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Silvana’s Story

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Silvana's Story

Age: 33 Years

Treatment(s): Mummy Makeover

“I feel like my results just keep getting better and better. My fears have been addressed, and they never felt like they were being dismissed."

Looking for the Right Surgeon

Nine months after giving birth, Silvana was suffering from back pain and had severely lost confidence. She learned that she had severe muscle separation, a protruding bowel, and an umbilical hernia following her pregnancy.

Addressing both the pain and physical changes would require a Mummy Makeover. However, finding the right surgeon who could achieve the natural results she wanted, and who understood the unique considerations of scar healing on darker skin, felt almost impossible.

For months, Silvana researched cosmetic surgery clinics across the UK who could perform the surgery, but she couldn't find what she was looking for.

“It was incredibly difficult to find pictures and results of black women, and it was honestly disheartening to not be able to see or imagine how I would look afterwards without examples."

She attended multiple consultations at other clinics around England, but each one left her feeling more frustrated than the last. She couldn't find a clinic where she felt represented or confident about what her own results might look like.

 

Scarring, Representation, & Natural Results

Silvana's biggest concern from the beginning was always scarring. She knew darker skin can heal differently and she wanted to have honest conversations about what her recovery would look like. Rather than vague reassurance, she wanted realistic expectations and a surgeon who understood the unique considerations of operating on highly pigmented skin.

Throughout her research she rarely came across other examples of women with darker skin tones who had undergone a tummy tuck. Without seeing patients she could relate to, she found it really difficult to picture her own results.

“There were so few examples that I could relate to. I just wanted to see someone with skin like mine who had been through the same journey." 

Silvana wasn't trying to change who she was. Her goal was to preserve her natural body shape, not to chase an unrealistic ideal. During consultations with other surgeons, she felt like they were telling her what she should look like in their eyes, rather than listening to what she really wanted.

“I didn't want to look like someone else... I just wanted my pre-pregnancy body back."

A Personalised Procedure

After months of searching, Bella Vou appeared on Silvana's Instagram feed. For the first time, she saw tummy tuck results on women with skin like hers and was hopeful.

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Knowing that she would be talking with a team of world-class Consultant Plastic Surgeons, including black skin specialist, Dr Radovan Boca, Silvana finally felt she had found a clinic that understood her concerns.

With over two decades of surgical experience in Kenya and Sudan, Dr Boca has extensive experience treating patients with highly pigmented skin and has helped black patients manage healing and scarring since Bella Vou opened in 2015. His expertise gave Silvana confidence that her concerns would be understood from the very beginning.

During her consultation, she was shown before and after photos of patients with similar skin tones who had undergone the same procedure.

She saw results she could genuinely relate to and was finally able to picture what her own outcome would look like.

“I never felt like I was dismissed, everything I wanted was addressed."

Together, Silvana and the Bella Vou clinical team agreed that a personalised Mummy Makeover would best achieve the results she was looking for. Combining a tummy tuck with breast augmentation would help restore her pre-pregnancy shape while repairing her abdominal muscles, addressing her muscle separation and helping relieve the physical discomfort she had been living with since pregnancy.

Every aspect of her treatment plan was tailored around her own goals, giving her confidence that she wouldn't have to compromise on the results she wanted.

Healing with Confidence

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“I was really taken care of."

From the day of her surgery through every stage of recovery, Silvana felt the support from the Bella Vou team.

Her regular follow-up appointments, personalised aftercare plan, and ongoing individualised scar management plan gave her confidence in her results throughout the healing process.

She appreciated knowing that her recovery plan was tailored specifically to her. Every question or concern she had was met with reassurance and support.

As the weeks passed after surgery, she saw her results continue to improve and she continued to feel more confident in the decision she had made.

“The personalised care made all the difference. I never felt like just another patient."

Looking Back

Silvana believes that taking the time to find the right surgeon and cosmetic clinic for her procedure made all the difference. Finding a team that represented patients from diverse backgrounds and openly discussed every concern restored Silvana's confidence long before her surgery even began.

Today, she's delighted with her results and, in particular, with how her scars have healed. The experience she gained from researching different clinics and finding Bella Vou showed her the importance of finding a surgeon who listens and understands your goals.

Silvana's advice to anyone considering cosmetic surgery is simple:

“Don't be discouraged. Be resilient and ask the right questions. Don't be afraid to say no to something that is not what you want."

Silvana's stunning results 3 months after surgery:

Thinking About a Mummy Makeover?

If you’re curious about whether a Mummy Makeover is right for you, the team at Bella Vou are here to help. You deserve to feel confident in your body again.

Learn more about Mummy Makeover Surgery at Bella Vou or book a friendly, no-obligation consultation to explore your options below!

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