Plastic Surgery

I just wanted to know if anyone on here has had plastic surgery after weight loss surgery and what their experience was. Thanks for all who answer...

Wendi

Hi Wendi, I'm in the process of finding a plastic surgeon right now, just had my third consult on Tuesday. I'm almost 53, have lost 108 lbs and feel like a candle in an Italian restaurant....just kind of melting. My 44DD's are 34 longs now, my stomach looks like bread dough, and my face (ok, to me, maybe not anyone else) like a basset hound. So, I starting on the second part of the journey to complete the new me. My eyes and lower face are my primary concern. I've found very good supportive undergarments that do a great job hiding the excess skin, but heck, your face is right out there! So, since I'm not rich I have to decide what I'm going to fix and what I'm going to live with. When looking for a surgeon, please be aware of the differences between Plastic Surgeons and Cosmetic Surgeons.  A Plastic surgeon is a doctor who has always specialized in surgical reconstruction, has extensive experience in the field.  A Cosmetic surgeon is  a doctor who has moved from one field of medicine to cosmetic surgery. For instance, I saw one doctor, who I'm even considering going to, who's background is in Ear, Nose and Throat, but now does cosmetic procedures. I suppose it comes down to $$ and who you feel comfortable with. The plastic surgeon will do my procedures as an inpatient, I'll be under anesthesia for 5-5.5 hours (eyelids and face), stay in hospital over night, cost....almost $14000.  The cosmetic surgeon has a surgical suite in his office, does the procedures under IV sedation and local anesthetics, sends you home afterwards. His cost.....about $9300. Now, I talked to the plastic surgeon about my tummy tuck and of course, what he told me isn't what I wanted to hear, but here it is.  The incision for the  tummy tuck goes from just around each hip bone and removes all that excess skin, but doesn't do a thing for your rear end or legs. He proposes a lower body lift where they go from the middle of your back alllllllllllllllllllllllllll the way around to the other side and pull everything up. Reason?  I'll have this nice tight, flat stomach and a saggy aSS....would I be happy with that? When he told me the recovery time is 3-4 weeks, I didn't even ask about the price since I'm self employed and can't take that much time off work. Ok, so I guess I've rambled on enough, hope in all of this I've answered some of your questions. I'm planning on having one of the local plastic surgeons speak at one of our support group meetings, so I'll keep you posted on that.

Susan, your such an inspiration!  I'm 52 and can relate to all the things you say and I haven't even had surgery yet.  I've prayed, researched, and talked this out with my family and friends and I think I'm ready to make an appointment with a doctor.  I'm leaning toward Dr Roller in Springdale.  If anyone has input I'd wecome it.  Take care everyone and have a good weekend.  Jan

You should come to our support group meeting at Cooper Clinic surgery on 1-31 at 6:00.  We actually have more "older" people in the group than younger.   AmyBeth

Hi Jan, Do it!  Just do it!  My only regret is that I waited so long to have this surgery and actually start a new life. The main reason that I want plastic surgery is to try and look as young as I now feel.

Susan I am doing LBL at Willow Creek womens hospital., with Dr. Vanderpool.  The surgeon is $7500, the operating room is $1600, the anesthesiologist is $1300, the one night stay in the hospital is $440, so $11,000 and I will then have to go back and do a 2nd surgery for the inside of my thighs anywhere from 6 months to a year later.  Then the 3rd surgery will fix my "chesticles", another year later!  So essentially 3 surgeries in 3 years.  The LBL will be a cut all the way around and will remove my pannus lift my booty and take care of my outer thighs with some lipo involved too.  I am still losing so I am going back in June and hopefully will be at my Bariatric surgeon goal of 160 and holding before plastics.  If so then I will hopefully be having LBL on my birthday October 3rd.  Fix my birthday suit on my birthday. AmyBeth

I went for my plastics consult on Wednesday and logged about the experience on my profile/blog.   AmyBeth

i got my girls done.....this year, a lift with implants 8500.00 in memphis. I am still healing but so far I like them. they look real are soft and move when I move. No on can tell they are fake. tummy tuck is my next project. take care tammy

just curios.. but what does "older patients" have to do with anything? dr roller also has some older pts.. .. any concern of mine is not how old the other pts are, how old the dr is, my main concern would be how good is the surgeon that will be doing my procedure, where did he/she go to school and what is his/her outcome on the surgeries that has been done. sorry, i was prob mistaken how i took it, just my opinon.. do your research on your prospected surgeon.. anyone can stand and give a good talk, just make sure they have the knowledge to back em up.

I believe what she was referring to was the fact that yes older patients do run the risk of more complications than younger ones and also as we age we take longer to heal as our bodies now react differently than when we were younger.  As for age I can tell you that we have people as old as 65 in our support group that Dr. Coleman did RNY on them and they have done well, the only problem she is having is problems with recurring hernias. AmyBeth