I was set up with an initial consultation with Dr. Gary Brownstein and nurse Bobbie Martino at the King of Prussia office. I was so nervous you'd think I was going in for a job interview. Nurse Bobbie gave me a pair of little surgical underwear and bra to change into and a robe - now I'm more nervous and feeling very vulnerable. Throughout the entire experience the staff took every opportunity to ensure my comfort in an uncomfortable situation.
As I'm standing there in my surgical bra and underwear, everything hanging out, Dr. Brownstein was checking everything out & I'm doing everything not to catch a reflection of myself in the mirror behind him. He then asked what my expectations/hopes we're for the procedure & out of no where I said "I just want to be skinny" and started sobbing. In that moment every negative thought I've ever had about my body image or others' comments came flooding in. I didn't mean to say it nor did I expect to start sobbing.
Dr. Brownstein & Nurse Bobbi immediately stopped what they were doing sat me down and talked with me about my body image, what was motivating me to seek a surgical option, alternatives and realistic expectations. They spent the next hour+ showing genuine compassion & care about my experience, what was happening for me emotionally in that moment and ensuring I was making the right decision, for the right reasons for me. They created a safe space where it was okay to be vulnerable & honestly express how I was feeling and answer every question I could think of and some I didn't think of. Nurse Bobbi hugged me and I could feel she truly understood what I was experiencing. Dr. Brownstein was honest in providing me with realistic expectations based on my body structure & what I was looking to acconplish. They never rushed me and in all spent over 2 hours with me.
Throughout the next week before surgery they were always available for calls & emails answering any questions I've had.
My surgery was last Friday 7/7/17. Surgery went well & I was well prepared for what to expect before, during and after thanks to Nurse Bobbi & Dr. Brownstein, they've even both called me to check in on my recovery which is amazing - I've worked in the health care field for over a decade and have rarely seen the empathy, care and personal attention I have recieved from my team at Sono Bello, King of Prussia.
I wanted to share my experience not only because of the phenomenal care I recieved but to talk about the real experience of the process. Now I'm "one can of those people that got lipo" - a person who was self conscious and uncomfortable with my body, having no one to talk to about it, but I had the great fortune of finding professionals who truly care to walk with me on my journey to now being the best version of myself feeling like my outside matches my inside, comfortable and happy with my body.