Had my first consultation for plastics today! DC Metro people please respond!

Well, I finally did it.  I talked with a doctor about plastic surgery today.  It was WONDERFUL!!!  I felt so full of hope after the appointment.  I feel so inspired now!  When I was done, I just wanted to sign on the dotted line and set a surgery date, but, of course, I did not.  I know I need to interview a few doctors and do my research to find the best one, just like I did for my WLS.

So, I live in Northern Virginia (Loudoun County).  I would like to have my abdominoplasty and breast reduction/lift done locally, but I consider locally to be the entire DC Metro area.  Anyone living in the area have a favorite plastic surgeon?  I interviewed Dr. Michael Brown today.  I'm considering Dr. Bitar, Dr. Krieger, and Dr. Barlow.  I've looked at their websites and their feedback on the OH profiles, but I'm wondering if any of you have any experiences to share about them.

Thanks,

Kim

 I can't help with the doctors in you area but I wanted to congratulate you on going to your first appointment. You perfectly describe the same way I felt after going to a consult. It is just so wonderful to feel good about our bodies and their potential.

 I can't help you with your area, but I can give you some ideas of the prices I've been quoted in the last couple of weeks for the same two proceedures, if you are interested. 

Pensacola, FL _ Breast Lift (no implant), Tummy Tuck 11,350. Done in the hospital.

Miami, FL _ Breast Lift (no implant), Extended Tummy Tuck, Lipo to define the waist and back area
12, 300. Done in Surgeon's private surgical suite. 

Tijuana, Mx _ Tummy Tuck, Breast Lift, Lipo to define waist and back area 6,500. Done in a partner's private surgical suite. 

 Who did you get a quote from in Miami? Dr. Schuster?
I'm just beginnning to look...

On January 10, 2012 at 4:49 AM Pacific Time, plum21 wrote: Who did you get a quote from in Miami? Dr. Schuster?
I'm just beginnning to look...
  When I first read this, I though we were talking about the same doc since the names are similar, but my quote is from Dr. Michael Salzhauer of Bal Harbor Surgery.I'd love to go with him, but if I use the local doc, I think I can "sneak" some of the costs by on my flexible spending account since they operate in the hospital. I have been having major health problems that several doctors say are related to my 18 year old saline implants, so I think I have enough proof of medical need to justify using my flexible spending card to pay for my hospital costs if I get audited. Still looking into that, though. Dr. Schuster does wonderful work according to reports from people online, and his before and afters look great. 

I'm going to have to look at Dr. Schusters site. There's another surgeon that I've read a lot about in your area, but his name escapes me right now. I'll look for it, because his breast work is amazing, and they say his prices are very competitive. 
  I've also read good things about Dr. Masri at http://www.facebody.net/doctors/

Let me know if you have heard of any negatives on any of these surgeons since you are local. There sure are a lot of surgeons in the Miami area, for sure!
 

 I'm just starting to look into PS -as I won't be ready for anything until next winter, if then. I have an RNY friend who had LBL with Dr Schuster in October and she looks amazing. He's expensive though - 18K...and she's getting BL and arms done this month or next month. I'm also considering Sauceda in Monterrey...but wouldn't want to leave MTY before all the drains were gone and stitches all pulled.... I'm just lurking around, getting info so I can make informed decisions when I'm ready... But if you find out some stuff in Miami, please let me know.

 Wow...that is expensive for a lower body lift. I wish I had the money to go to anyone I want, but surely, we can find great surgeons at a reasonable price if we keep looking.

Dr. Sauceda was the first one that I sent pictures to, but it's been a couple of weeks since I sent them and I have not heard back from him yet. He may have called, but my phone message machine has been acting up and stopping people from leaving messages, so I may have missed him. I think I'll email again and see if I can get in touch with him.

I'm with you on the drains and stitches. I sure don't want to have to be dealing with any of that once I get home. It's so hard to find medical followup in the U.S. when you use a doctor out of country, or even another surgeon in the U.S., for that matter.

I'll let you know if I find anyone else in your area. I have tons of frequent flyer miles and hotel points, so I can go anywhere I want if I can find a good doc at a reasonable price being that travel costs won't be an issue.

Kim...sorry about jacking your thread. I'll take my conversation with plum21 private.

If you haven't heard from Dr Sauceda in 2 days, send him a 2nd email requesting a quote.  He doesn't have an office staff, it's just him and when he's in surgery it can be a long day.  Most are 8-13 hrs long.    [email protected]

Dr Sauceda is reasonable and all work is done in the clinic and you stay there with 24/7 care until he feels you can go back to the Hampton Inn.  His nurse, Patty, comes by daily to help you shower, take care of the stitches and get you back into your compression garment.  Dr S also tries to come by daily also. 

I got everything done except for an UBL, for what one procedure would have cost me here and they would have sent me home the same day.  I'm old, I wanted that 24/7 after care.  I'll be going back next Jan for my UBL.

Thanks, Chris. I'll email him again. Do you know how his calls show up on caller ID? Not the number, but location, I mean. I had someone call about 7:30 in the morning from Houston about two days after I sent the email, but I was out walking when the call came in. My stupid answering machine (through the phone company) hung up on whoever it was. 

I'm with you on the "to old" thing. I want to go SLOW with my surgeries. I've got enough frequent flyer miles to go to Mexico and back four times in First Class, and I'd rather go four times than have one huge surgery, or surgery a few days apart. I'm just too old for that. I'm just now (two years later) getting over my gastric bypass revision. I came down with Shingles two weeks after surgery, and have been fighting small (but annoying) health issues ever since. I'd be afraid to get stitched up from head to toe in the shape I'm in at the moment.

Thanks for the info!

Hi Neighbor,
    I am in Herndon.
    I started researching plastics about the same time I had my WLS. I have heard so many great things about Dr Sauceda in Mexico and I knew the price was right so he was my choice from the beginning. I was actually able to go to New York when he was here a while ago to meet him and have a consult. I also had a consult with Dr. Mitchel Krieger in Northern Va. He was great, but no way could I afford him. Then I started hearing about resident clinics that have reduced priced plastic surgery. I decided to have a consult with the University of Maryland Plastic Surgery Resident Clinic. (Johns Hopkins has a similar program). I told myself that if the price was close to the same as going to Mexico that I would do it here. (To hard to be in Mexico for 10-14 days when my son is in school here) I had my consult and my Tummy Tuck and Thigh lift was $8500.00. The surgery was done by the Chief Resident under the supervision of the attending physician who is professor of surgery in the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Hope that helps.......good luck