Catherine’s story
Catherine's Story
Treatment(s): Tummy Tuck
Location: East Sussex
I booked a free consultation with Amir, and he was incredibly friendly and supportive. I felt I could call up anytime and ask questions without being a hassle.”
Catherine, 32 years old from East Sussex, suffered with diastasis recti following her first pregnancy eight years ago. After years of struggling with a separated and weakened abdomen, she came across Amir on TV, and decided to book a consultation for a tummy tuck. Katherine had her surgery in November 2020. Here she talks us through her experience with the hope of helping others suffering with this condition.
After my first pregnancy eight years ago, I suffered with diastasis recti - the separation of my abdominal muscles - and I also had very loose skin on my tummy. I knew, of course, that my body would change after having a baby, but nothing could have prepared me for how dramatic this change was.
I had really bad stretch marks and a pouch where my abs had separated. I’m naturally very slim - I was a petite size six with abs before my first child - so the difference was very noticeable and I looked pregnant long after I’d given birth. Years later, people would still ask me when I was due. I’m quite a strong person and can generally brush things off, but over time it really did start to get to me.
The worst of it wasn’t how it looked, though, but how it felt. My abdominal muscles were no longer supporting and protecting my body as they should be, which meant that my whole abdominal area was extremely sensitive. Without the support of my abs, it was difficult to hold everything in, so I had a pouch that was constantly hanging out.
The worst of it wasn’t how it looked, though, but how it felt. My abdominal muscles were no longer supporting and protecting my body as they should be, which meant that my whole abdominal area was extremely sensitive.
I was scared to do any heavy lifting, worrying that it would strain my diastasis, I couldn’t let my child lay on me or run towards me for a hug out of fear of a knee or elbow to the stomach, and I could no longer practise yoga, which was a big part of my life. I struggled like this for years, including through the birth of my second child two years ago. During that pregnancy, my skin was so thin that you could see my baby’s hands and feet through my stomach.
I was so grateful to have had my children, and I felt guilty for feeling so unhappy with my body, but I really struggled. I wanted to fix my body as much for my children’s sake as for mine, so that I could be more hands-on with them.
Over the years, I tried to research diastasis recti, but I couldn’t find any useful information online. Nobody I knew had ever heard of it, even personal trainers at the gym, which felt really isolating. I went to a physiotherapist for my hips, which were misaligned and in pain as a result of the diastasis, and they were the first person I’d met that was familiar with the condition. They recommended some small exercises which really helped. That’s the strange things about diastasis recti - you can’t do sit-ups or any of the usual exercises you would do to tone your stomach as everything is so loose and fragile. You have to be so gentle with it.
I want to say a huge thank you to Amir and the team. It’s such an emotional and scary experience but I was made to feel so comfortable and cared for, and the whole process felt easy from start to finish.
I then found a post-natal yoga teacher locally, and she completely changed everything for me. She helped me to understand what I should and shouldn’t do, and helped me to build up my core strength even though I had a massive gap in my abdomen.
During this time, I’d been to the NHS to see if they could fix my diastasis. Their only solution was to open it all up and mesh it back together, and they warned me of the scarring and immobility it would cause, which naturally put me off as I wanted to regain control and mobility, not lose it even further.
I then spoke to a private consultant in Brighton, but they were going to charge £150 for an initial consultation, and I felt so fragile and sensitive about the whole situation that I didn’t go through with it.
Part of my research involved joining various Facebook groups, and it was here that I first saw Amir’s name mentioned. I watched some clips of him on the BBC’s Plastic Surgery Undressed, and I understood that he used individual stitches as part of the tummy tuck surgery he offers. Research shows that this process allows you more flexibility post op, which was really important to me as I wanted as much mobility as possible.
I booked a free consultation with Amir, and he was incredibly friendly and supportive. I felt I could call up anytime and ask questions without being a hassle. He seemed to have a lot of knowledge on my condition and I trusted his processes and techniques, so I decided to go ahead with the procedure.
My experience in surgery was as good as could be. I was absolutely terrified, but I was made to feel very supported and reassured, and my room was lovely and comfortable. After the surgery I felt incredibly emotional. My whole body had changed yet again, and even though it’s what I wanted, it was still a huge readjustment after so many years of having diastasis.
I healed well, and just five months on my body does look and feel amazing, both on a superficial level but also in the sense that it has given it structure and strength again. The surgery has healed so many of the other pains that I was experiencing, in my hips and my back, but also in my mind. I feel like I can hold my head up high and like I own my body again.
I’m no longer scared to pick up heavy things, my kids can run at me for a hug as much as they want, and I have my strength back when it comes to practising yoga - something I had really missed. I haven’t got my full range of flexibility back just yet, but hopefully that will come in time.
Your body is your vessel that carries you through life, and mine is finally back to carrying me properly. I hope that by sharing my experience, I’ll help others suffering with diastasis recti who currently feel as lost and as helpless as I did.
I want to say a huge thank you to Amir and the team. It’s such an emotional and scary experience but I was made to feel so comfortable and cared for, and the whole process felt easy from start to finish.
Research shows that this process allows you more flexibility post op, which was really important to me as I wanted as much mobility as possible.
Treatments
Tummy Tuck
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What our
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What our clients say
★★★★★
…You feel like you have joined a lovely family during the whole process. For me this is a very personal and rewarding journey and I have made it in the great hands of Amir and the lovely Bella Vou team. Surgery is a decision we need to make carefully and one in which we need to trust that we have selected the right surgeon for us….. I can’t give you a guidebook on how to do that but I can say, do your research and if I can help you select a surgeon that will enhance ‘you’ the way you want to be enhanced – and help you feel safe then it is a privilege to share my experience with you.
maxyw
★★★★★
I saw three surgeons before Amir but decided on Amir because of his manner, knowledge, and the service received during the enquiry stage as everything was so well run and the staff were exceptionally efficient with excellent customer service. I am so glad I chose Bella Vou because from beginning to end the service received has been outstanding. Dr Amir and his nurses made me feel very relaxed. The procedure was quick, pain-free, the results look amazing and I feel my confidence coming back again. The aftercare received was also exceptional. I would not hesitate to recommend Bella Vou. Thank you.
Resourceful803197
★★★★★
My tummy tuck experience at Bella Vou in May this year. I cannot speak highly enough of Amir and his remarkable team. Amir’s expertise is nothing short of masterful, evident by the quality of his work, making him undeniably an expert in his field. If you are contemplating having any work done you can rest assured that Amir and his team will provide not only exceptional care but also a strong sense of being cherished and safe throughout the entire process. Their dedication and skill made my journey with them exceptional, and the results have by far surpassed my expectations.
kjpuppy
★★★★★
Amir was fantastic from the beginning during Fleur De Lis tummy tuck, liposuction on the flanks, breast implant removal, uplift, and implant replacement. He provided me with excellent advice on what the reality of the procedure would be and how the outcome would look. I had a very large diastase recti which affected me negatively in so many ways, and I knew when I met Amir that he would fix this issue and I was in safe hands…I know it has all been worth it because my outcome physically will also affect my quality of life emotionally. I am already delighted to be able to fit into my pre-baby clothes! Amir’s team at Bella Vou really looked after me during the whole process. From the moment I initially spoke to them, to the first consultation, after the procedure, and beyond – I really do feel like they have changed my life for the better. I highly recommend Amir and the team at Bella Vou.
Anon
★★★★★
An excellent experience with Amir and the team. I’m very pleased with the outcome of my treatment. Thank you to Amir and all the team for a great experience, great care, and charming and friendly support from start to finish
SAM10000
★★★★★
Absolutely brilliant. I was quite nervous as I’m in my 70s and thought I might be past it, but just two weeks post blepharoplasty surgery I couldn’t be more relieved that I went ahead. The result is fantastic – thank you so much Amir! My eyes now feel much more open yet still completely natural…The experience with Bella Vou has been wonderful throughout, including post-procedure. I would not hesitate to recommend this clinic.
ChrissyElbee
★★★★★
Amir has been brilliant; very kind and reassuring, respectful and gave me all the information about the procedure that I needed. He did not pressure me into making a decision about whether to go ahead at the initial consultation and I felt safe and supported during and after the procedure. The aftercare has been excellent with regular follow-ups and if I have had any queries the response has been quick and helpful.
MRS GB
★★★★★
Amir is an amazingly gifted surgeon. He performed a tummy tuck and face lift on me in April and the results are actually incredible. So natural that people can’t put their finger on what is different but tell me that I look the best I’ve ever looked. The whole team are so friendly and supportive. Scott the nurse is so caring and knowledgeable and after treatments with Nikki were amazing. I could not recommend Bella Vou more highly and will be going back soon for a final procedure. The clinic is outstanding from the aesthetics to the comfort. Choosing Amir was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and I’m just thrilled with my results.
Tabitha1800
★★★★★
From the moment I met Amir I knew I was making the right choice, he is so talented at what he does his work speaks for itself but then on top of the lovely welcoming and professional man he is, my experience has been nothing short of incredible. I am so beyond happy with my results and can’t wait to see them in a couple of week’s time when I have healed properly. I was so nervous going in, the most nervous I’ve ever felt probably in my life but the staff at Bella Vou and their expertise take every nerve away. I’m actually looking at myself thinking what else can I get done just to experience it all again. They look after you from the moment you contact them to weeks and months after, going above and beyond with the sweetest touches. Thank you so much Amir and team I have and will always sing your praises to anyone who’ll listen!
Genius351977
★★★★★
I had male skin removal surgery after weight loss. 360 tummy tuck, chest skin removal and inner thigh. I had all three done same day… I had some revision surgery at about 15 months after the initial, some liposuction around the flanks, and some additional skin removed from the chest. This was included in my original fee as part of their revision policy, really great that Amir did this additional surgery for me…it really elevated my results especially in the chest area which is now everything I was hoping for, it’s literally removed all sagging whether stood up straight or leaning right over. Overall I am very pleased with the results and feel much happier in my new body…I very highly recommend Amir and Bella Vou, It is the complete package, I had numerous checkups, massages, and photos taken of progress, everyone was very helpful and friendly and it is a relaxed atmosphere. Thank you, Amir and the whole Bella Vou team.
mikew81
★★★★★
Wow, how do I start? Amir is amazing, from my consultation, and surgery to follow-up care. Nothing is a problem. He is professional, kind, caring, and a true gentleman. Definitely puts you at ease and felt so comfortable even when standing naked lol. I have had a few minor problems but not a problem to him, lots of extra care given to me and extra appointments, and fitted me in when needed. His work is stunning, my scars are so neat and smooth and I am only 6 weeks post-surgery, can’t wait for the final results. I recommend Amir 100% and will be back for further surgery. Would not go anywhere else. It is a stunning place, with lots of added extra treats and goodies. Even the bouquet of flowers delivered to my door the day I arrived home and the chauffeur-driven care provided for me to go home in comfort. Honestly you will not be disappointed Bella Vou dream team. Xx
jeffreyleah
★★★★★
I had a wonderful experience with Dr Amir Sadr and all of his colleagues. I chose this clinic because it is very professional, luxury, and of a high standard. All staff are so welcoming and helpful. They are there with you along the way on your recovery journey. I felt in such good hands! I am healing nicely and whenever I had questions they were always promptly answered which gave me comfort. It is going to be my go-to clinic for all beauty matters, and if you are looking for a good plastic surgeon, look no further. Thank you everyone!
Dajana Paliokaite
★★★★★
I came across Bella Vou on Tiktok, having done a lot of research on tummy tucks. I knew from the initial consultation that I wanted to have my surgery at Bella Vou – no other clinic compared. On the day of the surgery, I felt very comfortable in the clinic and was reassured by Amir Sadr. I had an overnight stay at the clinic and the day and night team were fantastic. The aftercare has been truly outstanding and two months post op I have healed well. Thank you to the whole team for my makeover!
Caring981586
★★★★★
Amir and the whole team made my journey with them seamless. No question was unanswered, and the treatment itself was comfortable. I would recommend them to anyone seeking any cosmetic procedures. The pre and post-op communication was superb
Henda100
★★★★★
This is a subtle difference but has made the world of difference to me as I feel fresher, brighter and from a makeup perspective, I’m able to apply my winged liner a lot easier.
Becca Hood
★★★★★
My whole experience has been incredible, from the moment I enquired I was made to feel welcome. My worries, fears, and feelings were all normal. No question was ever too big or too small. Amir is an absolute legend, his work is outstanding, and my end result is more than I could have ever dreamed of. I feel I have been given a new lease of life. Aftercare was always the most important part for me and it clearly is for Bella Vou too, the aftercare was brilliant. Anyone thinking about surgery, enquire now, you will not be disappointed. I definitely will forever be grateful for everything. Thank you.
Fabulous924223
★★★★★
Amir has changed my life for the better. I am amazed by my results and I cannot thank him enough. After 2 pregnancies I had severe diastasis recti, in which my abdominal muscles were separated 8cm! I was also told I had a hernia resulting in a large bulge but once Amir had me on the table, turned out I had 3 hernias. He worked his magic and has given me my confidence back. I cannot thank him and the lovely nurses enough. The whole experience from start to finish has been 10/10.
hannahsykes333
★★★★★
Amir exuded professionalism and confidence from my initial consultation all the way through my post-operative aftercare journey. His reputation precedes him and from the years I have researched for the perfect surgeon to perform my tummy tuck and breast uplift, I knew Amir was going to be the one the moment I met him. His team offers kindness, empathy, and support at every opportunity. The facilities are clean, welcoming, and upmarket. I felt safe and looked after. Surgery is not for the faint-hearted, but Amir knows his craft and made me feel at ease throughout it all. Highly recommended.
Beena Budhdeo 1979
★★★★★
For the last 15 years, I have suffered from underactive thyroid which has made it very difficult to lose weight. Despite different diets and exercise…Out of my lack of confidence and ultimately desperation, I was ready to fly to Turkey. My daughter nevertheless discouraged me from doing so, and I agreed but said “Please find me a good clinic in the UK”. She spent a few days doing research and had come across Bella Vou via TikTok…I made the decision to book a consultation as soon as possible…Dr Amir was amazing in person, he explained everything in great detail with a lot of patience when it came to answering my questions…The surgery itself went very smoothly and the aftercare was one of a kind…I have no words to express my gratitude and how amazing Dr. Amir is. Very honest, caring, and professional. I cannot imagine ever going to a different clinic for any future treatments. This clinic is simply put above the Harley Street level. I look at myself every day in the mirror and cannot stop admiring how amazing my body looks now. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making my dreams come true. I can finally wear all the dresses that I have not worn over the last 15 years 🙂 x
Witty862796
★★★★★
I recently had an upper blepharoplasty with Amir. I’m so happy with the results. I feel like myself again when I look in the mirror. Amir and the nurses were all fabulous. I felt listened to and supported throughout the whole experience. Everything was explained really well from the first consultation through to the aftercare. It also felt reassuring to know that there is always someone to contact at Bella Vou, should I have needed it at any point.
Nurturing826626
★★★★★
…You feel like you have joined a lovely family during the whole process. For me this is a very personal and rewarding journey and I have made it in the great hands of Amir and the lovely Bella Vou team. Surgery is a decision we need to make carefully and one in which we need to trust that we have selected the right surgeon for us….. I can’t give you a guidebook on how to do that but I can say, do your research and if I can help you select a surgeon that will enhance ‘you’ the way you want to be enhanced – and help you feel safe then it is a privilege to share my experience with you.
maxyw
★★★★★
I saw three surgeons before Amir but decided on Amir because of his manner, knowledge, and the service received during the enquiry stage as everything was so well run and the staff were exceptionally efficient with excellent customer service. I am so glad I chose Bella Vou because from beginning to end the service received has been outstanding. Dr Amir and his nurses made me feel very relaxed. The procedure was quick, pain-free, the results look amazing and I feel my confidence coming back again. The aftercare received was also exceptional. I would not hesitate to recommend Bella Vou. Thank you.
Resourceful803197
★★★★★
My tummy tuck experience at Bella Vou in May this year. I cannot speak highly enough of Amir and his remarkable team. Amir’s expertise is nothing short of masterful, evident by the quality of his work, making him undeniably an expert in his field. If you are contemplating having any work done you can rest assured that Amir and his team will provide not only exceptional care but also a strong sense of being cherished and safe throughout the entire process. Their dedication and skill made my journey with them exceptional, and the results have by far surpassed my expectations.
kjpuppy
★★★★★
Amir was fantastic from the beginning during Fleur De Lis tummy tuck, liposuction on the flanks, breast implant removal, uplift, and implant replacement. He provided me with excellent advice on what the reality of the procedure would be and how the outcome would look. I had a very large diastase recti which affected me negatively in so many ways, and I knew when I met Amir that he would fix this issue and I was in safe hands…I know it has all been worth it because my outcome physically will also affect my quality of life emotionally. I am already delighted to be able to fit into my pre-baby clothes! Amir’s team at Bella Vou really looked after me during the whole process. From the moment I initially spoke to them, to the first consultation, after the procedure, and beyond – I really do feel like they have changed my life for the better. I highly recommend Amir and the team at Bella Vou.
Anon
★★★★★
An excellent experience with Amir and the team. I’m very pleased with the outcome of my treatment. Thank you to Amir and all the team for a great experience, great care, and charming and friendly support from start to finish
SAM10000
★★★★★
Absolutely brilliant. I was quite nervous as I’m in my 70s and thought I might be past it, but just two weeks post blepharoplasty surgery I couldn’t be more relieved that I went ahead. The result is fantastic – thank you so much Amir! My eyes now feel much more open yet still completely natural…The experience with Bella Vou has been wonderful throughout, including post-procedure. I would not hesitate to recommend this clinic.
ChrissyElbee
★★★★★
Amir has been brilliant; very kind and reassuring, respectful and gave me all the information about the procedure that I needed. He did not pressure me into making a decision about whether to go ahead at the initial consultation and I felt safe and supported during and after the procedure. The aftercare has been excellent with regular follow-ups and if I have had any queries the response has been quick and helpful.
MRS GB
★★★★★
Amir is an amazingly gifted surgeon. He performed a tummy tuck and face lift on me in April and the results are actually incredible. So natural that people can’t put their finger on what is different but tell me that I look the best I’ve ever looked. The whole team are so friendly and supportive. Scott the nurse is so caring and knowledgeable and after treatments with Nikki were amazing. I could not recommend Bella Vou more highly and will be going back soon for a final procedure. The clinic is outstanding from the aesthetics to the comfort. Choosing Amir was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and I’m just thrilled with my results.
Tabitha1800
★★★★★
From the moment I met Amir I knew I was making the right choice, he is so talented at what he does his work speaks for itself but then on top of the lovely welcoming and professional man he is, my experience has been nothing short of incredible. I am so beyond happy with my results and can’t wait to see them in a couple of week’s time when I have healed properly. I was so nervous going in, the most nervous I’ve ever felt probably in my life but the staff at Bella Vou and their expertise take every nerve away. I’m actually looking at myself thinking what else can I get done just to experience it all again. They look after you from the moment you contact them to weeks and months after, going above and beyond with the sweetest touches. Thank you so much Amir and team I have and will always sing your praises to anyone who’ll listen!
Genius351977
★★★★★
I had male skin removal surgery after weight loss. 360 tummy tuck, chest skin removal and inner thigh. I had all three done same day… I had some revision surgery at about 15 months after the initial, some liposuction around the flanks, and some additional skin removed from the chest. This was included in my original fee as part of their revision policy, really great that Amir did this additional surgery for me…it really elevated my results especially in the chest area which is now everything I was hoping for, it’s literally removed all sagging whether stood up straight or leaning right over. Overall I am very pleased with the results and feel much happier in my new body…I very highly recommend Amir and Bella Vou, It is the complete package, I had numerous checkups, massages, and photos taken of progress, everyone was very helpful and friendly and it is a relaxed atmosphere. Thank you, Amir and the whole Bella Vou team.
mikew81
