Breast Lift (With and Without Aug) in So. Calif -- Questions

 . . . which is better if one has a family history of breast cancer?!?!

I am qouting this from the "Plastic surgery Procedures" link on the side of the forums.
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/plasticsurgery/cmsID,10828 /mode,content/a,cms/#BreastAugment
 

"Some surgeons believe that putting the implants behind your chest muscle may reduce the potential for capsular contracture. Drainage tubes may be used for several days following the surgery. This placement may also interfere less with breast examination by mammogram than if the implant is placed directly behind the breast tissue. Placement behind the muscle, however, may be more painful for a few days after surgery than placement directly under the breast tissue."

Hope that helps

Glad you found the info useful. I grew up near Riverside/San Bernardino - and still live in this IE area, so yep, I've seen and even dared to breathe the air here.  Dr. Hardesty was chief of plastic surgery at Loma Linda University and is pretty well known so for those of us out this way, there are some great doctors.  I know that if I didn't have Kaiser - which I absolutely love - I would go to Loma Linda for my care.  It is a 30 minute drive, but the faculty there are excellent in terms of care and availablity. No matter where you are in this greater Los Angeles/Orange County area, you're surrounded by plastic surgeons, or those who practice "cosmetic surgery", and have to be careful who you choose.  At least this way, you have recommendations from another doctor when asked who he might recommend.  Granted too, he knew that we were more from the east side of the area, so he gave me names of his colleagues that might be closer to me, or easier to get to by freeway.

From what I've heard, under muscle implants are easier to manipulate for mammograms so you might want to consider that.  Many doctors that I worked with felt that due to my thin, fragile skin that doing both a lift and implants at the same time wouldn't be the best choice.  Katzen was really the only one who felt that I could sucessfully have implants, but even he cautioned that the implants would over time give me a "snoopy dog" look to the breast if I had the implants under the muscle, but felt that I would not be a good candidate for over the muscle implants.  All the surgeons I consulted with (5 total - 3 Kaiser, plus Katzen and 1 other) felt that my skin was way over stretched to have great results with implants.  Katzen seemed to think that he could make me look "ok" with them, but I opted for the auto augmentation.  That probably isn't a great option for you with this family history of breast CA, since they can show lumps if fat from other areas is used as part of the auto aug procedure.  I found out that since i had very little fat, most of what was used in mine was skin.  I've had no problems with my mammograms or lumps due to the auto augmentation procedure.  Also, don't be surprised if your tissues are really thin, that they suggest that you first have a lift, and after it heals, they do implant.  With thin skin, it can be hard to do both at the same time.

The 5K was what my friend paid for just augmentation - no idea what a lift alone would be.  The quote I had for Katzen was to have a lift at the same time as arms, then have the implants with thighs in a third procedure - first would have been a LBL.

Just curious about what part of the LA area you live in, if you wouldn't mind sharing.  I did grow up in the IE - and we've long been put down by those in LA and OC, but after spending extended time in PV and other very nice areas of LA beach towns, as well as living for a few years in OC, I'm glad that I live here.  I love the more rural area, with beautiful rolling hills, incredible mountain  views and a down to earth realism.  Guess it's just my perspective, but I don't think my area of the IE is all that bad.

I was mostly teasing about Riverside (mostly).  I had a child at UCR, and the air quality was ultimately a deal-breaker, unfortunately.  Great school, great program, but unlivable from his POV.

As it happens, I grew up in PV -- you're right, the semi-rural or even rural environment is wonderful no matter where.  

I'm pretty much in the center of TV-ville, and one of the advantages (or disadvantages) is that every day, at the grocery store or the dry cleaner, I see the result of hastily-chosen plastics.   This really shapes my attitude towards The Search for the Right Surgeon.

It's scary.  REALLY scary.  For a lot of reasons.  The biggest reason is that the film industry (which I'm not in, BTW) is so fear-driven, and most of the people who are going for cosmetic work, in my neighborhood, are living in daily terror of being unloved, unemployed, un .... whatever.  So often, people who have been out of work for a while (and don't have the money to choose carefully) go for low-cost work (over quality work) out of sheer desperation.  The consequences are often terribly disfiguring, and it really drives my selection process.  You're absolutely right -- it's vital to be veeeeeeeryyyyyyyyyyy selective.

Please forgive my galling, snobby attitude.  There are many areas of my life that cannot accommodate out-of-city living, though I often yearn for the peace and beauty of the lovely rolling hills.  I guess I'm of two minds on that -- I'd love to live in an outlying area, but the other things I want in life are not available there, and so it goes.  I deeply, deeply apologize if I offended, and I can't see how I could NOT have.  

You really are a treasure trove of information and great attitude, and I do so appreciate that.

I know how you feel even above the equator would be great!!!
Mine are in south america at the ripe old age of 20!!! and being only 2 1/2 out!!! I will def need a lift and aug! Tell me how it turns out and what your expeirences are! If you get an aug how big would you go???

I LOVE Dr. Timothy Katzen of Beverly Hills. I had an upper body lift 11/2008. He is kind, compassionate and a true artist. 

Dr. Katzen's practice is completely devoted to post weight loss patients.

I received implants. Since my breast lift w/ augmentation was combined with brachioplasty and neck and lower face lift I can't give you an estimate, but he was very reasonable when I had my consultations with 6 surgeons. 

I'm happy to answer further questions (I also have photos posted).

Go for it!

Kathie

Kathie, thank you so much for posting!

Did you receive implants at the same time as your lift?  Or were these separate procedures?

One physician has recommended "lift only" -- another has suggested implants with lift ... I need to ask more questions.

I don't live in California but I can tell you that I had the lift done in January and I'm having implants done on Monday.  I split it into two parts at the recommendation of my surgeon and I'm glad I did.  However, I did get estimates from three other surgeons and I highly suggest it.  One advertised as a weight loss plastic surgeon.  His was over 17K for the lift and augment.  He didn't ask questions.  He just told me what he was going to do.  I ended up going with a surgeon that was highly recommended locally and the cost was WAY less and he did a great job. 

He didn't ask questions.  He just told me what he was going to do.


I find this chilling.  Really, I do!  Holy moly!

I don't know ... I've gotten an estimate for a lift alone that was about half of what you were quoted, and the surgeon is really gold-standard.  Is the additional expense he was planning to charge ... was that because of the implants?

Are you thrilled with your new tatas?

The first estimate I got was for both items done at the same time.  They were just way out of the ballpark.  No doubt about it.  They didn't even want to talk to me about particulars until I paid their consultation fee which was a percentage of the surgery cost.

The surgeon I chose was about $7000 for both surgeries.  He didn't charge me additional for splitting it into two.  I'm very grateful to have found him as he has been very gracious with his time and really educated me.  The cost as far as I'm concerned was very reasonable and includes months of aftercare where he makes sure that everything is good. :)

I love the girls with a lift.  However, I've always been proportionate.   Right now, with the lift alone, I'm not.  So, I am sure I will love the girls once they are augmented as well.  Good luck!