Found My PS....

I have had 3 consults in the past few weeks, and the differences were pretty incredible. I went with 3 drs that have a good name in the area, and I know people who have had surgery from all three, and they all were very happy with their results.

So, I'm going to have my surgery with Dr Michelle Place in Danville. I felt very comfortable with her, and one thing that I really appreciated about her was that she did not say anything critical about my experience or results from the surgery I had in Mexico. She actually said that Dr Q did a pretty good job, I just need to have a few finishing touches.

So, her charge for lower body lipo (inner and outer thighs, and knees) and a mini face lift (basically a neck lift) is $8,900. That covers the surgery center and anesthesiologist fees, and all post op appts.

I plan on having my surgery in June, as soon as school lets out.

Yipee!!!

Wow, that's an amazing price for the work contemplated as I see it. I remember vaguely some of the Mexico complications you presented with and shared here, or perhaps that might have been others that did so. Frankly, I rarely peruse this board any longer.

I wonder what her experience level is with post-op bariatric patients and the special challenges we present with post. I assume she is board certified. I can tell you with some certitude " thighs " in this realm present special challenges that are generally among those procedures that are the most challenging in reconstructive surgery.

Regardless, while there are some excellent practitioners south of the boarder, I think you're better served having these done here. Just be very sure of her skill level and good luck.

Rock

P.S. Should go without saying, but PLEASE do avoid any stair climbing with these thigh procedures. Just a given regardless of your surgeon of choice, but a consideration of major import if your abode presents challenges here.

 Hey Rock,

Dr Place says we'd do 2 different procedures, one being all of the lipo because I have so much that needs to be done...and then later on a lift on the inner thighs. She is board certified, and both of my friends who had their surgeries from her have had large amounts of weight loss...one by surgery, and one not. She and I met about a year before I went to Mexico, and I chose Mexico for the price. HIndsight being 20/20...well, you know. Anyway, she does have a website:

http://www.michellejplacemd.com/

 Thank you for the link and for taking the time to respond, Janel.

I’m not entirely sure why I took the time to respond to your post as I respond so little these days.  I peruse lots of forums from time to time, but I just selfishly don’t opine much, and frankly, I just don’t have the time. So why you? Perhaps, I think, because a so called thighplasty is among the most challenging of reconstructive procedures for post WLS patients and otherwise in general. Techniques and approaches can very rather widely in this area among the most competent practitioners.

As a rather dated Navy medic first assisting from the neck up mostly, including so called plastic head and neck procedures, I still try and keep up. But never mind that... I sincerely like your chosen surgeon’s CV and her stated experience level, notwithstanding, the fact she has actually taught. ;-)

More importantly, not knowing but very little about you, your history and your current presentation, I’m pleased your chosen practitioner wishes to stage this between Lipo and going forward with more here.. This suggest building in the needed conservatism and appropriate protocols which I really like to see with the procedures you're going forward with.  

Gawd, but don’t I sound like a pompous ass, and I certainly I can be... ~Smirk~  But, I care a when I see folks making the wrong choices sometimes, and I certainly don’t see that here.

But as you well know by now, even the best and brightest practitioners, regardless of their field and/or expertise can meet patients with problematic outcomes having little or nothing to do with their experience level and the care received perioperatively. In short, it can still be a roll of the dice per se...  You look to be quite young and healthy and I'm optimistic you’ll do quite well. 

Good luck and God speed.

Rock 

 Rock,

Thanks so much for your reply, and insight, I really appreciate it. Ever since my experience in Mexico, I have struggled...knowing that I really do need some more reconstructive surgery, especially because since I had the lbl, there is a HUGE difference now between my abdominal area and my thighs. It's really not so much a vanity issue, it really is hideously noticable, and it just plagues me. 

I actually was thinking about going back to Dr Q in Mexico to have this done, but my family threatened to tie me up if I go back there....ha! But, with my experience in MX I was told by every medical person I have talked to that it would have probably happened here also....it was just the aftercare that I received was not best, and Dr Q should have put me in a hospital as soon as he noticed that I was bleeding internally. Since that didn't happen, by the time that they finally got the bleeding under control (after 2 additional surgeries) it was too late, and my body just shut down in terms of healing itself. Everything went downhill from there, and it was 3 months before I was even able to work...oh well I am alive and very thankful to be able to tell that story!

I know that even with Dr Place, there is a risk....there is with any surgery. But with her, she's got the credentials and years of experience...plus, her surgery center in San Ramon is very close to a Kaiser where they can rush me to if need be!!!! I can tell you that just being close to home gives me a sense of peace...nothing was worse than being nowhere near close enough for my family to be by my side. Once I got home 2 weeks after surgery, the real healing began.

I too, appreciate that Dr Place is not going to do a number of procedures at the same time. We'll do the lipo, then the lift later on down the road. She said that there will just be too much swelling, and that she won't be able to accurately see how much skin needs to be taken off until all of the swelling has gone down. So she suggests at least 6 months down the road before we talk about the lift. I am very much ok with that, as I didn't want it all done at the same time anyway.

And, I don't think you are a pompous ass....if you were being one, trust me, I'd be the first to let you know!

Thanks again!
Janel

Dr. Place has a very good reputation.  She did a presentation at our support group and I have several family members in the medical field who all say she is a very good surgeon.  I also know some people who are wls post-ops who went to her.  You have made a good choice.  As long as you are comfortable with her and she is board certified, then you have made the choice that is right for you.
I just had lipo on my outer thighs last month and I will warn you that the lipo was the most painful of all of my surgeries.  I have had a tummy tuck, arm lift, breast augmentation and butt lift and none of them hurt as much or as long as the lipo.  It has been 6 weeks now and my thighs still hurt some and still have some slight bruising.  I am thrilled with the results so far, even if I knew how much pain I would be in I would do it again. 
Congratulations on finding the doctor that is right for you and good luck with your upcoming surgeries.

 Thanks for your input, I appreciate it.

Yes, I hear that lipo is a painful recovery......but if you knew what I went through with my lower body lift, I can tell you that even though I know what I'm getting into in terms of pain, this will be much easier!