Plastic Surgery Questions?

Hi everyone! I have a couple questions for anyone out there who might know. I have been very fortunate that my skin has tightened up since losing so much of my excess weight. I am about 50 pounds or so from the goal that my surgeon set for me before surgery. I am going to have a tummy tuck in March because I should be to goal or very near by then based on the way that I have been losing over the last year and a half. Anyway, I am wanting to get my upper arms tightened up because some of that skin is flappy and loose. Anyway, I was hoping to get that done in December. I have not been to see the surgeon yet (have a consult in early Novmeber) but was wondering if any of you have had any experiences with plastic surgery on either the tummy area or the upper arm area. I kind of want to know what to expect as far as recovery time and pain and restrictions and all that? If anyone could give me some feedback, I would really appreciate it! Thanks in advance!

  Karen

Karen,

My first consult is in mid-October with Dr. Shewmate(sp?) so I can't offer any answers to your questions - sorry!  May I ask which plastic surgeon you plan to see?  I would like to get at least a couple more opinions besides Dr. Shewmate to see what their approach would be for my issues.

I'll be getting a lower body lift and breast lift about the same time (March) as you.  Thanks!

Kelly

Thanks for replying Kelly! I am looking at several doctors but the main ones I am considering is the same one as you.....LOL!!! I can't spell it either! Also, I am really considering Dr. Love. He is very highly recommended and he has an excellent success rate as far as I can tell! I am really nervous about the whole idea of having plastic surgery but I know it will be best for me because I have come too far in this process to have extra skin that will make me uncomfortable with my body! I think I deserve this! LOL! Anyway, thanks for replying and we will have to keep in touch as March approaches and as we start this process!

  Karen

Absolutely!  We definitely need to stay in touch for this PS journey.....we can whine to each other when our families are sick of us!

LOL! I know what you mean! Thanks girl!

  Karen

Hey Karen,

It's Shewmake, btw.  If I had the $$ I'd go with him!!!  He has a very good reputation.  My DIL had her breasts done by him, and chose him eventhough she was willing to go to Dallas for her surgery.
I used Roger Anderson for my facial surgeries, and am pretty pleased....not thrilled, but pleased. Just didn't have the money for Shewmake.

I went to three for consults, hated English....huge jerk and very snooty office people. Suzanne Yee is expensive, charges for her consults, and isn't as good as she thinks she is  LOL.  I do hear a lot about Love, but he has a brother who isn't as good, sorry I don't know which is which, but I'll try to find out.

Good luck!

Thanks Susan! I just found out that there are two Dr. Love's and I am not sure which one is the best either! That is something that I definatly want to find out before I have any work done! My surgeon (Dr. Wellborn) had one of them to come to a support group meeting and speak but unforunatly I missed that meeting so I did not get to hear what he had to say! I guess this just means a lot more research on my end! I would really appreciate it though if you would let me know anything that you hear about them!  I am also concerned about the price but this is something that I have to do for myself to make this whole process complete and final. I will come up with a way to afford it somehow!

Thanks again!

  Karen

I have a client who is a medical professional and I know she told me which of the two "Loves" is the better one. I'll be seeing her in the next couple of weeks and will ask her.

As far as the $$ is concerned, I didn't have a ton of extra, but since our house was paid for, I took out an equity loan. What the heck?  People (not me, certainly), don't think twice about spending more than $20K on a car, so why not spend that on completing YOU?

Have you considered financing? I used CARECREDIT for mine. I requested 8500 and got 6000.
It is owned by GE Moneybank.

Only got my boobs done and I will say be sure you are where you want to be with your weight before the surgery.......

As for pain and recovery everyone is different......I have high pain and meds tolerance so it was nothing major for me to have implants lift and reduction......


good luck
tammy

Hey Tammy! Thanks for the advice! I have been saving all of the extra money that I have made working the afterschool program where I teach so I think I will be able to pay with cash! I really don't want to have to finance anything unless I have to! Making a car payment is enough for me! LOL!

I am a little worried about being at the weight I want to be at by that time! I would hate to spend money for this surgery and then lose more weight and have everything saggy again!

I am like you with the pain tolerance. When I had my Lap-Band my surgeon gave me pain pills to take while I was recovering. They had phenegran in them for nausuea. I only took one pill and it was to ease my stomach trouble rather than to help me deal with pain from the surgery!

Anyway, thanks again for the advice and tips. I may be PMing you for more information later on if that is ok??

  Karen