Has any body reseached the cheapest place to have a tummy tuck that is safe?

or had it done and is willing to share info? thanks. I' have thirteen pound's to lose then I' wont be over weight any more!... Im thinking of having one down because I have a small stomach roll and can't do crunth's to firm it up because of multiple bulging disk's.

i have had a tummy tuck done and it was a good decision

the pain afterwards is very very sore,

i was on pain killers for 2 weeks

you get an incision from hip to hip

but in the end it was well worth it

im from Australia and i didnt ahve to pay a cent

'my doc did it through medicare

is another country an option? I know my mx band dr. is associated with a PS surgeon on his website www.ready4achange.com - I think his name is DR. Consuela or something. But I know of several people who have had work done by him for a very reasonable price - one guy who I think is member on here had a full body lift for like $10,000 or so. Another girl got everything she wanted for $10,000 - if your just looking for a tummy tuck only - I think my friend said the tummy tuck was like $3000 or less.

As far as all the controversry of MX - this hospital they work out of is really new and updated and very very clean & sterile located in Monterrey which I was told by locals was the richer part of MX and very Americanized - the hospital was better than any American one I've set foot in which is a lot since I work as an EMT on the ambulance. I plan on going there and using Dr. Consuela for any future PS since I was so pleased with the facility & faculty the first go round.

Big Warning on the Mexico thing. My sister went to Mexico City and got a tummy tuck for $2500.00. She nearly died on the table, they gave her the wrong antibiotics, they did a really bad job, and when she got back to the states she ended up with HUGE hospital bills, not a bargain at all. Just do tons of research before you let someone cut you open!

I must say that I was banded in Monterrey and know the hospital and doctors that CandySmootch is mentioning. The hospital is American owned and TOP NOTCH. If I have a TT when I am at goal I fully intend to go to Monterrey again. (unless my insurance will cover it, then it would be more practical to have it done and paid for here) I also have been wondering about the whole process of having a TT done. I am surprised that no one posts any info here.

I actually had a consult here in NC last year about this time for a tummy tuck. I thought it would be motivational to know how much and have a plan to get it done so it would aid in me loosing weight. The tummy tuck with liposuction...would have been from hip to hip and would have cost around $5900. I actually have a "apron" or pannis (i think its callled) and I'm hoping that I can convience the insurance company I need it for comfort and hygiene reasons when i'm closer to goal.

Melissa

i have had a tummy tuck done and it was a good decision

the pain afterwards is very very sore,

i was on pain killers for 2 weeks

you get an incision from hip to hip

but in the end it was well worth it

im from Australia and i didnt ahve to pay a cent

'my doc did it through medicare

Hi Fee

I am in Aus too and have been researcing for months. How did you have yours completely covered by medicare and who done it? I cant get much covered from Medicare at all, some minute amount not even worth worrying about. Please let me know your secret.

Thanks

I had a tummy tuck four years ago-it was a great decision. After a csection for twins, my stomach was never the same. The recovery is much worse than having the band, though. My only warning is that the surgery has a "rolling pin" effect...all of your weight gain travels upward. I gained all of my weight in my arms and upper body. So...it doesn't make the weight disappear-it just shifts it!

disanders

hi the tummy tuck is no precudure for weight loss.

did you do the band?

i thing no lies you continue whit your nutritional gilans?

you do exercise,frecuently?

How mmany calories you take for day.

I also had a tummy tuck done one year from being banded. It brought me from a size 10 to a size 6. I live and work out of Oregon, but actually work for Dr. Kuri and two plastic surgeons down in Mexico- so if anyone out there would like more info please drop me an email, I can send you a lot of information.

Thanks, Jessica

jessesp9@comcast.net

Hi Fee

I am in Aus too and have been researcing for months. How did you have yours completely covered by medicare and who done it? I cant get much covered from Medicare at all, some minute amount not even worth worrying about. Please let me know your secret.

Thanks

hi kellie

i have sent u a pm:)

I live in New Jersey and will be in the market for a PS in the near future. Anyone have any recommendations?

I would love to send you info and prices please just email me your email address. Thanks, Jessica jessesp9@comcast.net

See if your insurance will cover it sometimes cheap is not always better.

I posted the information below this post just after I had my tummy tuck on July 4, 2005 and I can honestly say that after my band this has been the best investment I could have ever done for myself. I am so happy with my results and just ecstatic about how wonderful I look. I am now gaining the self esteem I wished I had had all my life. I just got back from Christmas vacation and the compliments I got from family members that had not seen me were just fantastic. I am so proud of the way I look but most importantly I feel good about myself and it is such a new feeling for me. I have been promising pics of me for awhile now and apologize for not posting them, but I will try my best to get that done very soon. I truly recommend anyone wishing to get this done, to go for it. I had to go to Mexico for $ purposes, there is no way I could have ever afforded to get this done here. I am very pleased w/ my surgeon and with the hospital where I got my care. My sister-in-law just had her tummy tuck done Dec. 21 with the same surgeon, and her experience was also very positive. I would have no reservations about returning and having some more ps. Well good luck and let me know if you have any questions.

Hello, everyone, just wanted to update everyone on my tt and lipo. Well, I got back last night and I'm really exhausted. The whole thing was really hard, it is quite uncomfortable. The tt itself didn't hurt and doesn't hurt, its all really numb. The all over lipo is what I'm sore from and was even more just out of surgery. I went into the surgical room at 10:30 am to get drawn on and prepped and at about noon I went into surgery. It was a really long surgery, I didn't get out until about 7 or 8 pm. The doctor says that the body liposculpting is time consuming as he has to hit all the fat deposits on the body. I mean everywhere. Arms, upper and lower back, the side of my breast, the fatty spot between your breast and armpit, waist, thighs (inner & outer), butt, just everywhere. I am still swollen from all the lipo. Then he did my tt and injected some fat into my butt to give it a rounder look, I can't see any difference there, yet, my lower back is too swollen. It was hard for me, there were nights I layed there and thought what the hell did I do to my body??? Am I crazy, how can anyone cause so much pain to themselves???? You wonder? I can't tell you how many times I promised God to let me get through this and I will never do this again... I stayed in the hospital 2 1/2 days and that was really good, the hospital is a private hospital and I was so well taken care of, the nurses don't speak Eng., but since I speak Spanish there were no communication issues. They were there for my every request and question. Let me tell you I'm not an easy patient to take care of, I think I wore out the nurse call button, I'm sure they were glad to see me go. The doctor and his staff were incredible, just wonderful, answered all my questions and concerns before and after surgery. He would come see me 2 or 3 times a day, which was wonderful. The first time they took my full body girdle at the hospital to clean my incision, I looked at my scar and belly button and got really anxious and nervous and almost passed out, I started crying and got really uspet with the whole thing. That was when reality hit me what I had done and how major this was, so it was quite disturbing at the time, The nurse ran to get the oncall Dr and he stayed with me until I calmed down and didn't feel like I was going to pass out. I have to say that if you are planning on doing this, make sure you will have someone with you 24/7 to help you, you will not be able to do this alone. It is not easy. But it will be worth it once its all done. I am still in between, I don't know if this was the right thing to do and I'm sure it will be the right thing to do. Its just hard. The whole time I was in pain, all I could think of, I could have taken a two week vacation in Hawaii with my husband with all the money I spent and I could be having fun enjoying myself, instead of being in pain. My mom and stepdad where wonderful, they took awesome care of me and my kids, my oldest daughter also helped me out alot, she's great. I was nervous about my little one not understanding and wanting to jump on me or what not, but he was great, he was told mommy had boo boo's and he would try to stay away from me. Well, that was my ordeal, Its two weeks today, so I'm still not out of this, it will take a while, but it looks like I'm going to be okay. Oh, I forgot to tell you all, the shunt for drainage is a pain in the ass, I hated that thing so much, I just had it out on Friday morning, I was draining more than the usual and the Dr. had to leave it in longer, oh my what a pain in the butt, that was the worse thing about this. Well, I'm glad to be back, I have tons of work to do. The best thing is to be back home and to see my husband, I sure missed him, it would have been easier to have him on my side during the recovery. Well, got lots to do and will have to come back and read up on what everyone has been doing these past two weeks.

Hi AKK;

I don't think "SPAM" is on the preferred foodlist for banders. :angry

Carola