Plastic Surgery

I nees some help.  I am 3 and a half years out of surgery.  I have had now my 4th miscarriage since my gastric bypass.  I wanted a child so bad that was all I thought about.  I am facing the fact that I just can not carry to term.  I was waiting until I had a baby to deal with my excessive amout of skin and the fact that my chest looks like my grandmother's after she had a them removed from breast cancer.  I still wear a 38-40 DD because all of it is just empty skin sagging.  My other real problem is my legs. If I sit up or put my legs in the air they look normal but that is the only time.  I am embarrassed to even wear shorts because I just have this "bag" of skin that bunches at my knees. I am more embarrassed now to go in public or to the beach than I ever was at almost 400 lbs.  I need to know how everyone else dealt with these issues(not to mention the stomach area).  I am 32 years old and not bad to look at in the face but the other issues are killing my self esteem(I recently divorced and now losing yet another one of our children, I am facing not being a mother).  My mom said that she would pay for the chest to get fixed for Christmas(my guess would be before then, she does not have a lot of money and I have none!) she can just see how unhappy I am.  I really need to know how other people dealt with this and if you know of any good(inexpensive) surgeons in Central Florida that do these procedures.  I have a big enough scar from the surgery and do not want to look like Frankenstien.  Please give me your opinion.  I am not a shallow person but can feel myself sinking into a depression and it is really scaring me.

First, I am so sorry for your losses. I have been trying to get pregnant for the past two years but cannot.

I had a breast lift and augmentation last September with Dr. Armando Soto, formerly of Celebration. He is now in Windermere, I think. Amazing surgeon, I highly recommend him.

I do not know very much about the ins and outs of breast surgery.  What is augmentation?  What exactly did they do? Does it leave a scar?  My best friend had hers reduced and it left huge scars underneath and she was in awful pain for months-not to mention they do not look even now.  Mine were really the only "great" part of my body before the gastric bypass but now they just flop and even sag near the arm pits, it just awful.  I really appreciate any information you can give me and if you don't mind, what kind of ballpark amount am I looking at?

There is also a resident program at the University of South Florida in Tampa that offers half off the surgical fee when the surgery is performed by a resident.  I really do not know much about the program but I read about it on a message board. I had an extended TT in February with Dr. Paul Albear in Tampa.  I highly recommend him.  He is a great surgeon and a wonderful physician.  His staff will work with you to determine if any of your plastics can be covered by your insurance. I think the first step is to start going for consults with PS and start getting opinions on what your options (and costs) are.  The consults will also let you know what you can realistically expect so far as results. Good luck and please let us know how it goes for you. REd http://www.albearplasticsurgery.com/  

Do not sell yourself short. You have come a long way and deserve a quality surgeon. Plastic surgery is still 'surgery'. You must choose the best surgeon available because your life is at stake. Yes, we all just want to look better but we all want to survive the process and be happy and healthy when we are done. My surgeon is Dr. Bernard Shuster in Hollywood, Fl. You can go on his website at www.drshuster.net where he has before and after photos and he will do a complimentary online consultation. You can find many reviews of his work right on the OH website. He has fabulous skills and fantastic dr-patient charisma. His prices are competitive as well. Good luck. Paula