Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

Has anyone every used her?

I am 34 years old and having lap band surgery at the end of the month. I am 5' 6" tall and have approximatley 85 pounds to lose and I am relatively athletic. I am really hoping not to have any hanging skin when I reach my goal but after reading many other stories that doesn't seem very realistic. Have any of you heard of any creams and lotions or other things that I could do throught my weight loss journey to reduce the amount of loose skin at the end??? Thanks for any insight you have!!

yup, i am about 70-80 pounds from my first huge goal (180/190 lbs) and i have a PS consult tomorrow. i actually completely forgot about it with everything going on until they called to confirm. i have the appointment for arms and LBL. hopefully he will say "i can do the arms now" and give me a goal to hit for a LBL. dont think i will go with this guy though - no insurance whatsoever... how discouraging... i dont even know if my insurance will help me out, but it would be nice to be able to go to someone who accepts insurance. here we go ..

Hi all, I am wondering if any of you have any recommendations for plastic surgeons in Utah. I am down 90 lbs and while I still have a ways to go, am starting to look ahead to dreams of a flat stomach. I think I'll start setting up appointments etc... in about another 40 lbs, but would like to start researching doctors now. I would appreciate any names you can provide, as I would prefer to work with someone who comes with a recommendation if at all possible. Thanks! Lori

I found my Plastic Surgeon on a new website called asbps.org it stands for The American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons. These doctors are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. They specialize in body contouring surgery for patients like us have lost a significant amount of weight and need to have all that excess skin removed. Go to www.asbps.org to find a surgeon in your area.

I was wondering if anyone here had ever tried the revitol before. I have seen on their website they are the best. BUT all websites say they are the best. Any first hand people out there can point me in the right direction. Thanks

I asked this over at MMH, but figured it didn't hurt to ask here, too. Y'all might have some ideas that the ladies at MMH didn't think of. Anyway, do any of you have any ideas for questions that I should ask the PS I am having a consultation with on Wednesday? I went to the last consultation intending to ask questions and then realized once I had left that I'd completely forgotten to ask anything important. The procedures I'm interested in are a tummy tuck and breast lift (possibly augmentation, as well). Any suggestions would be appreciated. I plan on typing up the questions and taking a print-off with me on Wednesday.

A question for all of you experienced bandsters out there. I am just now getting to the point where my loose skin is becoming a problem for me. I think that i am at least 25 - 30lbs away from a tummy tuck or lower body lift but since I was just recently diagnosed with a hernia this looks like a real reality for me. (that is redundant I know!) A couple of questions - is it just me or is the loose skin actually uncomfortable? It occurred to me the other day that the feeling of it pulling at me is really almost painful - particularly (I know a disturbing image) if I sit on it wrong - for example on the subway - it gets all pinched up! Am I totally imagining this? Also,…

Hi, has anyone got the name of a good plastic surgeon in Melbourne? i live in the western suburbs and would like to have my legs fixed, i have loose skin on the inside of my legs and still have saddle bags. Also i would like prices please. Kaye

Would like to hear from any folks who have used Dr. Adam for their PS. I know nurseamy is having some work done soon (if not already). I am considering Dr. A. for a TT and neck lift in about a year or so. I have herd nothing but GLOWING reports of his work (have had several friends who have gone to him with very satisfied results). Any others out there had work done by Dr. Adam?

But I went to see an plastic surgeon in Holland and got sheduled for an full tummy tuck the 8th of March. I went for an consultation and wanted to shedule my breast first thinking I had to loose more weight. I lost 70 kg. And as my stomach is still HUGE I thought I had to get more off. Which has turned out very very hard! According to her I should not loose more weight as I have a lOT of excess skins which will be kilo's. And she does not see much fat elsewhere. She convinced me to apply to my insurance for my breasts ( I wanted to have this done first and pay myself then my stomach) as this would save me a lot of money and she complete refused to do both at same day. Too…

I'm not finding out a whole lot about this procedure. I have a few questions about it too. Maybe I'm not looking in the right places? Any information provided would be greatly appreciated! I still have a way to go before really getting on with PS search, but I thought it might be wise to start saving up for what I might need now since my insurance is horrid! My insurance will pay for a Panniculectomy but not for abdominoplasty. Why? How much does it cost compared to abdominoplasty? Can I have more children after a Panniculectomy or is it discouraged too? Why is pregnancy doscouraged after these types of surgery...because you might have to have it again or d…

On June 27th I had lipo of the hips, flanks and thighs. I also had a breast lift with implants. These pictures were 3 days after surgery. I was way more bruised immediately after. The lipo actually hurt more than the boobs. The boobs have dropped now and aren't so swollen and I like them a lot. The incisions are healing great. I will take pictures soon of them now and add them. I had the stitches out today and my doc was happy and said my skin was amazing! WOOO HOO!

Does Dr. C perform smart lipo? His web site doesn't really say what procedures specializes in. Has anyone used him for lipo? Also, does lipo interfere with the lap band? I mean what if they hit your port, or the tubing and fill it with some of that lidocaine? Do they have ways of avoiding it, or don't the needles go in that far? Also, I am about 30lbs from my goal weight. Should I wait until I am closer to my ideal weight before I have this procedure done or doesn't it matter? Sorry, for all the questions, but I am just dying for some answers. Thanks!

I told my band doctor that I was having brachioplasty next week and he wants to remove some of my fill on Monday (he wasn't clear on how much). I am currently at 7.8 cc's in my VG band. Is this a common practice? SInce I only spoke to the nurse I really didn't have a chance to ask why. Did any of you have this experience? Thanks Eugenia

Is there a website where I can find the average prices for certain procedures? I'm most interested in tummy tucks (either FTT or ETT), lower body lifts, and breast lifts (with and without additional augmentation). I've got my first PS consult on Monday (not planning on surgery for several months - trying to get closer to goal), and I want to be up-to-date on what's considered a "normal" price.

Hi everyone, I thought that I would start this thread mainly because I have found reading other peoples so helpful, it is so much better to read actual experiances than listen to a surgeon give you their veiws! I actually looked into having a FTT done before I decided to get the band, I have had 6 kids and have a fairly horrific scar from and apppendectomy that got badly infected when I was a child. Just before I had my initial appointment I decided to get the band fitted too, as much as anything to break the yo-yo pattern of dieting that I had fallen into for years now. One of my biggest worries was that I would have the TT and lipo and then 2 years later I would h…

So I am wondering if it is too soon for me to have PS. I am one year post op tommorow and have lost 135 pounds so far. I started at 360 and am at about 225. My body fat percentage was measured at 27% recently, but I have lost some weight & gained some muscle mass so I guess that I am at about 25%. I had a consult with a PS & he told me that I am ready for the surgery. What I need to have done is an abdominoplasty with a large pannus removal, lipo on my chest and lower back a gynecomastia (male breast reduction) and some fat injected into my buttocks to fill them out. The surgeon mentioned that when all was said & done that there would be about 20+ …

I am getting my Tummy Tuck and maybe a breast lift with Implants next week and I need to know for all the poeple who have already went through this process how long were they in actual pain and how long were they off of work?? I am taking 2 weeks off of work but wanted to know when did you start feeling normal again. I am excited yet nervous because I have 3 kids and I can't take to much time without being able to do my normal routine. Also I heard that a lift is much more painful that implants can that be true??? I need feed back really soon. Thank you

hi this is nina874,s husband, just posting to let you know how the op went. dr pascal took 7kilos of fat out and 26cm of skin. she is very happy:thumbup: with every thing and asked me to tell everybody that the lipo :blink:hurts more than the tuck . if i have only sent this post to one person could you please repost it to all the girls on the february/march 08 plastics thread,thanks

I am 8lbs from my goal of 150lbs & I'm scheduled for a tummytuck, brestlift & lipo on my hips, I'm so excited I can't wait! However, my port is positioned between my breasts & is so obviously protruding, it looks like a bone sticking out from my chest. I went to see my Lap Band surgeon Dr. Leung in Vancouver, & he suggested moving it under one of my boobs! If it's still going to protrude this is not a satisfactory solution for me! As it is now, my bras rub against the port & if it moves under a boob, I can only see it rubbing even worse. I have another consultation with my plastic surgeon before I have my procedures done, I wanted to see if he c…

I really like this doctor. She's had quite a few WLS patients, so I feel very comfortable with her. She's pretty pricey, though. Of course, I may just think that because I don't have any real reference point, lol. :thumbup: Anyway, I got several different quotes, depending on what I decide to do. They range from $12,710 for just a tummy tuck and breast lift to $21,160 :smile2: for a tummy tuck, breast lift, BA w/ silicone implants, and lipo to back, hips, and flanks. It's about in the middle of that range for just the TT, BL, and lipo. *sigh* I dunno. I need to go on at least one more consult (have three others scheduled) before I make up my mind. I do like …

I want it to be the middle of May now, damn it! :Dancing_wub: It's like I can see being thin and having a flat stomach right around the corner and it's killing me to wait. I know I have to wait, in order to be closer to my goal, or I risk ruining the results of the surgery. But inside, I have this gibbering voice screaming, "Gimme, gimme, GIMME!" :wink2::biggrin: I'm sure that I'll freak once it is mid-May, but right now I'd go under the knife in an utter heart beat. What makes it even harder to wait is that I know that even if I had a TT right now, I'd look so much better than I do currently. It's so disillusioning to work hard and lose half of my excess weight, and n…

Hey everyone, I guess I just didnt' realize just HOW SAGGY and gross my boobs were going to get. I've been a double D for so long and I was so excited to go to a C as I lost weight. I still have a ways to go on the weightloss, and I swear a couple weeks ago they just deflated and went flat. Now they are just a couple of flat sacks and my nipples point straight to the ground. I refuse to look at myself in the bathroom mirror now after I get out of the shower. I made myself look at them last night and just started bawling like a big baby. At least when I was fat they were big and full, now they look just awful, like rocks in socks. Anyone on here who has had a lift and i…

Hi Everyone, I'm new here, found it after my LBL surgery and decided I'd post about my LBL. I think education is everyone's best friend, especially to the people who haven't made a decision about reconstructive surgery yet. I had my band done in Tijiana by Dr. Kuri in 8/2003. I never did reach goal, but did decide late last year that I've lost about all that I will and went ahead with the LBL. AngelNurse, I believe, posted that the LapBand was a mosquito bite and the LBL a alligator bite according to her doctor, and a shark bite according to her. I can wholeheartedly agree! I'm three and one half weeks out and have always sprung up from surgeries in the past. Th…

I was encouraged by Kareyquilts to start this thread. I had my LBL on 12/20/07 in Post Falls, Idaho by Dr. Mark Owsley. One other person in my weekly support group had this same surgery in April this year. I asked her a few questions and of course asked the Surgeon but nothing totally prepares you for this surgery. My Surgeon compared my lapband surgery as a "mosquito bite" and the LBL as a "alligator bite", I told him after the surgery that he should of said "shark bite". The surgery took about 5 hours. My Surgeon doesn't weigh what he takes off, he says that it's a matter or body sculpting and uses his eyes and hands to get the best results. He did tell me that he t…

i had mylap band onmarch 29 2007...i have lost 65 lbsso far...wentfrom251 to 180ish right now..i wouldlike to get down to 140's i think...i never used a scale so i amnot sure what my ideal weight is,,,i want to be a size6/8....i amnowa12... so i definitely have a need for a TT...frommy 2 kids plus the weight los i have a TON of extra tummy skin...,my problem is this..i am scared of that incision..mind u i had two c sections and didnt find them that painful...but i feellike a tt would be very painful...what is recovery like..i have two small kids ages2 and3 and need to be up and about...also, i feel like, shouldnti just be happy with this wonderful weight loss, there is a …

I have lurked through all the threads for as long as I have been a member here and found great inspiration from all you lovely ladies and gents. With encouragement from Kareyquilts I am starting a new thread about my LBL. Tomorrow is the day and I am freaking out. Up until this point I was pretty calm and collected. I am no stranger to surgery and have had some plastics already (breast augmentation 3/07 and lipo pre-band) I usually know what to expect but this is unchartered territory! I am 5'9'', currently 163lbs and look like I'm wearing a potato sack from chest down. I have waited for this day since well before I was banded and although I feel sick to my stomach with…

I just wanted to get some feedback on this really and get my thought down on paper as it were. Ok....... my family has unfortunatly a very strong history of breast cancer, but in order to be tested for the cancer genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 you have to have a LIVING family member that has survived the disease....none of my family survived. Now I come from a very small gene pool, my ancestors werent big breeders(unlike me!!) , there are lots of only children,so it could be that the picture appears worse than it is, but none the less EVERY woman in the 3 generations preceeding me died from breast cancer, no exceptions ( well my mum died from cirrosis of the liver at 52 but sh…

Had my surgery consult and I'm getting a new butt! I've always had a very flat butt.... nnnnnnoooooottttt after this spring. I can't wait. nj.

Now, I know a lot of surgeons will combine several surgeries and perform them during the same operating period, and that usually saves the patient money. How many will they usually do at one time, though? I mean, I know I'll need at least a tummy tuck or lower body lift and a breast lift. I'm thinking I might need an augmentation, too, if the breast lift reduces my size significantly (I'm currently a sagging D). I've also recently started noticing the sagginess of my arms, which means I might need an arm lift if it gets much worse. Would most surgeons be willing to combine all of those procedures into one operating period, or would I probably be looking at at least t…

I love all the information I have found on this site and all the help I have received and I can't wait till I'm banded to be able to help others but until then I can help others hopefully in this area....... May 2006 when I lost a lot of weight from Phentermine I had a hanging tummy . If I was naked it would be down to my pubic area. I had Tricare at the time and they denied twice to pay for it so I went ahead and self-pay. I think it was 5k, maybe not that much even. Anyways..... I got down to 180 and felt that I can resume that weight after the Tummy Tuck...WRONG!:tt1: For about 2 months I maintained that weight but I had to switch medications and my eating habits were …

Dr. JLo- First of all, I admire your work that I have seen on Big Medicine. I am such a fan! I have carried twins for 38 weeks (6.4 lbs. each), 19 months later had another c-section, all while having a pre pragnancy weight of 245. Needless to say I have quite an "apron". I feel comfortable with the way the rest of my body is shaping up through exercise. Okay so maybe I want some implants too. I have told myself that I wanted to be 170 before seeking out a PS. I am 5"5" and in a 18 (because I have to tuck in my stomach in my pants). The rest of me looks like a normal person now. It is hard to feel good about this much weightloss when I see that apron everytime I look i…

Hi all..real quick intro..Im 22, banded in Feb, almost to goal weight. I want to have some PS done, so I can actually be a normal 22 year old...problem is, I am working on getting my teaching certificate so dont have alot of money. I want implants and a tummy tuck and maybe an arm life..if you have had PS in Texas or Mexico could you relate some of your experiences to me? Thanks. My parents are dead set against Mexico, but if I have to come up with the money, then O well Thanks so much

I really, really hated the staples that I had during my lap band surgery. I had little spots of inflammation at each point where the metal touched the skin. I think I might actually have a slight allergy to metal (or at least some kinds of metals), because I get a reaction when I wear certain rings. So, I was disappointed to learn from a nurse at my ps's office that he plans to use some staples on my incisions (she said that they would only be used at "high tension" areas for the lower body lift and medial thigh lift). Is that a fairly standard procedure? Or should I request sutures only? What method(s) of reconnecting tissues/skin did your surgeon use? Tami

Having been inspired by JulieNYC, Puddin, and TheGhost, I decided to start a thread to chronicle the brachioplasty I will hopefully be having soon. I started at 218 lbs and had my lap-band surgery on 1/17/07 by Dr. Spivak in Houston. As of today, I'm at 144 lbs. I still have 26 more to lose. On Friday, Oct 26th, I went to see Dr. Lior Heller about having a brachioplasty (my weight was 148 on that day). My plan was to see him for the consultation and schedule the surgery for late December. I figured I'd be within 10-15 lbs of my goal weight by then. Well, Dr. Heller is doing a TV show for a local news channel and told me if I could lose 10 lbs in 2 weeks, he would waive …

Hi Doctor You replied to a thread about a problem with a pea sized are on my nipple that wont heal. I am now nearly 6 weeks post op and it still hasnt healed. My PS has advised me to use a netting dressing (I think it has iodine on it ) with a waterproof dressing on top and to change this twice a week, my nurse at my family doctors has advised me to change the dressing every other day. What advice would you give, it is no better, but no worse. Should I keep it dry or is it ok to shower. ? By the way I saw a programme that featured you on a British TV channel. I found it really interesting. And proudly told my husband you had answered a thread I posted. Any advice wo…

I know I need tops that open down the front so I don't have to pull anything over my head following BL/BA, and I want clothes that are cozy enough to lounge or even sleep in, but nice enough for guests (who better stay away for the first week!) So, I'm thinking of picking up a couple of inexpensive track suits and/or PJs. My question is what size? Do I get the size I wear now, or go up a size to allow for swelling and the compression garmets (also getting lower body lift)? Any other suggestions for clothes for the post-surgical healing period? Tami

I'm more than happy to answer questions and usually get online every 2-3 days. My practice is quite busy, so I'm sure you'll understand if I can't get you an immediate response. The best way to get a question to me is to include my name in the Title (i.e. "Question about TT recovery for Dr. JLo") Tha way I can see it and others interested in that topic can refer to it and earn too!

Paulax ... Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,167 What if anything can be done at the time of surgery for skin that tends to form hyprotropic scares? OR Is this something that is dealt with post surgery with injections? Honestly, I have no idea, but we hear of surgeons who are specialists dealing with hypertrophic scaring or true keloid patients. Thanks in advance. I have hypertrophic scaring from my breast reduction 3 years ago and one of my band incisions is still red and rope like, 2 years out. I am considering a tummy tuck. __________________ banded July 21-06 280 fill 1 Aug 21 - 1.65cc 255 fill 2 Oct 23 - 2.2cc 245 fill 3 Feb 15 - 2.5cc 228 fill …

Hi Dr. JLo, LOVE the show! My questions are, why do so many patients lose their butts after weight loss and then more after the LBL? Is their something that can be done during weight loss to "plump" or firm it to keep it from going too flat? Is there something that could be done surgically to help if I am deflated, besides butt implants (can't do that one)? I'm an African American woman and I can't drop it like it's hot if I have no junk in the trunk!:tongue: Second question: I have had a breast reduction almost 20 years ago. Viewing pictures of after photos of weight loss patients I have noticed that the breasts shrink and/or sag. I am afraid also that the girls …

Curious to know if anyone has had plastic surgery deemed medically necessary by a proffesional and has it covered by insurance?

This may seem like a bizarre question and I realize that because of many factors, it is different for everyone but how after you lost your weight - how much skin did you have left over? I am 5'9" and 270lbs. This may seem silly buut I am almost more afraid of what the hanging skin will look like than what the fat looks like now. I will have PS to have it removed if need be, just wondering what I'll be dealing with.

Okay, I've found my top 3 plastic surgeons (as of today, at least! ). I've looked around on www.makemeheal.com for people that had lost a lot of weight and had PS with a surgeon in my state, and I was really impressed by all of these surgeons. Could you guys check out their websites for me and tell me what you think? I kind of feel like I might miss something myself, since I'm already thrilled with them. A "so happy, I'm blind to the reality" sort of thing, you know? Anyway, here are their websites: Dr. David Reath Dr. Lois Wagstrom Drs. Mary Gingrass and Melinda Haws So far, I'm leaning towards either Dr. Reath or Dr. Wagstrom, but I plan on doing at least 3 cons…

I don't need a tummy tuck but do need a thigh lift insurance coverage pending and they won't do a breast lift not big enough for a breast reduction but I was wondering does everyone who gets plastic surgery pay out of pocket or did insurance cover any of the cost really can't afford to pay but need liposuction breast lift and total lower body lift kind of dissapointed lost weight and left with a mess of flabby ugly skin and droooopy boobs go figure.

Hi all. I was banded in Oct 2002 by Dr Spivak in Houston. I have had a breast reduction, lipo, panniculectomy/tummy tuck and implants. Unfortunately, I had some issues with a herniated disc and was placed on a course of steroids and the last time seemed to balloon me up about 20 lbs (seems like it all went in the area between my breasts and lower stomach). I am very happy with the results of my plastics ... except it seems that my skin has lost ALL elasticity and my breasts seem to need work again. Anyway, I love my plastic surgeon ... but he has indicated that the inner thigh lift procedure (they put the incision in the leg crease) is not worth the possible gain. He ha…

Are those the same surgery, or different ones?

Hi, Dr. John LoMonaco here. Some of you may know me from the "makemeheal.com" or "obesityhelp.com" forums. I'd be glad to help anybody who has questions I can answer. I will say that it is hard for me to answer emails in a timely manner, and many questions are really best left for your PS to answer but I'll help if I can. I do prefer to answer via the forums since everybody can see the answers that way! Some of my patients are featured on TLC's Big Medicine and many have agreed to be available to help others contemplating plastics should any of you care to contact them through me. Best wishes, John LoMonaco, M.D., F.A.C.S. Houston, Texas

Check with your plastic surgeon about being a skin donor. The skin is one of the most important organs of the body and skin is badly needed all the time for grafts. I saw this suggestion smewhere on the web while I was researching weight loss surgery, though I can't find it again, of course. However, it's worth asking about. Possible answers are yes, no, and maybe.

Hi all Considering I haven't even been banded yet, this could be considered jumping the gun but I need to start saving for this next. I am researching plastic surgeons in Queensland for when I get to that stage. I would need a lower body lift, arms and boobs done and lipo in a few areas. Has anyone in Queensland seen a surgeon about this - or better still, had it done? I haven't been able to find a surgeon in QLD that does LBL. In a pinch I could go to Sydney or Melbourne but would prefer Qld. Another option I have been thinking about is going over to Thailand or similar. I've heard lots of good feedback about this so this is a definate option. I'd take my sister …