Dr. Gloria Thomas

Miami, Florida | See other Florida plastic surgery reviews

3370 Mary St.
Miami, Florida 33133

Dr. Gloria Thomas is a plastic surgeon in Miami, Florida.

Interview from Lorrie
What procedure did you have performed?
Lorrie: Breast Augmentation

Why did you choose to do this procedure?
Lorrie: I would say a few years, more than five years before I actually had the operation, I considered it. It was just a matter of just kind of changing my appearance and being more comfortable with my appearance. A confidence booster. I waited a long time, with the main deterrent being the prospect of the pain and recovery.

Why did you choose this surgeon?
Lorrie: I actually spoke with three, including Dr. Thomas. When we had our consultation she seemed very informed, personal, she gave me a lot of information that the others didn't. When it comes to cosmetic surgery, there are opinions, technniques and small things that matter as far as preferences and what the surgeon wants and visualizes for you.

What was the approximate total cost?
Lorrie: $3500

How many times did you meet with the surgeon before surgery day?
Lorrie: Aside from the first consultation, I had one more consultation prior. It was just to confirm what we were doing, sign off on things, decide who would take care of me after, decide on pain medications to be prescribed, etc.

Describe the day of surgery.
Lorrie: The procedure was scheduled for 12 noon. I didn't go in until 1:00. It pretty much went as planned. I was in for about an hour. No complications whatsoever. Everything went as planned.

Was this inpatient or outpatient?
Lorrie: Outpatient. I was not given an option. The facility is not capable of inpatient.

Describe any post-operative visits.
Lorrie: Some were with the doctor, some were with the head nurse. They took measurements, photographs, discussion of pain and discomfort, pain medication side effects. I didn't always see the doctor. When I would see her, she would imply that she would be at the next visit, so I was disappointed when I would go to an appointment and she wasn't the one I would see. I also didn't feel she prepared me for the level of pain I would experience.

What was the healing process like?
Lorrie: It is the equivalent of being hit by an 18 wheeler. We had vaguely spoken about the pain involved but it was much worse than I expected. The pain meds she had given me weren't working. Percocet was the first one. I stopped taking it, and she prescribed Vicodin which helped slightly better. The pain was the most intense for the first three days. The first day, I was completely immobile and out of it. I slept the entire day except to eat dinner and drink water. A week later I went back to work. On a scale of 1-10 it was a 5 at a week after. It took about a month to get to a point where I had no pain. I had to use an ice pack for the swelling. After two weeks I felt more comfortable, was having more fluid movement, and was having less pain.

What is your overall satisfaction with the surgeon?
Lorrie: The satisfaction with the surgeon is about a 6 out of 10. The reason it is not higher is that for the majority of follow up appointments, she was not the provider. The other factor is as far as the consultation, we never really went into details about the pain and what to expect. I would have appreciated a more honest response from her about that.

What is your overall satisfaction with the procedure?
Lorrie: I had to go in for a second surgery. The reason being, one of the implants was lodged up on one of my ribs, so it was slightly higher than the other one. She claimed that it wasn't an error on her part, but a misplacement when it was settling.

Would you recommend this surgeon to a friend?
Lorrie: I would not recommend the surgeon, but I would recommend the procedure.

What advice would you give to somebody considering this procedure or surgeon?
Lorrie: Do a lot of research. I was well prepared when I went into it. I think knowledge is key, so the more you know, the more prepared you are. Make sure its something you want to get yourself into. As far as any suggestions regarding the surgeon, be advised that she works a lot and has another office four hours away from Miami, so you likely won't see her much at follow up.

What other cosmetic procedures have you had performed?
Lorrie: None.