What would you do?

  I didn't suggest that you go to someone that is charging $16k for the stomach alone. I suggested that you go to a certified plastic surgeon with experience in massive weight loss surgery patients.

And I wasnt *****ing - not at all, maybe you should reread the post. *****ing, by definition, implies complaining or whining. I wasn't doing either.The post is strongly worded, probably the most strongly worded post I ever made which is why I was saying I wasn't trying to be a ***** about  it.

I think it is a very very important issue. Thus the tone of the post. 

I certainly didnt intend to offend you by posting advice to use a certified plastic surgeon experienced with weight loss surgery, providing some reasons to do so. and discussing a surgical center.  I actually didnt think it was possible to offend you with such a post.

In any case, good luck to you in your surgery.



edit.... gah! I cant get this darn thing to post in the right spot! sorry!

Raven,
I am not offended. If I came off that way I am sorry. If I didn't want to hear opinions of you and others I would not have came here and asked. I come here because I value what others say even if I don't agree. I come here for support and to offer support as well.

I was trying to address your post indivually. I gave the 16k quote as a reference, even though its not about the money, it matters. 

Also, I was explaining to you that he does have experience, again trying to reply to the specifics. He isn't certified though which I understand to many people it is the of the utter most importance and some others it isn't as important.

Ok, I didn't think you were being a ***** or anything else. Like I said I value what you said.
Anways, sorry if I came off in a negative way. Thats never happened to me before anywhere online.

Thanks.

I'll also throw in my 2 cents by letting you know how I went about this.

I had three consults. The first two doctors are board certified and were also on the list of recommended Plastic Surgeons of my VSG doctor.

The first two wee very similar in price. The first one gave me the option of the Medical Center Vs. the hospital. The price was about $5k less using the Center. If I used him I would use the center. It's a FAAACP certified facility. He has been operating it for 10 years. He has a hot line to a very big hospital and they are 5 minutes away. He said he never had to use it.

The Dr. that I did choose is not Board Certified although he is eligible. He is a fellow at a Long Island Plastic Surgical Group (Several of the doctors there are on my surgeons list). He is the chief resident at the teaching hospital. I went through the teaching hospital program. He has 15 years of surgical experience the last 7 doing exclusively plastics. He has operated on many WLS patients several of them I know personally from my support group. He is sitting for his boards this month or next and opening up his own practice in June. I paid $6,200 all inclusive. I also had a safety net of a board certified doctor in the room supervising the procedure.

I think the job he did turned out beautifully. I do have to say that I was more concerned about removing the excess skin than perfection. Only my wife sees me without clothes and she was fine with the excess skin. I just wanted it gone. This was a deal I couldn't pass up since insurance wouldn't cover me.  

I'm just telling you this as I know there are teaching hospitals throughout the country. Just another option.

MikeyMike,

Thank you. I have read your story and the story you shared about your surgery was really helpful!

I am speaking with a Dr. currently that is at a learning hospital. He isn't in Florida so I would still be way from home up to 3 weeks or so. But, it is well worth checking in to.

Thanks so much!

The only reason I didn't want to use a surgery center, was you are in and then you are home.  I live by myself, so my daughter would have had to come and stay with me.  I didn't want to have a couple of procedures done, like my LBL and BL, then be sent home with a pain pump.    That was my choice.  I also wanted one surgery and one recovery period.  Dr Sauceda was the only PS who would do my LBL, BL, arms and medial thigh lift at one time, then 4 days later a full neck & face lift.  I was in the clinic for 7 days with 24/7 care then at the hotel, with Dr S and his nurse Patty coming by daily.  I was off for a total of 8 weeks then back to work.  My recovery was textbook, but it too****il after month 3 before I was starting to feel like myself. 

I have Kaiser, who like Lee, would have to treat me if there were problems.  I only saw my PCP to get the rest of my stitches out.  She was impressed with my new body. 

Like Mike said, a teaching hospital may be the way around some of your issues.  Good luck, it is a hard decision.  I will say that my DS surgeon, Dr Rabkin, also does some plastics, I don't think he's board certified, but the folks that have had him are happy with their results.