so I want to make that very clear. This was not about "cheap surgery." This was a very important and emotional decision for me, and I trusted him with my body.
Before surgery, I was promised certain results and reassured that my concerns would be properly addressed. Unfortunately, when I woke up after surgery, the outcome did not reflect what had been discussed and agreed upon beforehand.
I underwent a breast augmentation/lift and a mini tummy tuck, which was recommended to me instead of a full tummy tuck. During my consultation, I made it very clear that my main concern was my upper abdomen. Dr. Vela reassured me multiple times that he could correct this without needing to move my belly button, and I trusted his professional opinion as the surgeon.
However, the day of surgery, right before I was taken in, he asked me, "You don't want to go bigger, right?" regarding my breast size. That immediately made me uncomfortable because I believed we had already thoroughly discussed and agreed on the size and overall outcome I wanted. It made me feel as though my case had not been properly reviewed or remembered.
After surgery, I immediately felt something was off. When I tried expressing my concerns to the staff, I was dismissed with comments such as, "Girl, you look amazing, what are you complaining about?" As someone who works in post-operative care myself, I understand the difference between swelling and actual surgical outcome. I knew something did not feel right.
I then returned to Calgary with virtually no proper follow-up care from Dr. Vela. As the weeks passed, I began experiencing complications and desperately wanted to speak directly with my surgeon. It took nearly three months -- and me breaking down crying to a nurse on the phone -- before I was finally able to speak with him directly.
At that point, I was told to wait until six months post-op to reassess my body. Deep down, I already knew something was wrong. I genuinely felt that not enough skin had been removed during my mini tummy tuck. Healing was very up-and-down emotionally because there were moments where I convinced myself to trust the process and hoped things would improve with swelling going down, but unfortunately that was not the case.
At my six-month follow-up, Dr. Vela confirmed exactly what I suspected: I required a revision. I was told there was still fat remaining in my abdomen, loose skin that could have been addressed during the initial surgery, and I was left with irregularities and a noticeable "shelf" above my scar.
In addition to my abdominal results, I was also left with significant breast asymmetry. I fully understand that natural breasts are "sisters, not twins," but the difference between my breasts is very noticeable, with one breast significantly larger than the other. I also developed what appear to be "dog ears" near one of the inner corners of my breast incision. Even as someone who is not a plastic surgeon, I understand that asymmetry can often be addressed by selecting different implant sizes when necessary. It is difficult for me to understand how this was overlooked.
What shocked me even more was that I was expected to pay for the revision. These were not issues caused by improper aftercare on my part -- they were concerns related to the surgical outcome itself that should have been addressed properly the first time.
I ultimately declined the revision because I could not justify returning to a surgeon after losing confidence in the quality of care and results I received.
What disappoints me most is the overall feeling that this clinic prioritizes quantity over quality. My experience felt rushed from beginning to end. There were issues surrounding my surgery day scheduling, and I genuinely feel like my procedure was squeezed into an already busy day. Unfortunately, the final results reflected that level of care.
I flew all the way from Canada for a surgery that was deeply personal and important to me, and I am now left needing corrective work.
I also want to bring awareness to the marketing side of this clinic. My results were posted online and used for promotional content, yet my "after" photos were strategically taken while laying down, which made it difficult to accurately see the true outcome and irregularities.
Please do your research carefully and do not rely solely on social media marketing when making a decision this important.
I rarely leave reviews, but I feel morally obligated to share my experience so others can make a fully informed decision before undergoing surgery
I am extremely disappointed in my results and, based on my personal experience, I would not recommend this clinic read more