Newport woman says 'never again' after painful butt implants

Newport woman says 'never again' after painful butt implants

By DON DARE
6 On Your Side Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- The reality show "Extreme Makeover" has given ordinary people Cinderella-like experiences and influenced many to have elective plastic surgery. But some procedures are more risky than others, as a Newport woman recently learned.

Whenever April Stokely bends over, her buttocks hurt although they shouldn't.

What went wrong?

Six months ago, she  paid $5,500 to have a more curvy figure. However, her butt enlargement has drooped and she says the sizing is wrong.

"It's supposed to be high. A high implant is supposed to be the complete shape of my butt," April says.

"What look were you after when you decided to have this type of implant?" 6 On Your Side asks. 

"I was looking for...I just want it bigger. I just wanted it bigger," April says. 

In her case, however, bigger is not better. April has been in pain for months. "I sit down for a while working or at home, it starts to hurt. I'll be driving in the car, it hurts."

After surgery, April expected to buy new clothes. Now, she's embarrassed wearing her jeans because the implants don't look right and "It sort of feels like they're laying on a nerve."

6 On Your Side isn't naming the physician who performed April's procedure. There's no indication he did anything wrong and he has a clean record with the state health board.

"What did your doctor say about the rate of success of this type of surgery?" 6 On Your Side asks.

"He said five to six years down the road, they could start falling," April says.

Surgeons comment on procedure

6 On Your Side spoke with several local plastic surgeons about the procedure called buttocks augmentation. It's considered one of the most complex of all cosmetic surgeries. Some doctors refuse to do it, due to complications and patient dissatisfaction.

Think of it, you sit on the area where the surgery was performed. You sit on the implants while you heal.

Doctor's records on procedure

April acquired her doctor's medical records and showed them to 6 On Your Side. On April 18, he wrote, "...explained in great detail possible complications and expected results of gluteral implant."

In his operative report on May 11, the doctor notes April wanted a "larger, fairly high implant."

April said in July, she returned to her plastic surgeon due to extreme pain and discomfort. In his report, her doctor writes, "drained clear, thick fluid...but cultures taken to pathology were negative showing no bacteria."

Patient admits surgery was mistake

Earlier in November, April was upset when she paid a visit to 6 On Your Side. She had just been to her doctor and said he offered to remove the implants. However, she says she's lost her trust in him.

Then April showed the implants to 6 News Anchor Tearsa Smith on film. "You can move it all the way around. You can stick your hand up and under it. One side is completely bigger than the other," April explained.

Two plastic surgeons watched that video and agreed the implants don't look right.

April admits she made a mistake. "It's been terrible, my pain and embarrassment. I'd never do it again." 

What to find out before having plastic surgery

If you're going to have plastic surgery, find out if the doctor is a board certified plastic surgeon and if his office is accredited and fully licensed.

6 On Your Side also spoke with the President Emeritus of the Tennessee Society of Plastic Surgeons, Dr. David Reath, about what to ask before having a procedure performed.

"I would ask him what his experience with this particular procedure is. If it's a very common procedure, probably every plastic surgeon has good experience with it. If it's something not as commonly done, then certain surgeons may have more experience or be more comfortable with that. In my own practice, if there is a procedure that I'm not comfortable with, I will tell the patient that and try to find someone who is comfortable with the procedure, if it's appropriate," Dr. Reath says.