PS turned me down!
I went for my first consult with a PS today. His office knew what I had made th consultation for.
A BA/BL and a LBL, told them I had lost 130+ lbs.
I'm a pear shape, with alot of excess on my lower body, all way to my knees.
He looked at my breast first, they don't actually look that bad, though small a 34 padded B.lol
But, then he looked at my stomach, offered me a TT . Turned me around where literally my ass has fell into my thighs.
He turned me down for a patient! I'm not sure whether I should be Thankful he didn't think he could do the surgery or upset because they still charged me the consultation fee.
You know the old saying
' Wouldn't touch that with a 10 foot pole" I felt like he was grossed out by my flabby loose ass and legs.
This dr supposed to be the best around here, was just so disappointed!
Guess I'll be looking elsewhere. Really wanted to stay close to home.
Pam
A BA/BL and a LBL, told them I had lost 130+ lbs.
I'm a pear shape, with alot of excess on my lower body, all way to my knees.
He looked at my breast first, they don't actually look that bad, though small a 34 padded B.lol
But, then he looked at my stomach, offered me a TT . Turned me around where literally my ass has fell into my thighs.
He turned me down for a patient! I'm not sure whether I should be Thankful he didn't think he could do the surgery or upset because they still charged me the consultation fee.
You know the old saying
' Wouldn't touch that with a 10 foot pole" I felt like he was grossed out by my flabby loose ass and legs.
This dr supposed to be the best around here, was just so disappointed!
Guess I'll be looking elsewhere. Really wanted to stay close to home.
Pam
Pam, my guess is that you take everything personally just like I do. For me it's because I was always fat and my self-confidence was zero. Now that I'm not fat, I still feel like the world judges me differently. If you're like me, than maybe you need to reframe the visit/situation a bit. Reconstruction after 130 pounds is going to be difficult and more than likely was way out of that doctor's league. You don't want him practicing on you so take the refusal as a gift that you'll have a better shot at perfect surgery with someone else.
My thoughts aren't that he was turning you down - that he was turning his skills down. And charging your for the consultation was nasty - so he did you a favor - you don't want a nasty, mediocre doctor working on you.
You will find the right doctor that can do what you need and not make you feel bad about yourself.
Marie
My thoughts aren't that he was turning you down - that he was turning his skills down. And charging your for the consultation was nasty - so he did you a favor - you don't want a nasty, mediocre doctor working on you.
You will find the right doctor that can do what you need and not make you feel bad about yourself.
Marie
You need a surgeon who specializes in post bariatric plastics. When making your appointment ask what percentage of the surgeon's patients are post WLS. That should give you some idea of the surgeon's level of experience. Try not to let it upset you, this says more about him than it does about you.
Red
Red
Aloha Pam-
It takes such a huge amount of courage for us to even disrobe when the lights are on, for pete's sake...my guess is that this surgeon does not do circumferential lower body lifts ( many MANY surgeons do not) and that is why you were turned down, not because of any disgust on the surgeon;s part.
He did you a favor. There are many plastic surgeons who are comfortable working with massive weight loss patients, and others who are not- of the 3 I interviewed, only one did CBLs, the other 2 offered to do it in 2 parts- front tummy tuck first then butt lift after several months had passed. That was NOT what I wanted, and I knew I was in excellent shape to withstand the 6-7 hour procedures (CBL and BL/BA). Make no mistake, it is MAJOR surgery, and that is a LONG time under anesthesia, so again- he did you a favor by refusing you as a patient if he was not comfortable with it.
You might still be able to do them all at once if you find the right surgeon and are excellent shape. It might be that you are a candidate for those procedures, but in 2 parts- CBL first, then breasts later- or that there is a significant amount of skin such that healing would be delayed or compromised by tension on the incision and that they want you to lose more SQ fat ( not necessarily weight but increasing muscle mass and decreasing body fat) so nothing tugs down on your healing 360` incision. But a surgeon who does 25-30 CBLs a year is going to be a far better choice than one who does 3-5 per year. So keep looking- you should be interviewing more than one surgeon anyway as this is an ELECTIVE procedure.
Also- submit the cost of the consultation to insurance - mine covered 80-90% of each of my 3 consults.
My heart goes out to you, because I know the pain and humiliation you feel- but flu**** because it's likely NOT what caused them to turn you away. That is just the way our old ashamed "don't look at my body" former selves look at the world. Nothing was worse than having to lift up the 8 inches of droopy pannus so the surgeon could see everything hiding behind that saggy wall of flesh, and blaming myself for getting that way on the first place. But remember----you took the steps necessary to CHANGE yourself and become a healthier you- THAT takes courage too- and there is a better fit for you as far as surgeons go. Call the Bariatric Surgery Center at a hospital near you for recommendations, or fly out to California and consult with my guy- he did amazing things with my 191 lb weight loss. I can now disrobe in front of my husband with the lights ON- never in my 28 years with him have I felt comfortable enough to do that.
Hugs to you- XOXOLori
It takes such a huge amount of courage for us to even disrobe when the lights are on, for pete's sake...my guess is that this surgeon does not do circumferential lower body lifts ( many MANY surgeons do not) and that is why you were turned down, not because of any disgust on the surgeon;s part.
He did you a favor. There are many plastic surgeons who are comfortable working with massive weight loss patients, and others who are not- of the 3 I interviewed, only one did CBLs, the other 2 offered to do it in 2 parts- front tummy tuck first then butt lift after several months had passed. That was NOT what I wanted, and I knew I was in excellent shape to withstand the 6-7 hour procedures (CBL and BL/BA). Make no mistake, it is MAJOR surgery, and that is a LONG time under anesthesia, so again- he did you a favor by refusing you as a patient if he was not comfortable with it.
You might still be able to do them all at once if you find the right surgeon and are excellent shape. It might be that you are a candidate for those procedures, but in 2 parts- CBL first, then breasts later- or that there is a significant amount of skin such that healing would be delayed or compromised by tension on the incision and that they want you to lose more SQ fat ( not necessarily weight but increasing muscle mass and decreasing body fat) so nothing tugs down on your healing 360` incision. But a surgeon who does 25-30 CBLs a year is going to be a far better choice than one who does 3-5 per year. So keep looking- you should be interviewing more than one surgeon anyway as this is an ELECTIVE procedure.
Also- submit the cost of the consultation to insurance - mine covered 80-90% of each of my 3 consults.
My heart goes out to you, because I know the pain and humiliation you feel- but flu**** because it's likely NOT what caused them to turn you away. That is just the way our old ashamed "don't look at my body" former selves look at the world. Nothing was worse than having to lift up the 8 inches of droopy pannus so the surgeon could see everything hiding behind that saggy wall of flesh, and blaming myself for getting that way on the first place. But remember----you took the steps necessary to CHANGE yourself and become a healthier you- THAT takes courage too- and there is a better fit for you as far as surgeons go. Call the Bariatric Surgery Center at a hospital near you for recommendations, or fly out to California and consult with my guy- he did amazing things with my 191 lb weight loss. I can now disrobe in front of my husband with the lights ON- never in my 28 years with him have I felt comfortable enough to do that.
Hugs to you- XOXOLori
be GLAD he told you no!
I had what SHOULD have been a TT with a surgeon who doesn't work with a lot of post WLS patients (didn't understand how important that was at the time) and i got JACKED UP - had a revision surgery last year with a doc that WELL knew what he was doing - I'm a happy camper now!
I had what SHOULD have been a TT with a surgeon who doesn't work with a lot of post WLS patients (didn't understand how important that was at the time) and i got JACKED UP - had a revision surgery last year with a doc that WELL knew what he was doing - I'm a happy camper now!
Amy Farrah Fowler
on 4/30/10 3:34 am
on 4/30/10 3:34 am
I'm with the others on this. Not all PSs are skilled in post bariatric patients, and you DEFINITELY want one that is.
Some who don't have the skills with our excess skin will give it a try anyway, often leaving us with poor results. At least he was honest about his capabilities, and didn't give it a shot just to make a buck. He did you a huge favor. You want a PS with as much experience as possible with our damaged skin. I always ask what percentage of their practice in on post bariatric patients before I schedule a consult.
Some who don't have the skills with our excess skin will give it a try anyway, often leaving us with poor results. At least he was honest about his capabilities, and didn't give it a shot just to make a buck. He did you a huge favor. You want a PS with as much experience as possible with our damaged skin. I always ask what percentage of their practice in on post bariatric patients before I schedule a consult.
(deactivated member)
on 4/30/10 4:12 am - West Central FL☼RIDA , FL
on 4/30/10 4:12 am - West Central FL☼RIDA , FL
I think you should be thankful and consider yourself lucky that he was honest and said he felt he could not give you the results you want. It's better than him just looking at you as a cash register, taking your money and you ending up disappointed or having to do revisions.
Try to find a surgeon who specializes in weight loss patients. If you had WLS ask your surgeon or your nutritionist for recommendations. Also look on the OH board for a surgeon in your area.
I think it stinks that they charged you for the consultation. You could call them back and say "since the Dr doesn't feel he can do the surgery does he know of another surgeon in the area who specializes in WL patients?" You could also call your local hospital...lots of them know offer references for local physicians.
Best wishes searching for a surgeon.
Try to find a surgeon who specializes in weight loss patients. If you had WLS ask your surgeon or your nutritionist for recommendations. Also look on the OH board for a surgeon in your area.
I think it stinks that they charged you for the consultation. You could call them back and say "since the Dr doesn't feel he can do the surgery does he know of another surgeon in the area who specializes in WL patients?" You could also call your local hospital...lots of them know offer references for local physicians.
Best wishes searching for a surgeon.
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