Arms/Breast Lift before goal?

I am still 20 pounds from my goal, but my arms and boobs are driving me crazy. I am absolutely going to wait a year or so before trying to get my LBL. I definitely lost from the top down. I don't see where I have much to lose on top still. Has anyone here done the top half before reaching  full goal? Do you think it impacted the appearance? After your experience would you wait? 

Thanks

Keisha

I would start having plastic surgery consults. The surgeons are the only ones that can tell if you are ready. They can see past the skin, and understand what is going on beneath the surface.

I kept expecting them to say I wasn't ready (5 consults) and not one of them did. They all said I was a good candidate. Had LBL 7 weeks ago, Arm lift and Breast lift May 2nd.

I don't know where you are, but I highly recommend my surgeon, Dr. Joseph Michaels in DC area. I live in NY and he was well worth travelling for. I initially sent him pictures, and then did a phone consult.

Even if you have a consult now, you may lose the weight by the time you get surgery.

That was what I was thinking also. At least I would feel like I was getting closer to being fixed by having the consults. 

Dr Michaels is on my list. I am only about 5 hours away from his Virginia office. I have looked around closer to home but there is no one really versed in ps after massive weight loss.

How was your experience traveling for PS? I did not mind at all traveling for vsg. But I am kinda scared about the pain levels and drains along with the distance to travel.

Thanks 

I agree with the other poster- each surgeon has a different take on the surgery and it is good to hear different opinions.

It was well worth traveling, Dr. Michaels is amazing. I had one night in Hospital, and then 8 nights in a Hampton Inn. He was only a phone call away, and when my girlfriend who was with me called, he got on the phone in 2 minutes...He was great. He gave us a phone number, and said "You call anytime day or night" and it wasn't a service....

I chose the Hampton Inn - price, and breakfast daily... didn't have to go looking for food. Asked for the handicapped room, so it was plenty big and it had a fridge and microwave. It felt like camping... If you get to that point I will gladly share some of the things I brought. It is a toss up as to whether I really needed to stay that long. I had surgery on a Monday, and my follow up was the next Tuesday. I was hoping if I stayed He could take the drains out....it didn't happen. Drains came out on Day 10 and 16.  He had given me some options for that before hand that didn't involve coming back to DC. In some ways being in the hotel was good, because you have not 'regular life' distractions.... Definitely need someone helping you the first week. I never had drains before... they are a PITA, but don't hurt or anything.(He only uses 2, some surgeons use up to 4 or 5...I would have lost my mind)  He told me he always takes them out at 3 weeks no matter what.

You need a friend/family member if nothing else to keep track of the pain meds LOL...If left to my own devices, I am sure I would have overdosed myself. Basically rotated in the beginning between, Oxy, valium and tylenol... so something every 2 hours.... The first couple of days are the hardest, and the first week is a blur.... but as long as I took my meds I was good.

One of the things I remember thinking as I was researching, is Dr. Michael's patients seem to recover really well. and I did. People were amazed at well I was doing 2 and 3 weeks out. I flew to Arizona for a wedding 2 1/2 weeks out, (Which was crazy mind you) but I could do it. We discussed it before hand and I had to give myself shots of Lovenox (blood thinner) for the flights.

You are more than welcome to Private message me...for more info

Thank you for the thoughtful reply. I think I will schedule a consultation with him and see how it goes. I'm sure that I will be getting with you further lol.

I agree that this is a good time for consults.  Do at least three, because surgeons all have different approaches, and you want to choose the one that fits in best with your needs and expectations.

I didn't travel for plastics.  I wanted my surgeon within my grasp.  I didn't have any complications, but I did have a few "tweaks" taken care of.  They weren't significant enough to make a long trip to my surgeon, but, since he's down the street, it was a simple office visit and done.  BUT people travel for PS all the time and they survive.  It all depends on your comfort level.

I agree each one has a different approach... amazing considering you are talking about the same surgery. But it is an Art as well as a science....

I would stat investigatin now -it can take time to get the intitial consult appt and then to get the $$$ and book the time on the surg calendar.  

My body really changed when I went from 165 to 145 - from a size 12 to a 6 and I can see where, for my body, it was worth the wait - because the skin was much emptier at 145.  That being said, if you started with the consults now, in a few months when you would book the surgery, you might has lost the rest. 

It is still best to consult a surgeon since there are cases that may be in need of different approach or process to a particular individual and then to another since there are some factors to consider. Nothing beats the information given a specialist in which in this case - an expert surgeon with undoubtedly extensive experience and knowledge.