What should I expect? Have my first PS consult this week

Hi jenjengrins, thanks for you reply and your wishes for luck. I have thought ahead of what bothers me most so I'm prepared for that question.

I must also give a shoutout to Red who PMed me a huge list of questions to ask the PS which I'm going over to further get myself prepared. That was so thoughtful of her.

I just wanted to add no matter what the surgeon or assistant suggests -- they will accommodate your wishes.  If you do not want pictures taken until you have made a decision on the surgeon simply tell them and the pictures can be taken later.  So far as standing naked -- you will have a paper robe on and here again no one will fault you if you do not wish to remove it.  The doc can work around it.  But so far as the surgeon moving your skin around.  Try not to worry about that.  He/she will do it so quickly and so confidently that it is in many ways a non-issue. 

If it helps -- think of Michangelo's saying about a sculpture waiting to be revealed.  He thought there was something beautiful in every piece of stone and his job was to reveal that beauty.  That is exactly what your plastic surgeon is going to do. 


Red

LOL yes, I guess it is like Michelangelo assessing the marble, waiting for it to show him how it wants to be. You're right, the PS has to assess what my bone and muscle structure is. I'm going to be okay with him moving my skin around and I won't interfer with this step, even if it is uncomfortable because I realize now it's really important for DH and I to understand what he can do with my body.

Thanks again Red, I've read over your list of questions and in incorporated what I needed. I will be prepared. And I do think if I haven't committed yet to this surgeon, I will ask to not have pictures taken this visit.

I'm in the kansas city area considering PS who did you use Jen? Would you recommend them?

I felt like you did and since I went with a residency program just knew 10 young doctors would come into the room and LOOK at me. It was so NOT like that at all. Just one young doctor and a nurse and he was very professional and clinical and it wasn't embarassing at all. I did not have DH in the room as I knew he'd be embarassed and I didn't want that. After the resident looked the supervising surgeon came in and he actually did more of the lifting and touching but again he was discussing it with the resident so clinically that I wasn't uncomfortable at all.
Good luck.
Lana

OMG Lana, I can see where you had reason to worry - I guess part of the training is for them to be sensitive about this step.

Since I know now what to expect, it won't be too uncomfortable. It was so helpful to have all your feedback.