How to decide on who does your plastics?

I am having a difficult time deciding on who to choose for my plastic surgery.  I am down almost 200 pounds from my heaviest.  I hae been a whole year at this weight and a few years out from surgery.  I need a LBL, brachioplasty, breast lift  and thighplasty.  Basically everything.  I have consulted Dr. Sauceda in Mexico, but decided that was too much surgery for 12 days and if something should go wrong - who was going to fix me?  It was totally outside of my comfort zone.  Althought the price was great, I am not willing to do that much surgery outside of US. 

Second, I met with Dr. Capella.  I live in NJ.   Loved him and his work and I figured it would take me at least 3 summers (I teach high school) to complete surgeries.  Do LBL in June then next summer upper body lift and thighplasty later.  I do not wish to finance any of this and prefer to pay as a go.

Now comes the 3rd surgeon, my bariatric surgeon who has done about 1000 of these surgeries.  His patients love him, the cost is cheaper and everyone is satisfied with the results of his cosmetic surgeries.  I figured I could afford the LBL and brachioplasty.  I hate my arms.  I would have to higher a plastic surgeon for the breast lift.  

So has anyone else had this issue and what did you decide?

Your bariatric surgeon is not a board-certified plastic surgeon.  He may have lots of experience with surgeries on post-WLS patients but that doesn't make him an expert in body contouring.  My bariatric surgeon does a lot of panniculectomies and mini-tummy tucks too.  But comparing his work to that of a board-certified plastic surgeon that ONLY does these...it's like putting a Porsche next to a Ford pick-up.  And if you've lost over 200 lbs. you'll need a circumferential lower body lift.  That's a serious, serious surgery and you want the best. 

You've only got one body - go for the best.  I've seen lots of pics of Capella's work and he's excellent and worth the price.  

Yes I agreed and it kills me to think about it.  His work is absolutely beautiful. I hate to spend the money, but I cannot live in this body anymore.  I worked too hard to look like this.  Thanks.

I liked your comparison between a Ford pickup and a porsche, and I agree with you.  BUT I had a visual,  and to this country girl,  that ford pickup is fast sexier and more desirable!  

I wanted to feel "whole" again. I did not want to just feel "satisfied". I went with a plastic surgeon with a lot of experience with bariatric patients. I had also lost 200 pounds and knew it would take a lot to put me back together again. For me, it was worth the extra cost. My stomach looks as good as it did when i was in my 20's.

Only you can decide if you want to be "satisfied" with your results or "happy". To me there is a big difference.

I met with Dr. Capella also. He was a top contender but I went with Dr. Joseph Michaels in DC area. Both of them are specialists in people with Massive weight loss. After doing 5 consultations I really decided that was important to me. I just made a post about some of my experience if you want to look at it.

I had my PS in 2011, I was 58.  I had the LBL, BL, arms, sm thigh (12 hr), then 4 days later a full facelift including upper and lower lids (7 hr).  My pain was minimal, and up the next day taking a shower.  With my DS, I didn't want to hardly get up, but did walk, no shower until my 5th day and I was home.  I was on pain pills for 2 weeks.  The only pain pills I took with PS was for my FL, ears pinned back on the stitches hurt.  Others came up with tampons behind the ear to hold the ears away. 

I took off 8 weeks with my DS and 8 weeks for my PS.  My work would only give me the 8 weeks off for PS.  When I went back for my UBL 2 yrs later, I asked for 5 and got 3 weeks off.  It was fine.  I was in Monterrey for 14 days instead of the usual 12. 

For me, it was great having only one recovery period.

personally,I wouldn't let a plastic surgeon do my WLS,and I wouldn't let a WLS do my plastic surgery.

Thank you for all of your input.  I met with my bariatric surgeons to talk to him about the plastics.  I will definitely be using Dr. Capella for my surgery and I am planning on a lower body lift this July.  That is all I can afford.  Next year will be the upper body.  Then I need to think about implants as I am very flat.  

I am not looking forward to the recovery and I cannot wait until this surgery is complete.  I expect it to be life changing.  I have been obese pretty much my whole life.  Even though I have had the weight loss - what would it be to look normal naked or to even see the hard work that you have done in the gym with lifting weights.  

I think you are right that you should go with the surgeon that you are comfortable to work with your surgery. And I think it's good to have a step by step process in taking action with regards to that. Goodluck to your upcoming surgeries!