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

Plastic Surgery Thread For Western Australi



Recommended Posts

I am wanting to go down the plastic surgery track,and it is as daunting as when i was researching the lap band, want doctors, procedures, cost, outcomes etc.I am certain there are alot of people out there like me.

Thanks

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi slimmy!

I'm happy to have a chat with you about it matey. I am going down that route, as you know, but I have to admit I found it incredibly difficult finding any feedback about WA surgeons, costs and aftercare information. I eventually went with the PS my bariatric surgeon recommended, because it was the only real recommendation I managed to get!

I'm trying to research the surgery (and my surgeon) as much as possible, but can't find anyone in Perth who's done it that's still around. I did find one lady who posted in a yahoo group who was operated on by my PS and she raved about him, but that was in 2004 and she hasn't posted in a long time, so I can't pick her brains about it.

So I do feel like I'm going in a little blind. I like my PS, he certainly inspired confidence when I met him, but I'm a bit of a control freak - I want to know exactly who I'm dealing with. Unfortunately, it's not that easy to do with Perth surgeons.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Lellow,

May I pls ask....what is a body-lift? How much will it cost and how long is the expected recovery???

thanks

Megan

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

megsy,

a body lift is also called a belt lipectomy - it's when they excise a 'belt' of skin right round your lower body so you end up with a scar that goes right the way round. They then pull the skin down and suture it all up, so that all the 'slack' of excess skin from your stomache, back and hips end up getting tightened.

In my case, I'm also having a upside down conical vertical incision (from pubic area to belly button) to remove excess skin from my upper tummy area, and my belly button will be repositioned. I will be having some body contouring and the fascia underneath my upper tummy will be 'knitted' together, to get that 'flat stomache' look. My PS will also do some Lipo on my mons area to ensure that everything's 'flat' all the way down.

All in all, after Medicare rebates and health insurance rebates, and inclusive of my PS's fee, anaethetists fees, autology and hospital fees, it will cost me around $16 000.

I will be in hospital 4-7 days, and will be expected to recover at home for at least 4 weeks before returning to a desk job. If I were doing something more active, like working as nurse, I would be expected to take at least 6 weeks off for recovery.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Lellow... OMG!!! That sounds like a huge procedure. You are so brave!

I can't believe you need that much work after losing 27kg. I need to lose another 45kg and I am hoping that I wont need anything done afterwards. I am kidding myself aren't I??? God, I hadn't really thought about what I would need done, not to mention how much it would cost!!!

can I ask how old you are??

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Oh, its a lot to do with genetics, luck and where you carry your weight. I lost 45kg give or take and I dont really "need" anything done.

There's stuff I would like - like my lower body would look a lot better if I did get ringbarked and pulled up but its just not bad enough to really justify it, if that makes sense. Its flabby, yes, its dropped a bit but I'm 41 and its huge surgery and you just couldnt say I really "needed" it.

I do NEED my boobs done, but in the scheme of cosmetic surgery, that's not a big procedure. What I wish they could do is pull my stomach up towards my boobs at the same time, just that inch or two of flab that's there bothers me but its mostly ABOVE the bellybutton which is rather weird for a woman who has had 3 babies and was pear shaped and never overly fat in the abdomen.

You just dont know, in short. Some people's bodies really take a beating from pregnancy, some dont. Some people's bodies recover after weight loss, some dont. Some people's skin would always have been looser than others, weight problem or not.

I think in reality I am not surprised how I turned out - I think I could have predicted it with good accuracy, I could tell by the shape of my body etc. Do you have hanging, flabby areas or big rolls now for example? I didnt. Do you have big upper arms? I didnt. But I did have large breasts and they were saggy from the time they grew in puberty so there's no surprise there.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

In contrast to Jachut, I kinda figured I'd always need surgery. I carried all my weight around my stomache (check out my pics in the link in my sig, and you'll see) and I've had 4 big babies, and each time my stomache would get more stretch-marked and would never bounce back.

When I had my last baby, I was huge, and YET I still had an overhang of skin under my big pregnant belly. I knew then that if I ever lost weight, the skin would still be an issue.

In fact most bariatric patients are expected to lose, get to goal and then maintain before getting PS just to see if their skin will 'bounce back'. But my PS took one look at my skin and said that it would never bounce back (well, d'er!). It's covered in stretch marks, and looks like an empty balloon.

And just to answer your question, I'm almost 39, but Jachut was about my age when she lost all her weight and she hasn't had the kind of skin issues I have.

The funny thing is, I look great in clothes! But naked, I look like I have a 'skirt' of skin all around my hips, over my pubis and now it's developing in my back as well. I just look like my skin is several sizes too big for me.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

megsy,

a body lift is also called a belt lipectomy - it's when they excise a 'belt' of skin right round your lower body so you end up with a scar that goes right the way round. They then pull the skin down and suture it all up, so that all the 'slack' of excess skin from your stomache, back and hips end up getting tightened.

In my case, I'm also having a upside down conical vertical incision (from pubic area to belly button) to remove excess skin from my upper tummy area, and my belly button will be repositioned. I will be having some body contouring and the fascia underneath my upper tummy will be 'knitted' together, to get that 'flat stomache' look. My PS will also do some Lipo on my mons area to ensure that everything's 'flat' all the way down.

All in all, after Medicare rebates and health insurance rebates, and inclusive of my PS's fee, anaethetists fees, autology and hospital fees, it will cost me around $16 000.

I will be in hospital 4-7 days, and will be expected to recover at home for at least 4 weeks before returning to a desk job. If I were doing something more active, like working as nurse, I would be expected to take at least 6 weeks off for recovery.

Since you in Perth can you give me the name of the surgeon, sounds worth doing. Oh and what a difference so far.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

slimmy,

I'm seeing Dr Bruce Allbrook, you can get his contact details simply by googling him. Good luck with it, matey!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

PS is something that i have in my head that will be a path that i will need to go down, I am only 24 but i have a very bad over hung apron belly, masive thighs that are extreamly bumpy and lov ely saggy boobs. I havnt had my Lap band in yet but i am very concered how my skin is going to go. I want to be prepared now for plastic surgery, i am a public patient and i dont know what im going to have to do finacially to be able to have PS.

I dont want to sound like im jumping ahead of myself as i havnt even had the band in yet, but it has been playing on my mind.

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

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 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

    ×