Testimonials

Aileen's Journey: Overcoming Stage 3 Lipedema with Dr. Georgiou’s Expertise

Why did you decide on choosing Dr. Georgiou for surgery?

I chose Dr. Georgiou because of the feedback I had heard about his post op care and the one to one attention he gives his patients. As I was travelling by myself, this was really important for me. I also liked the fact that he works for the hospital rather than rents an operating room. It means he has a relationship with all the staff and it shows in the care during the stay. The hospital itself had good reviews and is state of the art. It was also really important to me that my chosen surgeon participated in research, and had experience and knowledge of lipoedema. Finally, despite a lot of looking, I could not find one bad thing said about him!

Which procedure did you have?

I had lipoedema removal surgery. My first surgery was on the full front of legs. My second surgery was on the full back of legs, bum, and butt shelf. I also have had my first session of Morpheus skin tightening on all areas operated. I will be having arms and upper body done in December.

Please give a short description of your surgical experience and postop recovery.

The first surgery can be a bit daunting as you don’t know what to expect. From the moment you arrive at the pre-op appointment the day before, you are put at ease. Dr. Georgiou talks you through the plan for the surgery, and takes the time to answer any questions and concerns you might have. The prep team and anaesthesiologist, Niko, are great at reassuring you and not overwhelming you. Staying in the hospital for 3 nights makes the recovery easier, especially if you are travelling alone. It allows you to get your bearings post surgery, and ease back into walking and get used to the leaking. On both my surgeries, I’ve been very fortunate with recovery and I do think that is in part due to Dr. Georgiou’s surgical approach and post-op management. I did not experience any swell hell, and was mobile and walking with ease, relatively quickly after both surgeries especially my second surgery.

What concerns did you have about undergoing this procedure, and how did your surgeon assist in alleviating them?

While my primary goal was to deal with the lipoedema, I also wanted to ensure that I would have a good aesthetic result as well. We discussed this in my initial online consultation, and discussed potential options. I felt confident from our discussions that I was in safe hands and trusted Dr. Georgiou was going to help me get my desired outcome.

Explain why you are pleased with your decision to undergo this procedure. How has it positively affected your life and your self-esteem?

While I am still healing and have one more surgery to go, the results have exceeded my expectations. My legs have an incredible shape, and I am starting to wear nice clothes and not just clothes that fit! I had relatively good fitness before my surgeries but everything is much easier now with the lipoedema removed. I would have had good self-esteem pre surgery but my friends have commented on how much more confident I’ve become since my second surgery. The only downside is having to buy a whole new wardrobe!

Share the specific reasons why you are happy with your choice of surgeon. What are his most important qualities?

The results speak for themselves. My MLD therapist has seen a lot of patients post op from different surgeons, and she has said that Dr. Georgiou’s results are one of the best she’s seen. He’s now her go to recommendation! He is so quick at responding which gives you reassurance that he does genuinely care, he is honest about expectations and results, and doesn’t promise things that aren’t realistic.

In what ways did our staff support you throughout your surgical experience?

Dr. Georgiou has an amazing team at GMI. Marina is always on hand to help with anything, and I love how she comes and checks on you after your surgery. The ward staff are caring and so helpful. I would like to say a special thank you to the cleaners who are not bothered when you end up leaking on their freshly cleaned floors, and like to ensure that you always have clean bedding!

Do you have any advice for those who are considering undergoing this procedure?

A family member said something that has stuck with me. Even though I haven’t been able to lose any weight the last 2 years, all the work I put in during that period has finally paid off. My advice is to ditch the scales, and focus on overall health and fitness. Track wins like step increases, faster pace, increased distance, increased VO2 max. Start with small diet changes and don’t try and cut anything out from the get go. Smaller changes over time will stand to you long term. Doing this ahead of surgery, will not only put you in a better position for recovery, it will help you with longer term maintenance and results.

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