I am heading towards making my goal weight this summer but we are not in the financial place to pay for surgery, I'm working P/T to save enough $. I am hoping for a combined tummy tuck and breast lift (implants if needed).

My parents live in rural Wyoming, we are in New York. Due to DH's busy career and having small children my mom has offered to care for me post surgery. I don't see any other way.

How do I pick a good surgeon w/o being from the area? Do I schedule consults via phone with photos? Is that even possible? Should I go for consults this summer when I am visiting my family, this would be one year ahead of scheduling a surgery?

I am not sure how long a stay this will require as far as being near the surgeon for after care. My dh will be able to stay with me up to 2 weeks in Utah while my mom cares for our kiddoes.

I know of several good surgeons here in NY, its frustrating....

My plan is to have surgery in Utah and then driving or flying to my parents home (drive is 9 hours, flight is one hour). My parents own an RV and have offered it so I could lay down during the trip which seems more pratical to me. My fear is if there should be complications and follow up care after that initial 2 weeks I'll be stuck in rural Wyoming nearest major hospital is in Montana 2 hours away, then 6 weeks later I will be back in NY 2000 miles away from my surgeon.

I hope this wasn't TMI.

I am heading towards making my goal weight this summer but we are not in the financial place to pay for surgery, I'm working P/T to save enough $. I am hoping for a combined tummy tuck and breast lift (implants if needed).

My parents live in rural Wyoming, we are in New York. Due to DH's busy career and having small children my mom has offered to care for me post surgery. I don't see any other way.

How do I pick a good surgeon w/o being from the area? Do I schedule consults via phone with photos? Is that even possible? Should I go for consults this summer when I am visiting my family, this would be one year ahead of scheduling a surgery?

I am not sure how long a stay this will require as far as being near the surgeon for after care. My dh will be able to stay with me up to 2 weeks in Utah while my mom cares for our kiddoes.

I know of several good surgeons here in NY, its frustrating....

My plan is to have surgery in Utah and then driving or flying to my parents home (drive is 9 hours, flight is one hour). My parents own an RV and have offered it so I could lay down during the trip which seems more pratical to me. My fear is if there should be complications and follow up care after that initial 2 weeks I'll be stuck in rural Wyoming nearest major hospital is in Montana 2 hours away, then 6 weeks later I will be back in NY 2000 miles away from my surgeon.

I hope this wasn't TMI.

Is it possible for your mother to stay with you in NY during your recovery? This might solve many of your problems. Traveling for the surgery is certainly an option, but you are correct in your concern about possible complications and distance from your surgeon. You will also need periodic follow up months after your surgery. Remember, your health and safety should be your top priority.

I'm no expert, but I think Dr. S is right about that one. Fly your Mom to NY.

As a resident of Montana, I can guarantee you that I would rather be getting plastic surgery in New York that in the rural west. You'd have to go to the emergency room in MT or WY if you had surgery in Utah and then had complications while staying with your mom in WY. They are unlikely to have much experience with what you would have had done.

It's beautiful here, indeed, but the population just doesn't support the kind of care you may need in a crisis.