Sono Bello Reviews - Is It Really Effective?

After having 2 children in the same year and trying everything under the sun to help with my appearance and the way I felt about myself, my fiancé and I decided to go with Sono Bello after talking to the consultant and seeing the before and after pictures.

I started this process back in January of 2018. After my 6 months check up my hips were uneven and there was more that could have been taken out. One of the nurses at Sono Bello told me that Dr. Mendoza always gets complaints, I was thinking of course he does, the one that did my procedure.

So I had another doctor look at what I what I was talking about and he agreed the other doctor really messed this procedure up. So I went with him to get a revision, which I wouldn’t have had to do if it was done right the first time. So with his opinion, I did the ex mini tummy tuck to get the best results.

After that procedure in September of 2019, I had 4 painful infections having to leave work. I also had to go to physical therapy because my leg was in so much pain. Dr. Lyons said that has happened before where they cut in too much causing that leg pain.

I am still not happy with the results with what I paid. I had the medical team look at my file and they said you got great results so there won’t be a refund or even help with what you have been through.

Convenient for them to say I got nice results, but it’s my body and I look nothing like I saw in the before and after photos, those have to be a scam.

Anyways, my story here is don’t go to Sono Bello, not a good company and doesn’t give you the results you talk about with the consultant.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE research this company before you sign any contract.

Once you sign the contract you immediately forfeit $995, which is non-refundable. If you are scheduled within 14 days for the procedure, and you decide not to proceed, you immediately lose half of the deposit (which is the total cost of the procedure up front). Please go to Better Business Bureau online and read the complaints against Sono Bello to better equip you for the possibilities you may encounter. Ask your doctor their opinion. The sales person at this location will tell you that all those complaints are from the other Sono Bello locations, but I assure you that all 40 locations are run the same. Should you decide after this research, make sure the doctor is "Board Certified" of a specific Board (e.g. Family Practice, Emergency Medicine, etc,) Don't let their fancy advertising cloud your judgment and God help you if you do proceed!

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

They acted like they were giving me a big special up front by asking me to only pay $500 down. Then the doctor found a hernia during my visit and said I could not have the procedure until I have my hernia repaired. They charged my card for the deposit of $500 anyway before I left. I had to reschedule twice because of problems with the hernia surgery. I called them today and talked to the manager who was very rude about what I had been through and wanted a refund until my body was ready. I'm scared to have anyone go inside my stomach for anything after the nightmare I've been through with this hernia surgery. She said no refund, credit only, even though their doctor would not do surgery. She was very unconcerned with what I've gone through and said well have your doctor send a statement saying you can't have elective surgery. That's not it. My body is messed up from two infections. He's not saying I can't..I'm saying it's not good for me to have it done anywhere in the near future. But no, she will not refund, telling me well you were supposed to put $1000 down, even though they acted if it was a special.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Disappointed with Brookfield, WI Sono Bello location experience and management. The day before my procedure at my pre-op visit, another doctor walked into the room saying that corporate told him that he was doing my procedure the next day. When I told him I had specifically requested a female doctor, Dr. Muecke, he said to go talk to the manager, Kevin. I had contracted with Dr. Muecke who had great reviews. Kevin the manager then came into the room and stated that Jessica the Sono Bello consultant overbooked the Saturday procedures with Dr. Muecke. Then he tried to pressure me into using another doctor. I asked to reschedule the procedure with Dr. Muecke. Then the bombshell. Kevin said that the next day was Dr. Muecke's last day at Sono Bello. Kevin also said that Dr. Mueche's schedule the next day was already booked and I was not one of her patients. My only option was to use another doctor since the next day September 21, 2019, Dr. Muecke was leaving the practice permanently. I could not reschedule with her. Nurse Patricia standing there was stunned to hear it. Even she was unaware. I asked Kevin when he planned to tell me about the doctor switch. I did not feel comfortable with the male doctor who had walked in the room unannounced.

I asked Kevin for a refund and instead of talking with me, Kevin escorted me out the front door saying no one could talk to me. I never did meet Dr. Muecke. The whole Sono Bello experience was unprofessional, morally wrong, and disappointing. I left in tears. I then emailed Jessica at Sono Bello right away from my car since Kevin said that she was unavailable, and told her that I was disappointed in her overscheduling and that I wanted a refund. She has not responded. I called my credit card company to dispute the $995 down payment and the care credit company to notate my file that the procedure will not happen. If over-scheduling is a deliberate practice, then this outfit is all about the volume of people they can push through the process. They don't care about you as a person.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I was told I would lose up to 2 dress sizes...I am wearing the same size. It was a waste of time and money. I could not see any changes. I am extremely disappointed and I want my money back.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

When I found Sono Bello online after years of wanting liposuction I literally just felt like I HAD to have it done. I can honestly say they had me at "the very minimal downtime", part of the recovery. My story is similar to most unsatisfied patients. I paid lots of money for little results. I followed the post-op instructions to the T. It was embarrassing for people to know, I spent that kind of money with no results/almost non-existent. I would complain to the doctor's medical assistant at every post-op appointment about how unsatisfied I was with my results, because yes, after the surgery, you will not be scheduled to see or speak to the doctor who performed the surgery, but a medical assistant, all she kept telling me was...that I had to wait the 6 months to really see the difference. Well, let me tell you that it has been 8 months and nothing I still feel and look the same. In my opinion, this was truly a WASTE of money! It really sucks that I had to rate this in order to post, otherwise, I would have not rated at all.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I met with Courtney at the Woodbridge location. We talked about the procedure, and I was very excited.

She told me it was a 1-3 day recovery period. We looked at financing options and applied for Care Credit. Courtney told me my purchase for the procedure was interest-free if paid off in a year.

Not only am I three months in and still experiencing discomfort, numbness, and tingling, I happened to look at my care credit account and see that I am being charged more than $100/month in interest.

I have reached out to Sono Bello to talk with someone in the corporate office. I feel scammed. I am going to file a complaint with the FTC as well for unethical business practices.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Hopefully, this review will help at least one woman from wasting her money at Sono Bello. It’s only after becoming a Christian can I now forgive this company for their misleading and deceptions.

First is the consultation. Yes the staff is extremely nice but who wouldn’t be, they want your money. You’re told if you leave a $1,000 deposit that day then ONLY can you save $2,500 from the total cost of the procedure. (Who doesn’t want to save 2,500?) The fine print said I had to purchase more than one area. They said the laser treatment they used would solve the problem of excessive skin after the liposuction when I asked about it. The day of the liposuction the doctor flipped the switch off of the lipo vacuum after he was finished and said I would definitely need skin removal but since they don’t deal with any incisions or surgery of that magnitude I would have to find a doctor that did. The laser did nothing and so I paid a total of $6,500 plus deposit only to look worse because I have rolls that are now empty and look more saggy than ever. Ladies when you get lipo on your lower and upper abdomen they don’t tell you that you will have back fat that bulges out from your bra strap more noticeably now either. When I complained they just gave me their motto - "EVERYBODYS DIFFERENT!" If I ever hear that phrase I just want to scream.

I cringe at every commercial I see misleading women who are desperate for a slimmer makeover and will just get disappointed. Those people on TV may be real but they had to get plastic surgery to remove the skin that they just don’t do at Sono Bello. Don’t waste your money ladies. Don’t let them make you bitter instead of better.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I have diabetes and thought the permanent loss of excess fat would help my situation. It was expensive, but I believed all the hype and went forward with the procedure. The doctor and assistants were nice enough. They ordered the wrong size compression garment and the results were not immediately obvious. After about 6 weeks, I started to notice a difference and eventually went down a size, just one. After 12 weeks I noticed my clothes were getting a little snug and then realized I suddenly had a blossoming bottom I didn't have before. Wherever I hadn't had the procedure was progressively getting fatter. The body lasted for about 8 months and even though I watched my diet, I kept getting bigger. It's been 18 months and I can no longer wear most of my clothes, including the ones I wore before the procedure. The permanent fat loss was not permanent. The areas I got treatment are now back to the way they were and I have the additional areas now to boot. This may be an isolated experience, but I doubt it. I no longer have my $7000, and now have extra fat and a closet full of clothes I can't wear.

Length of Use: 1–2 years

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I went to Sono Bello 3 years ago and I am just now finally starting to recover from the trauma of the procedure. I had my back bra roll, upper flanks, upper and lower abs done.

First biggest mistake was the doctor was not licensed to give general anesthesia. He gave me a 0.5 MG dose of Xanax for during the procedure. He was very aggressive and several times kept warning me he would have to stop with just one side done and I’d have to return in a few weeks for the other side. The pain was excruciating. I was crying and moaning and even screamed a few times. It was like electric shocks were being injected into my core. I believe he truly wanted to give me great results. That’s why he took over 2 hours removing the maximum allowed 4 liters. About half way through, the numbing agent they inject into the fast wore off and I felt everything in amplified by 10. He said it hadn’t been long enough to give me more numbing injection and couldn’t give em any pain meds. He couldn’t even give me another Xanax. He finally quit when he filled the 4 liters to the very top, but he acknowledged he didn’t get even coverage. In my opinion, he tried to do too much in one session and had uneven work. He just kept shoving the device in my skin at what seemed random and very rough.

When my husband came into the recovery room and saw my face he was horrified and says I was obviously in a state of trauma and shock. Even the nurse looked horrified.

I was supposed to return after 2 weeks for lower flanks hips and thighs, but I seriously believe I have PTSD from the first experience.

Then comes the first 72 hours post-op. I was taking the pain meds he gave me as scheduled and it wasn’t touching the pain. I called him and he said he isn’t legally allowed to prescribe me more than 3 days' supply of a low dose opiate. That I should go to a pain management doctor. He suggested if I came back that he couldn’t do it under general anesthesia but could refer me to someone else further away that could.

After 3 months I still was in pain and struggled to sit at my desk and perform an 8 hour workday. At 6 months the pain went down.

The results were there. He did remove a lot of fat cells. But I had significant scars from the incisions on my abs. He was so rough with the suction device that he tore the incisions and they were not a nice neat slice. He said he could fix them with plastic surgery.

The worst part though is the deformed body I was left with. I have a bulge about the size of a large egg on the top of my lower ab, right where a bikini might sit. I had a beautiful hourglass figure. Now I have no waist. My pants fall down below that ugly egg bulge. As a result of the painful recovery, I was limited in my activity I could tolerate. So I did gain some weight and it went to my pelvic area and my size G cup breasts and thighs, plus made the egg bulge worse.

Same as many people have said in other reviews, by my 6-month appointment the doctor was no longer working at Sono Bello and I’d have to go through a new evaluation with a different doctor not likely to honor the original doctor's verbal commitment to make it right.

So while their prices were less than other plastic surgeons, it was still over $8,000.00 and I’m still paying on the loan for a procedure that as my husband says “took a flawless clean canvas and carved it up into a scared disfigured version”. (He’s not a jerk about it, he empathizes with me.) Granted my body wasn’t perfect otherwise I wouldn’t have sought lipo in the first place, but I was proportionate and had no stretch marks from prior pregnancies and no scars and I had a small waistline.

I recently posted a bad review on the Sono Bello Facebook site and was promptly contacted by a customer care rep. I’m torn on giving them a chance with a different doctor and using general anesthesia to fix the deformity and do the hips and thighs as planned. Or should I try Cool Sculpting instead?

Amazingly enough, as I have been researching options I’ve found the original doctor that performed the procedure has his own individual practice in Tampa still practicing lipo. I’ve considered contacting him. I mean, I paid so much and don’t want to live with this deformed body. I’m a boater and usually spend every weekend in a bikini (not anymore) but I don’t want to invest another $8,000 to have a similar horrifying experience.

I would have rather had more subtle results but even and smooth that what I got.

Length of Use: 2+ years

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

My process has been a total nightmare with them and after two revision surgeries I can honestly say that they have destroyed my body. I was only looking to sculpt 10 sounds away and instead the "doctors" just jammed their needles around to catch fat instead of sculpting. After much research I found that they should have told me to immediately do lymphatic massage and rigid binders to reduce scar tissue. Now I have a body full of lumps, a concave chest, and they have offered no solutions.

Length of Use: 2+ years

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend