My Plastic surgery consult

Today my hubby and I made the trip down island to Victoria and I had a consult with Dr Ken Smith re: abdominoplasty aka tummy tuck. ( I live in the town of Port Alberni on Vancouver Island, Victoria is about 3 hours away by car) His first concern was that I have a hernia, there is a buldge right in the area where my RNY scar is, He felt it is likely a hernia resulting from the RNY, I explained to him that this buldge has been there for more than 15 years. When my daughter was born 15.5 years ago by c section the OB/Gyn told me that the muscle in my stomach was stretched like an elastic that had been stretched so much it no longer would go back and that sometime in the future I would need muscle repair. I know this bump well and have seen it many times in the mirror. So if it IS a hernia, I've had it for a long time and IF it is a hernia why has it not been mentioned before and why didn't the Dr notice it / repair it / or mention it when I had the RNY??? So as a result he is going to call my GP and have him arrange for a ultra sound and maybe even a CT to determine if it is or isnt. If it IS a hernia, I will have to have that repaired by a general surgeon before the tummy tuck. If it isnt a hernia, he will do the muscle repair when he does the tuck. We also talked about my butt, and he said if I wanted I could have what they call a lower body lift but he prefers to do them in two seperate surgeries. He did offer me the name of another surgeon in Victoria who would do a lower lift in one session if I really wanted it all done at once. He said this was usually a day proceedure in the private clinic, but I would need to stay in Victoria for a few days after the surgery and a nurse would make a couple visits to my hotel or where ever I am staying. Because of the hernia/ muscle repair he may choose to do it in the hospital and have me stay one night, then return to the hotel. Thats a call he will make when we have figured out the hernia. And for the part I know you are all dying to know...the quote... For the day proceedure in the private clinic, with 3 follow up visits from the nurse it would be $8,086.50 For the one night stay in the hospital, with 2 visits from the nurse it would be $7,842.75 Just so you know I will gladly receive money orders, cheques and cash of any denomination, I also have a paypal account if you would like to donate online......LMAO Im kidding of course... Since I had my RNY surgery in Mexico and did some recovery in a hotel my biggest criteria when I decide where to stay will be if they have comfortable chairs in the rooms ...LOL...I've been there done that and a comfortable chair makes all the difference Becky

Hi Becky, I had my first plastics consult too. I need an abdominoplasty and breast aug (I'm opting for silicone) and my quote was $12,700 for both. Fortunately I don't need a breast lift or brachioplasty. I do have a "second" butt - it seems to sit right below my real butt (neither one is very big) however, it's not that bad and I think I can live with it so for now I'm not considering the LBL... Hopefully you don't have a hernia - just a stretched muscle! Keep us posted... Bekah

Just curious if you have lost all the weight you want to lose? I still have a little over 70 pounds to lose. I'm sure I will need abdominoplasty and probably the thighs and arms but thought I had to wait until I had lost all my weight. Julie

Hi Julie, I still have another 48 lbs till goal weight, My goal weight is 150, but I would be quite happy with 150-165. I saw my GP and got a referral to the plastic surgeon last SEPTEMBER, not knowing how long it would take to get in, some have long waiting lists. Feb 5th was the first avail appointment in Sept. In Sept there was no way to be sure how much weight I would have lost by Feb. I also did not know once I saw the PS how long the wait time would be before I could get the surgery. I wanted to be "in motion" I didnt want to wait until I was at goal and then be told that Id have to wait a year to talk to a PS, then another year to get surgery. So he doesnt feel I have to be at goal to have the surgery done. But I am also still loosing in the mean time. He said with the hernia investigation etc, it is unlikely I would be able to get surgery before the fall. So by then I would hopefully pretty close, if not at goal. Does that make any sense? I just re read your question....if you are thinking maybe after you loose all your weight you might not need plastic surgery...that may be possible. I have such a large skin apron its always been VERY obvious I would need the tummy tuck. Becky

It makes since. I had not even thought about there being a wait for the plastic surgeon. I go back to see my surgeon in April. I'll talk with him about it. He actually has a plastic surgeon in his office so I am considering using the one in his office. I loved my surgeon and completely trust his opinions. I will definitely need a tummy tuck and possibly even need my legs and arms done. I've been overweight so long I think I have no elasticity in my skin.

For me, I'm only 6 pounds from my personal goal (although 18 pounds below by surgeon's goal) so the PS said I'm essentially done. He actually said to stay where I'm at and I'm playing with maintenance eating now... Bekah