Help me decide.. PLEASE!! :)

What to do? What to do?
I have picked my surgeon and have set a first surgery date (Sept. 19th) and have told them that I wanted the Lower Body Lift first, but I am really unsure.  I have lost 180 pounds and need a lot of work. My surgeon said I would have to have 3 procedures and the order in which I did them would be my choice.

Lower Body Lift
Upper Body Lift (extended Brach, breast lift and aug.)
Medial Thigh Lift (inner thighs)

I plan on having all the procedures within the next 6 months to a year but am having trouble deciding in which order.  Don't get me wrong, all body parts bother me but my arms really annoy me the most I think because I can't hide them like I can my mid section (with a girdle) or my legs with pants.  He told me most people start with the lower body lift, but that it was my choice.  I would lose the most skin weight with that one, and it would be nice to not need to wear the girdle everywhere I go.  What do you all think?

Also any positive thoughts and vibes you can send would be appreciated because I am getting a little scared.

Thanks!

I'm having those procedures done at the same time in December, but if I had to choose, I'd go for the upper body lift now so that the scars would be less visible come next summer.  I feel like my big heavy arms really are my worst area and I'd love to feel less conscious in sleeves that don't go all the way down to my elbows.

Good luck!  Whatever you decide is going to be perfect for you and I bet you'll be thrilled.  :)

Hi there!  I see you have a kaiser dr.   Is Kaiser doing your surgeries?  and was it hard for them to approve? Thanks

I'm hoping to go to Mexico for my plastics.  Kaiser won't cover anything that I want done.  I was told up front before I had my WLS that they wouldn't cover anything.

I don't know about your body and medical reasons for the surgery but if you can always try to see what they would cover.

I think I may actually have the thigh lift, then lbl, then brachio/BA.

I have only had the brachio and it was an easy recovery.

Ive read that the thigh lift is the worst. I'd prefer to get it done first...I'd also much rather wear a thigh binder during the fall/winter vs anywhere near the spring/summer months.

After that, the lbl would be good because it will be cool in the binder.

Finally the brachio...its super easy. I was only in compressions 24/7 for a month, so not too bad.

Definitely the arms first. That's what I did. You can't wear cute shirts with floppy arms. You'll want them well healed by spring. The rest you hide well, as I did. I would do lbl next and thighs last. just my nsho...

Laura

After having a TT, brachio, and thigh lift at one time I can tell you this - the damn garment is hotter than 7 hells in summer. I would go with whatever surgery requires the most compression garment wear and do that over winter to keep you nice and toasty ! On another note if you must deal with ice and snow having to limp around after a thigh lift in slippery conditions would be a little scary. No matter which way you go, at least it will all be done in a yr or so, so just be happy you are almost done Good luck !

We are the same!!!  I had them in order of how you just listed them.  I am stretching it out over a longer time frame though. Upper body in 5 weeks and  thighs October 2012.  Good luck!!!!

Oh and I'm partial to the LBL first because removing that apron is freaking life changing!!!

I wanted LBL first because the tummy bothered me the most.  I looked pregnant and I hated my poofy mons.

But I know a couple of people that wanted the arms first, and even one that wanted nothing but her arms done.

I don't think I'd ever recommend doing thighs first because of how the LBL affects the sides/front.  I'd want to see how that ended up before doing the insides.  I dunno...just makes more sense to me to do it that way.

If you can hide your tummy, I think it'd be great to do upper body first.  You can also consider the timing of your PTO from work when deciding.

I'm having my boobs done in a week, and my tummy done 3 weeks after that. (Doc wouldn't do both at once because of an anaesthesia allergy I have, so I can't be under for more than 4hrs). He told me to get my boobs done first because they're a much easier recovery, and I wouldn't want to be going back in for surgery if I did the harder one first. He said he never does brachio combined with any other plastic surgery because the patient needs their arms to take care of themselves, and having to take care of another incision site/procedure while not having full use of ones arms is not something he recommends.

Your situation isn't quite the same, but people have had some good advice. I'd say, look at how hard the recovery will be. Are there times of the year when you'll have more help available to you than other times? Times when you are less busy with work or have more time off? Take that into consideration, and do the hardest surgery when you'll have the most support and most time to rest. 

Your climate is another consideration. Will you be stuck in stuffy compression garments at the height of summer? That doesn't sound like much fun.

My arms are pretty bad too but I'm way more concerned with my tummy which is why I'm getting that done this year (arms next year). Mostly because I hate being self-conscious when it comes time to get naked in front of someone. Arms are easier to hide in those situations. (haha, priorities!)

GOOD LUCK!! You're going to feel so awesome with all of that skin gone!!