Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

2,848 topics in this forum

Who would you say is the best and most experienced plastic surgeon specializing in body contouring after weight loss located in New York ?

HI all! Ive received a lot of negative feedback from the hospitals regarding Bariatric process with United Healthcare. I was just wondering how long you all had to wait after your paperwork was submitted for the insurance to approve the surgery? Also, any feedback on how what I can do to speed up the process? THanks:smile:

Hi All: I have a couple of questions about drains from my tummy tuck. First, how slow does the drainage have to be before they pull them out? For instance, if I am draining less than 25 cc's in an 8 hour period of time? Second, if the bulb on the drainage tube keeps inflating instead of keeping suction on does that mean that it won't work anymore? I'll call my doctor's office tomorrow, but was hoping for answers from some of you experienced with plastic surgery and drains. Thanks. Sue

I would like to know in other words at what weight did you realize you would need a tummy tuck??? Can you please also include your height and the weight you started off with and your current weight! And if you dont mind your age! I'm just trying to get an idea of what I have to look forward too If my skin is going to sag. Please include all areas where your skin started sagging...etc. Thanx!

I'd like a nose job aka rhinoplasty. My lapband surgeon was great and I've had textbook results. Now I'm ready to go back. And I wish I could go to Brazil or somewhere because 20/20 and Dateline have done stories about how it's all the rave to have nose jobs....those surgeons are skilled! Anyone gone to Mexico for plastic surgery? Know someone? I'm considering Dr. Huacuz as he's my lapband doc but frankly there just isn't alot of info on him doing nose jobs. I've known people who did the tucks and lifts...but not noses. Anyone?

Hi everyone, I am starting to shop for my P/S... I am pretty sure that I am going to want a Tummy Tuck(full) within the next year... I've lost 65 lbs and although I'm not at my W/L goal yet I think the TT would be a great incentive for me... cause it looks like crap now. 1) Where did yo go 2) Who was the surgeon, did you like him/her 3) what were the costs 4) were you self-pay or did OHIP cover anything? Thanks in advance

After losing 85 pounds in 18 months and having 2 c-sections, my body is ready for this! I am scheduled for April 30th at 7:30am for a circumferential tt with fleur de lis, muscle repair, hernia repair and lipo. Surgery is supposed to last around 6 hours and my doc is letting me go home the same day with a pain pump. I will be following up with him the next day in the office. I plan on posting before and after pics soon. I just want to thank all of you for sharing your experiences and pics. I also want to thank Dr. Schulman for his advice, opinions, and time to this forum. Cathy

From an earlier post: Doc and his assistant warned me about unrealistic expectations, and that "people who have cosmetic surgery are the type to be the toughest on themselves." I've never thought of myself as a perfectionist, but maybe in this aspect I am becoming one. I must think on that. For those of you who are post-plastics and those considering, do you think they have a point? Do we go from basically not noticing our bodies to becoming hypercritical of ourselves during this WLS and cosmetic surgery process?

Ok, I have for the last 3 months been using Cosmetyn. Surprisingly, it has actually worked. I have lost weight in the past, in fact more then I have now, and the strech marks never really got better. The always had deep ridges and redness. I bought the Cosmetyn, in desperation, but frankly figured it was just a scam. It is expensive. On little bottle is 90 dollars!!!! But, you should use it only in tiny tiny amount each day, so it will last a month. This is my fourth and last month, because it is dimenished the marks to my safisfaction and the ridges are non existant. I just can't believe it worked? I also used Bio Oil some, and it worked, but didn't seem t…

This time, it's purely cosmetic. Every time I drop into the low 170s I start looking and feeling sick, but the damned roll won't come off the middle. I finally broke down and went to talk to a plastic surgeon today. He said that I've done a great job, but that the best way to get rid of that roll is to take it out via lipo. Fortunately my skin has rebounded well, and so no major cutting will be required. His work looks good, his own staff has had him work on them and is happy, and the price was pretty decent. So, I'm scheduled for 9/22 -- which is just under 2 weeks away! We'll see what happens.

Hi, I had a full TT and some thigh lipo 4 weeks ago. I got a fill 6 days ago. I have very good restriction, maybe too tight. Anyway the top of my compression garment (which I am supposed to wear 24/7 still) sits right where my band is. It seems to make me worse as far as tightness goes. Wondering if anyone had the same experience? Thnx Karen

I keep worrying about dying and leaving my daughter without a mom just because of vanity, or coming out deformed! I am having my surgery in Luxembourg where we reside and it's done by my gynecologist who is also a cosmetic surgeon. He performed my cesarean 2 years ago and I guess he did a good job with the my stitches. Problem is there aren't that many options in this small country and I have no idea how to check up on his credentials. He has introduced me to another one of his patients who was post-op and I saw her thigh lift and she looked great. I'm just so worried about all the posibilities and now I might back out. Please send some words of comfort!

Hello I am having a lower body lift/breast lift on thursday but I am not at goal. I still have another 40 pounds to go but the timing is perfect. I was wondering if anyone has had PS not being close to goal and what were the results?

ok so now that im finally back to normal after my belt lipectomy... it time to start the journey to the next stage: Brachioplasty/Inner Thigh Lift with Lipo Im scheduled for surgery on May 28th!!! Im going to get the pre-op stuff done next week!!:biggrin: Does anyone know what these two procedure are like? I'm starting to get a little anxious and nervous... But this is the last surgery so thats a plus!!

Hi: I'm officially scheduled for abdominoplasty on 5/14/09. I have my pre-op with surgeon and also with hospital next Wednesday. I feel great. My questions are concerning the pre-op for the hospital. 1. What do they do for this pre-op appointment? 2. Should I start taking Iron or anything else to make sure my bloodwork is good? I take a daily multi-Vitamin and Calcium now. 3. I read somewhere that you should start eating a banana a day two weeks before surgery. What's that for? Oh, another question. I've had recurring rashes under my apron. Is it a problem if my rash is there on surgery day? I use lotrimin often, but it still flares up occasion…

I JUST HAD THE SURGERY, I'M KIND OF THINKING AHEAD. I HAVE A HMO AND WAS WONDERING SINCE THE INS COVERED THE SURGERY WILL THEY COVER THE TUMMY TUCK TO. HAS ANYBODY HAVE THERE HMO COVER IT???:biggrin:

Anyone ever heard of him? Anyone ever been to him?

I am down 110 lbs. and saw a plastic surgeon last April for a cosult. He came highly recommended, however, he wanted to do multiple procedures at a cost of $25000. He recommended a full belt lipectomy, thigh lift and gynocomastica fix. I feel that my chest is fine, in fact quite muscular, my legs are fine for me, I run a ton, yet my biggest problem is my abdomen. All I want done is a belt lipectomy. It goes all around the abdomen. I found a surgeon who will do it for $11,000 which includes all post op visits, two nights in hospital everything. My question, is that a reasonable price? And do any of you have any experience on what to expect as far as pain etc. I ha…

I had such an easy time with Aetna covering the lap band surgery...was wondering if anyone who has Aetna knows if they cover the Tummy Tuck or not?

I am contemplating a tummy tuck, but I have to say I am a bit concerned about the pain & recovery. Just wondering if anyone has had both tummy tuck and breast reduction and which procedure did you find more painful. I had a breast reduction last June, which went very well. I admit I was pretty uncomfortable for a few weeks, but I have a high pain tolerance and did not find it terribly painful. On another post, a few women described this as being painful, but worth it.

Wondering something.... It took me 17 years to pack on all the weight so I know that just because I've arrived at my new weight-it's not over. Gonna take time to make this permanent as it will be easy to slip back into old habits and gain weight. That said, I maintain restriction still to prevent me from overeating. I'm having plastic surgery done on my nose and am wondering if I should get an adjustment to unfill some so that I won't risk sliming - don't want to hurt my nose. When they say this is a process-they aren't kidding! I'll be doing great and then I'll have an episode where I ate too much, didn't chew enough-whatever and I'll slime. Anyone have restricti…

i love my band...and am sooooooooo thankful i had this surgery!!!!!!!!!!!! BUT the excess skin is driving me crazy!!!!!!!!!! i look so good in clothes...but i get so depressed when i c this mess!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i'm about 15-20 pounds away from goal and i just want it off!!!!!!!! its causing sores and itching and its just horrible!!!!!!!!!!!! the skin is my biggest complaint...i'm trying to think positive and look on the bright side...but how did some of u mentally deal with the excess skin....?????????

i'm 16 pounds away from goal...i havent updated my ticker...i know i'm going to need a Panniculectomy...i'm hoping my insurance will cover a portion of it...i do have sores...rashes..the whole 9...what do i do now????...my surgeon's office keeps telling me to wait till i need a fill to talk to my surgeon about it...i have a feeling i will hit goal b4 i need another fill...do i go to him...do i find a plastic surgeon on my own...what do i do??????

Okay, I did it. I scheduled my TT. But now I am sort of freaking out. Its 6 weeks out. What do they do about your port? Does it change? Do you HAVE to get an unfill? I'm seeing both. Anyone who has had the band and then a TT please let me knwo about your experience. I am about 10lbs from goal, and my doctor tells me that this will help me get there... because I'll actually be able to work those muscles again after the repair. After 3 children by csection they feel this is the right time.

Next summer I'd like to have a brow lift and eyelid surgery done. There are probably 1,000 plastic surgeons here in Houston and I really don't know how to begin to find a good one. I thought about getting started with a cosmetic dermatologist and get some referrals from them. But I just feel so lost. Obviously if you have somebody working on your FACE you want the best there is!!! HELP! Any good ideas?

Ok, so this all may have been covered before, but I'll ask anyways....I am set to be banded on 5-8, and right now I am hovering around 400. Per my BMI, I may be looking at a goal of over 200 pounds lost. So, my question is, does this mean absolute certanty that I will have hanging skin issues? Is there any way to prevent or lessen the problem as I lose the weight? Thanks in advance for the info... Topher

My face has thinned out so much that I need my nose done. I've always hated it and felt it was way to large for my face but now it's awful....it overtakes my other features. Any recommendations on surgeons? I went to Mexico for my band and would return for this - anyone?

I felt like my pants were damp a couple of hours ago, so checked out the dressing covering my last drain site, and it was leaking. It stopped after a bit, so I wasn't too worried when I called my PS's rooms and spoke to his receptionist. She said it sometimes happened, and not to worry, the drain will probably come out tomorrow anyway. But now it's leaking again, and badly this time! The whole side of my pants is wet from it. It's pink, so not blood, but how am I going to sleep with me leaking Fluid everywhere? Has this happened to anyone else? What should I do? I'm waiting for my PS's receptionist to call me back, but his rooms are going to be closed soon...

I'm 22 and having the surgery soon.....I am probably going to get a tummy tuck but don't plan to have kids for about 5 years.....should I wait till after I have kids? If I get a tummy tuck before will I just completely ruin it when I have kids?

i have mantoux vacination when i was small and i have very big scar of this vacination and these days i feel pain from there ... i dont know what to do i want to take off this scar if it is possilble or sth else ... can you help me please ...

Hi im near the stage of having to have a tummy tuck and arm lift im just looking for info and would be great to chat to someone who has had it done in ireland or the uk im very interested to know what the scaring was like with the arm lift as im quite nervous about it So any info and recomendations would be brilliant

hey guys! First of all... wow I really enjoyed getting to see everyone's photos. All of the information I have been reading is so helpful!!! I am having my full tummy tuck on April 7th. Just thought I would ask... for any preparation tips and things you wish you would have done prior to surgery. Thanks a bunches!!!!!

I am all scheduled to have a robotic assisted hysterectomy, appendectomy and since I'm under - having a panniculectomy. The surgery is going to be performed by a gynocologist oncologist (he specializes in the robotic assisted). I am currently 208 lbs. My personal goal is 160lbs. I went and saw my band surgeon today (to get all my restriction removed . He is adamant that I not get the panniculectomy. He thinks that I should wait until goal and also I should go to a plastic surgeon. The surgeon performing my surgies has done about 100 panniculectomies. (BTW, he is going to do it without charging me). I may have to pay some OR, anesthsia fees, supplies, etc. Now I…

My wife is considering having a tommy tuck. Any information would be gratefully appreciated. She is also concidering Mexico if the price is right and the care is good. thank you GREG

i am struggling with when i am going to get my tummy tuck. my plan was no tummy tuck until i was at goal. but now i am kinda waivering on that. i THINK i would be happy at where i am now, if the nasty tummy was gone. but if not i am just screwed because i wont be able to afford another tummy tuck if i decide to lose more weight. how did you know if you were ready for the tummy tuck? did you just know? were you back and forth any like i am?

Hi: Not sure if I spelled it right, but has anybody had just a paniculectomy? I am considering this because I will soon be laid off from my job and my current health insurance may cover a paniculectomy. I would prefer to have a full tummy tuck, but because I will be unemployed I don't have the extra dough to pay the difference between paniculectomy and tummy tuck. So, I thought I'd ask on the forum. Anybody had just a paniculectomy? Were you happy with the results? I've seen some pictures online on some of the plastic surgeon's websites of just a paniculectomy and they give me nightmares. I am guessing they put those pics up to encourage people to get the tumm…

This just doesn't seem right to me ... I had a consult w/ a surgeon back in Jan. I don't think I plan to pursue surgery with THIS doctor. His office staff was very nice and helpful - they submitted a request to my insurance just to see if they will cover any part of PS. To my surprise and delight - they will cover the panni portion of the TT. I have an approval letter for code: 15830- Panniculectomy. The surgeon suggested an extended TT and I was quoted $9,500. He is out of network, so I know my coverage is 70% of the contracted rate, after a $2,000 deductible. No one from my insurance co or the doctor's office can tell me how much I will be liable for. I'm expect…

I was just wondering if anyone didn't wait until they were at their goal weight before having a tummy tuck. I've wanted one for as long as I can remember and I'm getting VERY impatient.

My husband asked me about this today and I have to admit I haven't thought about it too much. I assume that under your compression garment, you wear underwear, right? My garment will look like a body suit - under my breasts down to my groin area. If it's as snug as they say it will be, what is the most comfortable sort of undies to go under them?

A little history on me..... I have lost 38 lbs & want to lose 50-55 more. So, in total I'll lose about 90 ish. Plus I have had 3 babies & my belly really got BIG. Anyway, as I lose I can already see the skin wrinkling & sagging :tt2:. I'm so mad at myself for letting myself get so big over the years that I ruined my body. My skin will never go back. So, after I lose all this weight I'll have that to deal w/. It really sucks! There's no way I can affford a TT. CAn any one suggest a good surgen in Boston area? What is a round about cost for TT? Thank you!

Well, I'm ready for round two! (I had a tummy tuck, lipo and breast lift 6 months ago). I just had my two week pre-op appointment with my plastic surgeon today. My journey is almost complete. I wanted to have lost my last 10 pounds but other than that, I'm almost done with this wieght loss adventure that started a little over two years ago. I'm going to have my arms done, lipo of the thighs, a thigh and butt lift and an anchor revision to my tummy tuck. My doc is estimating about 6 hours for the surgery. I'm very nervous, but excited too. I will post some before pictures soon. So, come along and share my experience. Hopefully, we'll learn from one another!

I am scheduled to have a hysterectomy on April 13th. I spoke with the surgeon about a penniculectomy and he said he has done quite a few and said he would do one on me even though I'm not at goal (about 50 more pounds to do) and would "just not get reimbursed for it". He said cost was not even an issue. He is willing to do it without getting paid. Has anyone ever heard of this before? I also have a call into the hospital. The doc may be willing to accept $0 for the penniculectomy, but the hospital, anesthesiologst, etc. may not be so generous! :frown:

Hello everyone, I've been lurking here quite some time, so I thought I'd come out. :tt1: I'm so impressed and grateful that so many of you are willing to share the personal details of your experiences, especially since there seems to be such a taboo about talking about cosmetic surgery. Having lost 110lbs, I've been very interested in getting some work done. Actually, it's a little addictive: At first I just wanted a simple TT. Then a breast lift. Maybe a little lipo. Okay, my butt could use some help ... and my thighs. And since I'm going under the knife *anyway*, the girls could probably use a little augmentation as well as lifting. And why not a full LBL? :thumbup:…

Is this the right place to post this? I haven't received a reply so I am wondering. Hello! It has been a long time since I have written. I had a full TT and Lift/Aug this past September. I had reached my goal sometime before that point. Since the surgery, I have had agonizing pain caused by Lower Back (L5-S1) disc and tendinitis. Since the PS I haven't been out of pain. I am seeing a pain specialist now and looking at the prospect of lower back surgery before I end up being paralyzed by this disc compressing my nerves. Since being on the pain killers, it has been INCREDIBLY difficult to keep the weight off. Does anyone have any words of advice, support, et…

Hi! I am a 38 year old woman who was banded last Aug. I am now 320 lbs, down from 360. My husband and I are thinking of trying for a 4th child, if we can loose more weight by next spring. My question is this: I am pretty sure a further large weight loss will leave me with a significant pannus. At what point should I look into getting it removed? Do I wait until a year after the hypothetical child is born? Obviously my age is an issue if we are going to be trying to get pregnant. Would a pregnancy ruin any abdominal work that I had done beforehand?

Hi everybody. I wanted to start this thread to document the plastic surgery journey that we are about to start on. Frangipani & I both were banded last August and have each lost over 100 pounds. Since we have been traveling the lapband road together and now are about to have PS at the same time (me on June 12 & Frangi on June 13) we thought it would be appropriate to share a thread. We have both learned so much from those who have gone before us and our hope is that our stories can be of some value to others. I am having a lower body lift and medial thigh lift. All of my pre-op testing is done and now I'm just nervously waiting for my big day, which is les…

I have not had my lapband yet.......I am waiting for them to give me my surgery date, I think it will be in April. I know I am jumping the gun a bit... I am young so I am not sure I will need lipo/tummy tuck but I may want it anyway lol. I don't know how much skin will bounce back. I was hoping this could be a thread for people to post what they are having/had done and the cost of the procedure to give people an idea of the costs who are not being covered by insurance! Thanks everyone! :laugh:

Does anyone know if there is a way to get ins. to pay for a tummy tuck if you have fibroids removed? As long as they're in there . . .

i have been researching plastic surgeons in my area for a long time now. hell, even before i got my band! i am going to have a tummy tuck done. and, eventually, a breast lift with augmention. i have it narrowed down to two doctors. well, let me explain.... i had been looking at dr "a" for quite some time. thought he would be the one. then found out about dr "b" from a friend. really really liked dr b. thought he would be the one. but now that the its getting closer to the time i want it done, i dont know! both doctors have great credentials and certifications, etc... here is my the thing- dr a's photo's, well the before's look more like me. and the after'…

Dr. Schulman, I'm going to be undergoing a Belt Lipectomy on March 12th... My birthday is on March 27th and i was planning on having a little get together for my birthday at a hotel.. So here is my dilemma... I was wondering how long after the procedure would i be able to get into a pool/hot tub at the hotel... I know its a pretty large incision, so i really want to know when it will be ok...