New to THIS board & have some ???'s

I have been on the OH forum since before my surgery (6-7-10) but it's the first time I've been here. I have been approved for a lower TT but choosing to self pay to have the complete TT done I know I would not be happy with just the lower Any Thoughts on that?? Also I am looking into having an arm lift at the same time. In a perfect world I would be able to have it all done up right. I guess what I'm wondering is this . . . Arms Or Boobs (lift & augmentation). I can't do my legs with my TT but I can chose Arms or Boobs. I want both done but can't really decide, hubby would like me to get the boobs done (of course) but I'm just unsure what I would rather have done?? Would Love to hear ANY & ALL your thoughts. Thanks in advance ! !

I had a LBL, BL, arms and a medial thigh lift, then 4 days later a full neck and face lift.  I wanted them done at one time and one recovery period.  I went to Monterrey Mexico and Dr Sauceda.  There is a group here on OH, you can click on Dr Sauceda in my siggy line.

 I had the same dilema.  My surgeon told me to think about what I wanted to fix MOST, what bothered me more than anything else - and choose that.  Because some people decide not to come back for more surgery after the first! lol

I chose arms.  Those bothered me the most by far.  A good bra fixed the boobs - but NOTHING helped my flabby arms.

I am having the things that bother me the most.. the TT and Boobs first. I hear the arms and thighs hurt the most. I am going to wait for my TT & BL/BA to heal really good and strengthen my core before doing the thighs.. Arms will be last.. 3/4 sleeve work fine for me right now..


Michelle

Personally, I chose to have my arms done first because you cannot hide your arms. Even in 3/4 length sleeves, granny arms are hideous. And I love sleeveless tops, but there was no way in hell I ever wore them with my wings. Good bras made my girls look good until I got them done. I say go for the arms.

Laura

I'm going for TT and arms on Jan.6th.  PS asked why not TT and boobs and i said bras hold up boobs but nothing hides these wings.  When I win the powerball or mega millions I will get thighs and boobs done.  Thighs before boobs.

If you've been approved for the TT you might be able to have that covered and self pay for the butt part of the LBL. That's what I did. I'm not sure what you mean by a complete TT so hope I understand correctly. If you mean TT with muscle reconstruction then again, you may be able to self pay whatever isn't covered.

If you're having a full LBL I wouldn't do anything else with that. It's MAJOR. Very hard on the body and healing well is VERY important. Your body can only heal so much at once. 

If you're not having a full LBL then 2 procedures can often be done at the same time. I combined a few myself. TT revision and breast lift. Thigh lift and breast implants. Just be aware if you have 2 major areas worked on at the same time i.e. arms and legs, mobility is an issue. You need your arms a lot when you have your thighs done and vice versa. It also depends on your pain threshold. I had a lot of procedures so my PS was comfortable knowing I have a high pain threshold. Also help at home is a deciding factor. You will need it no matter what you have done. 

It also has to do with OR time. Many docs have limitations on how long they can keep a patient sedated. It has something to do with their insurance and hospital rules. My PS won't keep anyone out for more then 6-7 hours. 

Why not have the arms and boobs done at the same time? If it's money, then yeah, go for the one that bothers you most. Otherwise, I needed to have them done together: I had a pulled/torn chest wall muscle that would not have healed (per the breast specialist at my gyny) unless I had them done together.

Michelle E is correct - arms and thighs hurt the most, so whatever else you split up, DON'T put those together!

How did you know you had a pulled/tornchest wall muscle?? and did that specific problem make it qualify for insurance paying? and did you get a breast lift or implants or just a reduction...I'm curious. thanks for sharing.

I had significant pain in one breast.  One saggy, empty, very long breast.  I checked with my gyny, who sent me to the breast specialist, who told me it was not the breast at all, but a chest wall muscle.  We bound it up for a month, and 2 days after it was released to a supportive bra, the pain came back.  Bount it up again for a month, and again the pain came back.  At that point, he told me it would NOT heal unless I had a breast reduction and brachioplasty (the skin near the armpit and the very upper part of the arm was pulling on that muscle as well). 

So my insurance did cover the breast lift and reduction, and also the brachioplasty.  They also covered a circumferential lower body lift and removal of excess thigh skin.  Because of the way my surgeons work, they were able to also do the anchor cut up my torso and extend the breast reconstruction around to my back and up my shoulder blades for an upper back lift without incurring any extra costs.

Yes, I LOVE those men!

I was going to get implants when I had my thighs done, but the report from the breast specialist and my gyny (both of whom support implants in general because it makes mammograms easier - whoda thunk it??) was that even small implants would mean pretty much a lifetime in supportive full coverage bras - no cute bras, no cute swim wear, nada, because that muscle was always going to be a weak spot.  So, no implants for me.

Best of luck figuring out what you need - and getting it!  It's almost as big a rollercoaster ride as the original surgery!