looking for reputable plastic surgeon--Help!

I hadn't really thought about doing my arms, they weren't too big considering my weight, but at my age, what little flab is there certainly hangs down. My thighs are really skinny and they look like a mudslide on inside, but hadn't even necessarily planned on that. Maybe I will later, but depends on my health when all is said and done, but my lower abdomen--mostly flab--(and my upper which sticks out the most) I definitely want to have worked on, if possible.

After I had to pose nakey before my breast reduction and I absolutely hated my sagging gigantic breasts back then, I was pretty sure I could never be embarrassed more than that moment and the one where he wrote all over my breasts before surgery and flopped them around to do so. He was very professional and matter of fact, but I wanted to pull the sheet up over my head and die lol. So, I'm not very modest nowadays with doctors...

I have to have a stress test tomorrow and they said I'll have things attached to my chest and have to run with no bra and just a capelet covering me on top. Oh, joy. lol. I no longer have huge breasts but it's been 18 years since my reduction and gravity works, let me tell you. Running without a bra with my breasts and belly flapping just has to be more embarrassing ( Not to mention awkward) than a few photos ops taken by a plastic surgeon. The last time my regular doctor gave me a stress test I thought he would kill me. I was sure I was going to have cardiac arrest and he kept saying "keep going or we have to start all over". I wanted to hit him but I couldn't reach him. I was, at the time, on my way up with weight, so my sister-in-law thinks this will be easier this time. But still, when you have a heart problem and they tell you as a rule not to lift over 10 lbs and not to run, then say, "oh, let's check your heart, ok, don't take your blood pressure meds and just run as fast as you can until you think you are dying" (then if you don't die we'll surmise your heart is pretty okay)---it's a bit un-nerving to say the least. I'm not even going to take my insulin in the morning because as soon as I exercise in the least my sugar drops down to the 40's. Oh, well, that's what I get for having a lifelong weight problem I guess, although actually my heart got damaged from having the flu (didn't get my flu shot that year).  Anyway, so I have the stress test tomorrow and if I survive the  seminar and exam on Thursday I'll report back in some time after that and hope the news is not totally disastrous. You know, I just have to laugh about it. Can't dance. At least, not yet, anyway ha ha.

I came to a point where I knew I would not lose any more weight without plastic surgery. The weight I had left was mostly skin. Belinda

Belinda, Thanks for your answers. I only wish mine was mostly skin. The baggy belly hanging down is skin but flab, too. Can't tell about my upper abdomen as it rests on the lower. I only know I can't move around well with my belly hanging to me knees and that I lost 97 pounds and can't seem to go any further. I must up my exercise level and can't do so without getting rid of this hanging belly. I'm almost afraid to hope for this, but I have an appointment Thursday. He may say no way. Just have to find out. I'll post here when I hear something or else on my OH page blog. Lori

My belly had fat in it too! The plastic surgeon cut 11.5 pounds off of my upper and lower abdomin. I had an anchor incision. Basically an upside down T. The weight on my upper and lower belly made me look about 5 or 6 months pregnant. There are pics on my profile if you want to see before and after. I think 97 pound weight loss is fabulous. All 3 of the PS I saw were mostly concerned about my weight being stable. Only one(Concord) made me feel bad for not being at goal, but he was still willing to surgery. I think key is a stable weight. Good luck with everything. I'm glad you have an appt so soon. B

Lori: The reason my first post did not go through is bec. I deleted it. Reconsidered my response. Now that others have responded, I will share my experience with a PS here in Raleigh. I have lost 80 lbs. Need to ideally lose about 40 more but because I have skin-on-skin issues from loose hanging skin and that fact that my thighs look like two Shar Pei dogs, I thought I'd just get an opinion. Well, this guy I went to was the most insensitive A-hole I have ever encountered. Even members of my WLSurgery team said so when I told them about the incident. Please understand, I know that I need to lose about 40 more pounds - I am not blind - but like you, I am in a plateau of about 6 months and I believe getting rid of the hanging skin would be a good thing for my lower back. After looking at me naked from top to bottom and front to back, he said these exact words - "I don't know who your weight loss surgeon was but if you were my patient, I would not consider you one of my success stories. I would not touch you and no reputable plastic surgeon would touch you either." I wanted to go through the floor. I felt like a leper. His nursing assistant was a little shocked too I think bec. she tried to jump in and tone it down just a little but he had already kicked my butt from Raleigh to Timbuktu. Blew the wind right out of my sails.  How dare he say that I am not a success, 80 lbs later, cholesterol down 80 points, blood sugar under control, not to mention the lifestyle benefits of being able to walk through the mall with my children without having to stop and rest, ride a ride at DisneyWorld because I can now get the safety locks and belts hooked, and the difference in my self-confidence both in and out of the bed.  He doesn't want to touch me - ha! - he doesn't have to worry about that because he'll never touch my body or my pocketbook ever again. This doctor in Charlotte sounds like a really good guy. Although that is a three-hour trip, after my experience in my town, it may be well worth the trip when I am ready. Starfish

Starfish,

How awful for you and it's amazing that there are so many insensitive doctors out there, but I believe it is true, unfortunately. I wouldn't want that guy in Raleigh for a surgeon either--for ANY kind of surgery. I will certainly let you know how things go. His nurse didn't seem to be rejecting me out of hand, but we will just have to see. Meanwhile; I'll keep you in my prayers.

Thanks for sharing,

Lori

I had a tummy tuck with a great surgeon in Raleigh. He was very weight sensitive. I am thrilled with my results. He was near Rex Hospital. Please feel free to look at my pics on my profile. If you are interested in his name. I will share with you. Belinda