I cannot say enough good things about my Sono Bello experience. I will walk you through my experience and share my journey with you. My first experience when I walked in the door was with the receptionist Tonya, who is very sweet and pleasant (she has been this way every time I have been in since then). Then I met with the consultant: Shab, she was very friendly, super outgoing and very positive. She was honest and explained all of the options that were available to me to be able to get what I wanted done. I originally talked about doing just my lower half (thighs + banana roll + hips) she gave me a quote for that will every line detailed out. I got home and thought more about it and decided, I wanted to do my arms instead of the banana roll and emailed Shab, she promptly returned my email with an update quote. I said I needed to think it over. As few weeks went by and I emailed her and said let's go for it, when is the soonest I can get in (thinking it would be a few weeks). To my surprise, she got back to me with a pre-op appointment that week (in 2 days) and surgery the day after that. I was thrilled. I arrived for my pre-op appointment and was met by Sarah, she was very nice and walked me through everything. Then Dr. Saxon came in and step by step through the procedure, what he would do, how he would do it and wanted to make sure any and all of my questions were answered. I felt very comfortable and at ease with him. The next day I arrived for my surgery appointment and was met by Cherie, she is AWESOME! She was so nice and comforting, she made me feel very at ease and good about my decision, she was uplifting and encouraging and really cared about me, my results and my comfort. Dr. Saxon came in to check on me and go through everything again and make his marks on my body, the entire time Dr. Saxon and Cherie just kept saying really assuring things that made me feel really comfortable. They gave me my medication and left me to rest. Cherie was in the surgery room preparing everything; she asked what type of music I would like to listen to during my procedure (I thought, what? This is different, how cool!) I told her artists I liked and she quickly created a Pandora station just for me. The medication has made me a bit nauseous and just then Cherie inquired again about how I was doing. I let her know I felt nauseous and she quickly came over and held a smelling stick under my nose and relived my nausea. Then it was time, Dr. Saxon and Cherie got me all set up. They talked to me through the entire surgery and at one point I began singing along with the Christmas carols on the radio, we all laughed and had a great time, I was in no hurry to leave, I was very comfortable and it was like hanging out with friends at a cool coffee shop. Once the surgery was complete they made sure I was ok and delivered me to my family member. That evening I was feeling ok, I took some pain medication and went on to bed. The next morning I had a voicemail from Dr. Saxon who has called to check on me and see how I was doing. that night (day after surgery) I needed to shower because my incisions had leaked quite excessively (all over my favorite sweat pants, so I do NOT recommend wearing anything you like after the surgery, which Sono Bello had said, but I didn't pay attention and that's what happens) and there was blood on my shape wear. So I decided to enlist the help of my husband to get a shower. That was rough! It hurt to move and to take off the shape wear, then I felt like I was going to pass out, standing in the shower the water felt fine on my skin but I couldn't imagine rubbing my body with soap. I did manage to tough it out and do, because it needed to be done. When I got out of the shower and dabbed dry my husband was going to help me put my shape wear back on, that was also rough, it was painful and every move seemed to bring on another sharp painful sensation. At last we did get them on with bandages in all the right places, I just remember thinking I don't want to shower again for a long time. That however, was not going to happen, I had already began to seep through my bandages and shape wear again by that evening. Bandage changes, shape wear removal and redressing, as well as showering all became easier within a week - 2 weeks’ time. At my first appointment and surgery day, Shab and Cherie has both mentioned being able to begin getting back in the swing of things within 3 days of surgery, I wasn't one of those people. I am a very specific, light sleeper, so the discomfort of my thighs made it so I could only attempt to sleep on my back (which was not going to happen) therefore I got no sleep, I wasn't really in pain and therefore didn't want to take the pain medication, so I went about 4-5 days with little to no sleep which made my recovery process slower and my tolerance for discomfort higher. Once I figured out how to maneuver myself so I could sleep I began to feel much better. At my post-op appointment Kim was very nice, she checked me over, asked how I was doing and gave some additional recommendations. She checked each of my incisions to make sure they were healing well and they were all good. She also ordered my second phase shape wear which was delivered to my house within about a week. Within 1.5 weeks I was back to full ability, I did need to be careful with bumping people, things, etc. because my surgical areas were definitely tender. Eventually the tenderness subsided and I felt pretty good, the arms took longer than the legs did, at 6 weeks my arms were still a bit tender if bumped or grabbed. One of the aspects of Sono Bello I REALLY appreciated (in addition to everything mentioned above) are the constant emails, not solicitation emails or other junk mail, but very specific step-by-step guidance along your recovery journey. Just as I might get a question in my head about when should I do this or that, an email would appear in my inbox that would answer every question. I really like this and have enjoyed every email. The staffs are friendly and very willing to help in any way. If you are contemplating a procedure you should definitely go to Sono Bello Portland, you won't be disappointed. They will take care of you! Dr. Saxon = 10 stars, Operating Nurse Cherie = 10 stars, overall experience = EXCELLENT! Would I recommend = Absolutely!
by Thomas S.
xxx.xxx.113.63
May 15, 2017