Plastic surgery fact gathering

Three years and 112lbs dropped after my surgery and I am now ready to have some of this excess skin removed. I have just begun the process of gathering information and scheduling consultations.

The three surgeons I am looking at in Raleigh NC are : Dr. Edward Ray - Southpoint Plastic Surgery, Dr. Brian Coan - Care Plastic Surgery and Dr Carlino - Specialists in plastic surgery.

I would love for any feedback from former patients  AND any advice with regards to plastic surgery after weight loss ( arms, thighs, abdomen ...)

Thanks in advance.

 I lost 114 lbs and had my plastic surgery last week.  On the 14th, I had an extended abdominoplasty, flankplasty, breast lift, and breast augmentation.  The surgeon suggested that I wait in my thighs as the extended abdominoplasty and flankplasty would pull up the loose skin from my thighs and I may not need any work on them.

I am so glad I listened to him, he was right...as it is right now, I will not need any thigh work done.

Good luck to you.  Blessings!

Thanks for your input.
I had heard the same thing about waiting.
I know  the surgeon will typically NOT do the abdominoplasty with the thigh lift because it is usually too much of a strain on the body.

I was considering asking if He could do arms and abdominoplasty together.

Have you heard of this combo being done?
I would think unless you had real strong legs ,since you can't use your arms to push yourself up, the answer would be no.

Anyway, Congats on Your surgery!!!! I hope it turns out to be all that you wished and more !!

My arm work was really skin removal only. It is not like the tummy tuck where they repair muscles.

I had full function of my arms from day one.
I think that combining a tummy tuck with arms is doable.

You will want to ask this and many other things at your consults.

I agree to do the core or tummy first and then work upwards and downwards if needed.

I did my arms and breasts first only because I thought that I was never going to do the tummy. I changed my mind after a year and went ahead with the tummy a few months ago.

my doc said that a tt and breast lift would take 8 hours and that my risk for complications goes way up. It seems that many other people get more than one procedure done. I am confused as to why mine would take that long. I do not have that much skin?

I'm in the process of finding a plastic surgeon so far I have been to 3. Each one has had different ideas and plans on how to handle my case. Some willing to do more than one procedure, some won't. I think its very important to find the dr that is the right fit for you, and one that listens to your concerns. I have TONS of extra skin and the longest any of my surgeons said it would take is 6 hours, do please get a few more opinions so you feel more comfortable. I have honestly learned a lot from this process. Can't wait for it to be done.

I had an LBL, BL, arms and medial thigh lift done and 4 days later a full neck & face lift.  Dr Sauceda uses twilight sedation with an epidural.  My body work was almost 12 hrs, and I felt great in recovery.  My face work was 6+ hrs.  I had one recovery period.  The LBL included a mons lift, abdominal tightening, and butt augmentation.

I couldn't be happier.  Well, I should have listened when Dr S recommended an UBL too.  I'll be back in Jan to fix the upper back.

Dr Sauceda will be in Las Vegas June 1st and 2nd for consults.   

FIrst, You look fantastic... and it sounds as if you feel the same way inside as well !!!!

Congrats !!! I know lots of people outside the world of  " massive weight loss" just don't have a clue, what we have gone through. Thanks for sharing.

Question: how many surgeons did you consult with before picking Dr. Sauceda?

And if you consulted with various surgeons what factors made you select Dr. Sauceda?

Both of the surgeons that I have heard speak at seminars mentioned they would not perform any surgeries or combinations that last over 6 hours due to the increased risk of being under anethesia.   I have not heard any mention using an epidural and sedation. Interesting.

Keep on

Keep on
I saw a couple of folks that had gone to Dr Sauceda when I started researching PS.  I went to a seminar here in Sac and listened to what the PS had to say and his office staff who all had BA.  What I didn't like is that he operates in an outpatient clinic and sends you home with a pain pump.  I live by myself, yes, my daughter could have come to stay with me, but I was 58 and I wanted more after care.  Plus, he'd break up the surgeries.  I was afraid if the pain was too bad, I wouldn't finish up other surgeries after the first one.

I had a consult with Dr Sauceda in SF and with his all-inclusive package and combining several procedures, and only one recovery period, it made sense for me.  I'd been on his board for 6 months and was very impressed.  It was also very affordable. 

The epidural and twilight sedation makes it possible to have longer surgeries w/o the risk of being under anethesia.  Plus, I felt great when I came out after almost 12 hrs of surgery. 

I was in the clinic for 7 days and the hotel for 7 days.  I had surgery on Thur for my body and then Monday had a neck and full facelift.   Dr S came by daily or called on Sun to check up on me.  His nurse comes to the hotel every day to help you shower, clean your garment, ointment and gauze you back up and then gets you back into your compression garment.  Before you leave, she may pull drains and remove stitches.  I came home with stitches in my groin and my BL stitches that were removed at my PCPs office.

When you return home, I had to email Dr S every 48hrs or he contacted me to see if everything was ok.