Tell me what to do!! Please?!?

Sorry to drive you all crazy, but I can't make these decisions!! I'm still deciding how I feel about the scar for an arm lift, but I think I will get the thigh lift, and I know I will get the stomach and boobs, but...enters even more confusion!...

I know that to get most of the work done, I would have to go to Mexico. I've heard great things about Dr. Sauceda, so I had kind of assumed that's what would work out. Only thing is, my insurance is pretty easy on the panni coverage. I went to a consult last week, locally, and I heard that my panni was approved today. Argh! I know I should be ecstatic, but....

I need to have most of the work done within the fall months. Long story, but I have some time off work then, and I may get married next summer/fall, so I'd rather get this over with. If I get the panni done here, I need at least a month in between that and the rest of the work in Mexico, but if I get them back to back, I have a lot of time off of work, and even worse, months without exercise. If I don't exercise, I will be an elephant!...

but I'm poor! I don't think I should just reject a free panni, right? Or maybe no? I don't know anyone whose used my local surgeon, although all he does is WL related PS.Dr. Agha even trained with him for a while. I asked what the cost to upgrade to abdominoplast would be and he look at me funny. I said "you know, muscle tightening, etc." He said, "oh I'll do that, but you don't really need any". I want it! What else is different between the two??

Argghhh!! Please talk me down..give your opinions...whatever!! Thanks

You said you're poor, so ask yourself can you afford to get everything done in Mexico?  I think for me, it would depend on alot of things, especially what other procedures you are considering, what you have done will affect how much of a recovery you will have.... 

Could you have the panni now and save money for the other procedures?  If your info is correct your surgery was 9/17/2008, so you might want to wait til you are further out and have been weight stable for a while.  You will have much better results that way.

Good luck!

Thanks for your post. I know it sounds crazy, but if I don't do it now, life will stop me from doing it. It may sound sad, but for example, this take priority for me over a wedding, and I will likely be engaged in the near future. I never spend for me, and I want tihis!! I saved more than half, and planned on financing the rest.

I agree with the weight stable, but both surgeons said I'm at a great BMI for the surgery, and I'm not losing much weight anymore. Thanks again.

Kat

I feel for you!  You have a tough decision to make. 
You are fortunate that insurance will pay for any of it.  I wish mine would. 

I am having all of mine done at the same time.  I want one recovery and to only have to miss work once.  If your local surgeon will take your insurance and you can self pay for the rest maybe he will do all of your proceedures at once here and you can stay close to home for your surgery.  If he won't do it all at once I guess you will have to take into consideration, time off of work.  Is the insurance portion going to be much more then you would lose being off work twice?

I know how you feel.  Its a tough decision to even do this and now you are given all of these choices. 
Good Luck to you!  Hopefully others will chime in with some good advice!
Kim J!

Thanks Kim! Suprisingly, the local surgeon said he would do it all at the same time, but there's NO WAY I could afford it.

if my TT was COVERED, surgery with him was nearly twice as much than if I got the TT and everything else done in Mexico. That pricefor getting it done here is even a discount-its a hospital versus private practice, and because I get a 10% discount. Stupid US fees!

Thanks again.

I guess I would probably travel to Mexico if It were that much cheaper.  I thought about going out of the states and my husband said NO WAY.  (he won't get on an airplane, let alone leave the states) LOL! 

I read an earlier post about being too close out.  My plastic surgeon specializes in bariatric patients and he said I would be very pleased with my results and felt like I was at a stable weight.  I am losing very slowly.  14 lbs since April.  I don't think I will lose a lot more.  I have lots of muscle in my lower body.  I probably do on top too, Its just hidden under lots of skin!  LOL!

I know what you mean about life getting in the way.  I am like that too.  I am going through with my surgery because I can't wear clothes like normal people.  My arms are HUGE.  I have had big arms forever.  But I am so self concious about them.  I feel like when people look at me that is all they see.  I have granny arms.  I'm a granny, but I don't want to look like one!  LOL!

Good Luck with your decision!  I'm sure whatever you choose you'll be happy!
Kim J!

Hi Katie,

I sure feel for you...you know my story, so first, I decided I had to do this this summer while I am off work.  It all happened so fast my head is still spinning.  Once I decide something, watch out, here I come! 

My arms were the least painful, and the most improved. The scar is mostly not visible, but so worth the trade off.   I love to try on sleeveless tops (still in compression) and admire my arms for the first time.

While it might be nice to have a month in between procedures, it may not be necessary.  Maybe you can go t Mexico and have most of your work done, stay the required time and have the panni done when you get back at that 2 week mark.  (have it already scheduled and ok it with your US surgeon first).  This way, you will have follow up appointments with your US surgeon, who may be able to look after your Mexico surgery if need be. (highly doubtful, since Dr. Sauceda is the bomb!)

You also never know.....your US surgeon might offer an affordable discount on the rest of your work if he knows you are planning to go outside the US, or Dr. Sauceda might offer a discount if he knows that you are planning on having the panni done in the US.  It never hurts to ask....Dr. Sauceda did throw in a freebie for me....fat injections to my nasal labial folds around my mouth.   Best wishes!

  Bump....Have to to say Diane you look awesome!

HI Diane!

I don't know what I would do without your pics! You're the reason I have so much faith in going to Dr. S, even all by my lonesome!

How are your leg scars? I'm mostly concerned about the arms though. I teach kickboxing, so there won't be any hiding the arms!

You can PM me if you'd prefer, but what size implants did you get? I think that will be a really hard decision. Did you with someone to MX? If not, was it hard? Did your escort person deal with your luggage? Does Dr. S speak English well? Did you make any changes to your plan once you got to MX?

Sorry!! Thanks for your help!!!

Katie

On the parts about going all alone and having to go this fall .  Not sure when you are planning on trying to go but as of right now there are three of us planning on going down in early Oct.  I fly down on Oct. 2nd , one of the other ladies arrives on Oct 5th and the last lady comes in the following  day . 
So you are more than welcome to join the "party" !!  At least we can sit around and tell WLS stories in English !! 

As far as Dr S's English , you will have no problems understanding him . I have seen him twice in person and have no problems understanding him  -- now considering I grew up in the South he probably has to listen to me very closely !!  LOL  

One more question for you  -- well more like something for you to think about . As young as you are and planning on gettting married next year, do you plan on having kids ?  If so might want to talk that over with which ever doctor does the muscle tightening on your tummy tuck !!  ( OK so I am a guy and what do I know about it  -- but I have seen it mentioned on here and other forums more times than I can remember !! )  

Good luck 
Tony