X-post: Plastics consult #2--confused!!!

So I had consult #2 with Dr. Mitchel Krieger in Fairfax. This man is the guru of body contouring of post bariatric surgery patients in our area. Wrote a book with the other guru I'd heard of out of Texas, Dr. Lomonico I think it is.

Anyway, he has a much more conservative approach than consult #1. Also about 10K higher to get the work done that I want to get done and he won't do it all at once, so it will add a second recovery period. Ouch. And if there is anything that would keep me in the hospital an extra night or two, that number goes up 650 a day! Double ouch. First doc said he'd do the lower body lift and inner thigh lift all on the same day. This doc says no way. First doc said he'd do the hidden scar for the thighs--this doc says that procedure does not provide a good outcome at all. This doc also said he'd like to do a fat graft to the backside which cranks the price up 3500+, but he wasn't insistent on it. So just for the LBL I'm looking at 15K where the other guy said 17K for LBL and inner thigh lift. I'm at about 18K for the LBL and fat graft. So to do the LBL and inner thighs I'm looking at about 28K with this doc (give or take 2-3K with pathology and hospital stay stuff) instead of the 17K. Scares me there is such a discrepancy in price and procedure between the two. I go see a 3rd doc on the 8th. Hopefully he will fall on the side of one or the other regarding procedures and safety and am hoping his price will be somewhere in the middle.

Of course I'd really like to knock out the LBL and the thighs at the same time, but I don't want to compromise safety or outcome, so we'll see what #3 says. Also considering a breast lift at the time of the LBL if I don't do the thighs. Money, money, money...ugh! 

Just wanted to pass it along to those interested!

Have a good weekend everyone!! And any feedback you can offer in regard to my dilemma is most welcome!! 

Denise

I know what you mean - doctors can be very different.  The third opinion will be interesting.  I'd just say to go with your gut.  When I first started, I wanted the total body lift at once.  And there are doctors that will do it.  But others explain you cannot get ideal results that way, for multiple reasons. 

Money is a very big consideration for me too, as well as time off from work.  I covered my first surgery time off with a gallbladder removal, lol.  But I'm still paying for the money part.  Go with your gut on who you TRUST and who you feel the most comfortable with, even it they won't do everything you think you want at once.  I believe they do know best.  But some will do what the patient wants over what is really best too. 

There are no easy answers, just follow your instincts!  And keep us posted on that third opinion!  Good luck! 

I'm so glad I did my lbl and bl together. Now I feel "normal", even with my jiggly thighs.

PM'd you, too...

Laura

Check out what the third doctor says and then go with your gut. The cost of PS is unbelievable and the prices doctors charge vary so much. I live in Manhattan, NY. The surgeon I went to there quoted $12,100 for a brachioplasty. A second opinion was $10,000. I went to the suburbs where my parents live and paid $4,500. That's a HUGE difference!

Personally I agree w/ the second Dr. on not doing the LBL & thighs together. Many surgeons won't do those 2 together because the LBL pulls upward and the thighs kinda pull things down so it's going in the opposite direction. If price is a concern there are other Dr. that may have lower prices if you are willing to travel. You live on the East coast so the prices will be higher there just because of your location. Doesn't mean that other surgeons who have lower prices are any less good but sometimes geography makes a difference. I only paid just over 12k for my LBL & brachio (insurance covered panni portion so not sure what a 100% self pay would be) and about 13k for my BL/BA and MTL so all in all for all 4 procedures 25k which is less that what you've been quoted for the LBL w/ fat graph. Not sure about the fat graph if you have good volume back there. My surgeon didn't do it and immediately after i was flat as a board. After about 5 months things started to redistribute and I have a good butt now w/o any graph.

I'm up in November, LBL and brachio and my surgeon said thay he would never consider doing thighs together that thigh recovery is the most difficult in his opinion but he would do my breast implants with the thighs. I trust him.

Speaking of cost I'm lookiin at 10.000 for surgery one. (lift & arms)
12.000 (thighs & Implants)
Both with a one night stay at the hospital. (additional nights are 900.00)

I spent a ton of time going to different consults and seeing different doctors. Keep looking. Not for someone who may say yes to everything you want to hear...but to the one you know carries the education, credentials and knowledge with a great reputation. Make sure they are board certified in plastic surgery too. I ended up with the most expensive surgeon out of all my consults and he split a couple of my surgeries up as well. He wasn't the one who said yes to everything I wanted to hear, but he was the one who took the most time with me, always answered all my questions, has AMAZING background in plastic surgery and overall made me the most comfortable. His whole office was wonderful and I to this day love him and trust him to make the best decisions for me in regards to my body and plastics. Find and keep the one that makes you most comfortable and takes time with you! You deserve it and its what YOUR money is paying for!!

I think you are so right. The trust and comfort level is huge. I so prefer when they aren't upselling just to make the buck. Good ones don't have to--they know we'll be back!!!

Thanks for the thoughts!