Hello,I do not post much because I am the slowest typer in the world! But I am totally inspired by all the threads and pictures.I thought I would start my own for one because I am so Freakin excited and two I hope to help anyone else that is looking into plasic surgery.I went for my consult yesterday and I have an Appt for Feb 22cd!!!! I had lapband in March/07 with a starting weight of 226 (5' 6").I am now down to 150...5lbs from goal.He said I would lose another 10lbs with surgery!!!! I am having a full extended tummy tuck.Lipo of the thighs,hips and back.Also a breast lift,I had augmentation in 2000 but have breastfed two kids since then .So now I basically just have big boobs hanging south!My cost is $11,200.I am so excited I can hardly stand it!!! I have always had a stomach even before I got heavey so I can't even begin to imagine what a flat stomach feels like! I am not shy so I will definitaly post before and after pictures.He said I will have to go home with a foley for two days and drains for two weeks.My husband and I are both nurses so we will be fine with that.I just wanted to share and hope I help someone along the way......~Amy~

Does anybody on here know anything personally about either Dr. Lo Monaco or Dr. Heller in Houston ???

Thanks.

I have not discussed my PS with Dr Spivak either.Actually I have not seen him since surgery:wink2: I went to the surgery center to have my fills and never requested him because I never had any problems,and being a nurse I try and stay away from the Doctors:rolleyes2:I will go see him in March because I want my free year of fills for reaching goal just incase I may need them down the road. I live near Beaumont so I am not familiar with vey many Houston Docs.Good luck tommorrow!

hi... good luck to u with your ps... if u dont mind me asking..... how much does a tt go for??????

Does anybody on here know anything personally about either Dr. Lo Monaco or Dr. Heller in Houston ???

Thanks.

A friend of mine has had a breast lift with Dr. Heller and then she went back and had the TT and thigh lift. And another friend had her arms done with Dr. Heller.

They both look great!! What I find shocking is how faint the scars are in such a short time. I plan on using him when I am at goal.

Amy,

You are going to look so good! I am excited to see your results because my tummy looks a lot like yours.

Hi Ladies ~

Well, I went on Thursday for my consultation with Dr. Lo Monaco and am now really excited about the possibility of actually doing this! I have another appointment this coming Friday with Dr. Heller and then I'll probably move into the planning stage. I think I would like to have the surgery in early May so that I will be fully-functional again by the time school is out - I have two very active kids.

Amy, will you be spending the night in the hospital? Dr. Lo Monaco keeps his patients in the hospital for one night and then you go home with a pain pump for three days. The only thing that really freaks me out are the drains! I can't wrap my head around having those things in me considering how much I hate IV's . . . I am sure it will be fine, just not enjoyable. I am also a little worried about the compression garment. I don't really like things tight on my stomach since I was banded . . . But, those things are tolerable and I am sure in the long run, will end up being no big deal.

I couldn't believe my husbands reaction - basically 'do it if you want to' which is the only green light I need. I knew he wasn't going to be happy about it, but I expected more resistance than I got . . . He wasn't happy about the band either, but has seen how much it has helped me so maybe he figures this will end up being a good thing too.

Hi again Ladies,

I saw Dr. Heller on Friday and really liked him too . . . Now I am faced with having to chose one of them to do my surgery.

Dr. Heller seems a little more conservative than Dr. Lo Monaco as he (Dr. Heller) only wants to do the TT with no lipo.

While the idea of less 'down-time' appeals to me, I am worried that if I don't have the lipo done at the same time then I'll wish I had when it is over. But, I am also concerned that I may end up with sagging skin if I have the lipo on my legs and hips, and as it is right now, I don't have saggy skin . . .

Dr. Heller said that he will remove a significant amount of skin and tissue with just the TT and that the difference will be very noticeable.

What do you ladies think? Would you have the lipo done too, or just the TT?

I am looking at doing this much sooner than I had originally planned - maybe like in a couple of weeks with the idea being the sooner I do it, the sooner I am recovered . . . :eek:

Amy - are you getting excited ??? Not much longer - yay for you!!!

Just getting back to the forum after months off. I had a baby in June, replacement band surgery in September and a number of other things. I am also a Spivak patient, living north of Beaumont and considering PS with Dr. Ciaravino. He seems excellent. A few of my friends have used him for different surgeries and they were very very pleased with the results. I really want to lose about 20 more lbs but am anxious to get all this belly fat off too. Just wanted to make sure you had check into Ciaravino because he could be a great fit for you. Good luck and keep us updated.

Kim - I have not heard of that doctor, where is he or she located?

Well - I just got off the phone trying to schedule a second consult with each Dr and was surprised to learn that one of them doesn't do second consults . . . I was like, 'Are you kidding me - I've got more questions now than I did when I first came in.' She reluctantly scheduled an appt for me but the other doctors office was like, 'When would you like to come?' I have a feeling I'll be using him . . . My gut tells me if you have trouble seeing him before the surgery, you will probably have trouble after the surgery too.

Where is AMY ???

Dr Ciaravino is in Houston. Here is his website. Houston Plastic Surgeon Michael Ciaravino MD, FACS and his phone number is 713-627-1200.

Thanks Kim . . .

Where is AMY ???

I am here:wink2: I have been in bed all weekend with the flu.My oldest daughter was home all week with the flu and my baby had MRSA from a boil on her leg.YUK!Needless to say I am cleaning house today.It feels nice to be able to pick my head up!! I am anxiously counting down the days!! I am trying to get my house organized before surgery so that will pass some time!

Glad you are having surgery sooner than later.It is soooo exciting!!

Ohhh . . I hope everybody there is feeling better! I am fighting a little sinus-junk right now myself and it is no fun.

I am glad to hear you are staying busy - that is the key for me. I need to work on this house too, the one thing I don't want or need is to get all stressed out about the house right after the surgery. I will admit I am a bit of a 'neat-freak' so I imagine that will be an issue for me.

Amy - you should call me sometimes when you come into town to see Dr. Adam. I live in League City - maybe we could meet for lunch or coffee or something . . .

PM me if you're interested and I'll send you my cell phone #

hi Nurseamy,

I can feel your excitement! I'm having the same procedures, my date is March 12th & I can't wait either! I've gone from 300lb to 158lb, I'm trying to loose the last 8lb before the surgery! Good Luck & It's all gonna be fabulous!

hi Nurseamy,

I can feel your excitement! I'm having the same procedures, my date is March 12th & I can't wait either! I've gone from 300lb to 158lb, I'm trying to loose the last 8lb before the surgery! Good Luck & It's all gonna be fabulous!

WOW!!! Congrats on the weightloss!!! Your user ID reminds me of my guilt last night!! I had lost a couple of lbs over the weekend from being sick and the only thing that sounded good was ice-cream so my husband was working so my mom brought me a pint of blue- bell! I ate about a third and threw it away..I was proud of myself for not eating the whole thing or saving it for later! Icecream is my weakness!!!!

mommi-hammi - PM me your cell and we can try and get together.Sound like a great idea.

~Amy~