Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Recommended Posts

Okay, I've found my top 3 plastic surgeons (as of today, at least! :lol:). 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 consultations. I really like the results of both the LBLs and FTTs on both Reath's and Wagstrom's pages. I'm not so thrilled with the LBL results from Gingrass/Haws, but the basic FTT results are pretty decent.

Any comments on any of those doctors?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have to say from the pics, Dr Reaths work looks fantastic. I think going for 3 consults is a smart idea though, just to be sure that the service and support you're going to get for your money is top quality too. A website might not reflect exactly what the whole process will end up like. As a friend said to me when I said the PS site that I was looking at today looked like they really CARE (I was in that happy/blind to reality phase myself) - aren't they all supposed to look all that way? I think the only way to REALLY decide is by going and asking the dozens of questions we have.

When are you thinking of going for the consults? Its kind of exciting isn't it??

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm wanting to lose a lot more weight before I go to a consult, so I'm thinking late spring or early summer for that and then surgery in December (to give me enough time to find and get established in either a job or a PhD position). Or sooner, if I get too impatient! :biggrin:

This is terribly exciting. It wasn't too long ago that it was just hitting me that the band was actually working. Now it's starting to hit me that it's working so well that I'll probably need plastic surgery. I'm thrilled, though.

So far, I really like Dr. Reath's pictures the most, but he comes across as smarmy-looking in his own pictures on the website. I'm really hoping that's not the case, though.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I would say that Dr Reath has the least amount of problematic patients, looking at his befores even the LBL patient didnt look that bad before, I didnt see anyone on his site with MAJOR loose skin. It seems as well that LBL is a fairly new thing at his practice.I doubt that there are many on there who has ever been more than 14lb over weight! I would say that most of his patients are post pregnancy.I know there is one lady and he does get good results......oh I dont know I think I am biased because so may of them were skinny minnies to start with!! Ignore my predjudices!Ask to see some more pictures of weightloss patients.

Melinda and Mary at least have a fair amount of LBL pictures and their patients to have loose skin/excess round the middle, even though some of the results arent perfect, they have far more difficult cases.

Lois Wagstrom for me gets the best results, she has people with a lot of excess and her belt abdominoplasty pictures show a massive improvement for the patients, if it were me I would go with her!

Just my thoughts hon!

Nina x

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I would say that Dr Reath has the least amount of problematic patients, looking at his befores even the LBL patient didnt look that bad before, I didnt see anyone on his site with MAJOR loose skin. It seems as well that LBL is a fairly new thing at his practice.I doubt that there are many on there who has ever been more than 14lb over weight! I would say that most of his patients are post pregnancy.I know there is one lady and he does get good results......oh I dont know I think I am biased because so may of them were skinny minnies to start with!! Ignore my predjudices!Ask to see some more pictures of weightloss patients.

Melinda and Mary at least have a fair amount of LBL pictures and their patients to have loose skin/excess round the middle, even though some of the results arent perfect, they have far more difficult cases.

Lois Wagstrom for me gets the best results, she has people with a lot of excess and her belt abdominoplasty pictures show a massive improvement for the patients, if it were me I would go with her!

Just my thoughts hon!

Nina x

Yeah, that's one thing I noticed about Dr. Reath's site, too, that there was only one patient that even looked like she really needed the surgery. Hers turned out really well, though. So far, Reath and Wagstrom are my favorites. I really like the idea of having a female surgeon. What throws me about the Haws/Gingrass pictures is that they don't identify which surgeon did the surgery.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×