Hi guys,

I am currently looking into plastics and plan to schedule a consult with Dr. Capella in NJ in a couple of weeks, but I was just curious about a few things. How long does it take from your first appointment to the actual surgery? Does it depend on the type of surgery? 

For arm & breast lifts, how was recovery time for you? How long did you rely on heavy pain meds?

With wanting to remove excess skin of the pannis, abdomen and legs, does muscle tightening have to happen? Is it possible to remove the skin and just not tighten the muscle? The muscle tightening is the part I fear the most, honestly. 

Is the scarring very noticeable for a good amount of time? If I don't want coworkers and extended family to know I had surgery, will I need to cover up for several months or is it just something that's noticeable if you look for it? For instance, for how long will people be able to notice scarring if I were to lift my arm up to wave?

I had a kind of awful experience with RNY and had many complications post op, so considering another surgery is very scary at the moment but I've realized it feels a bit like I tried to change my life with RNY and I'm halfway there. Some days the excess skin feels just as bad as the weight. It makes me feel just as insecure as I ever was. I lost over 200 lbs which is fantastic, but I don't feel exactly like a new me, because I see the sagging, deflated leftovers on myself every day. I know plastics would help me greatly but I think I'm invisioning it as something horrifying that it isn't, so I was hoping hearing from others who have experienced it and may have been worried could help. Thanks.

I have not had any body PS - but here is a posting that might answer your questions.  I even think that Dr Capella was the PS, but you will have to check.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/plasticsurgery/6005159/14- week-update-LBL-Arms-and-Breasts-with-Dr-Capella/

How quickly they can do it depends on their calendar, and how much work you are getting done. Longer surgeries require a whole day for them... so may take time to find room on the calendar. From my consults, I will say the dates were 2-3 months out. From time of consult to my first surgery was just shy of 2 months.

I just had my arms and breasts done on 5/2.(second surgery)  I even went out a little the next day...the pain wasn't bad. But you are still recovering from major surgery and I had a melt down about 2 weeks out because I was doing to much...physical, mental, emotional...I got over it quick but you still have to allow yourself time to heal.

I went to a wedding last weekend at almost 3 weeks out and was wearing a spaghetti strap dress, and no one saw my scars. Could they theoretically yes, but where they place them, they kind of hide them...so unless you are reaching over your head...they shouldn't be seen.

Most Docs do do muscle tightening, but they don't have to. Yes there was more pain with the Lower body lift...The first week or so was kind of a blur due to pain meds. Didn't really feel human again until the drains came out. Days 10 and 16.

I don't know where you live, but if you are doing a consult with Dr. Capella, also consider doing a consult with Dr. Joseph Michaels, DC area. He is amazing, and I have no regrets traveling from NY. My consult with him was over the phone, and I had sent him pics. It was great and he spent like 50 minutes with me.

Both Docs are specialist in people who have had massive weight loss... I think that is important as well.

NYMom: Glad to hear you're doing well.

the scars will always be visible some amount. You can't cut skin and not have some kind of scar. 

What kind of scar depends on many factors.

I wasn't saying there weren't scars, just that they weren't obtrusive... No one seemed to notice.

Most of us have muscle separation.  Without repair, I fear you wouldn't be happy with the overall "look."  But that's up to you.  As much as the muscle repair hurt, it does heal and the pain does stop.

On scars, I had both my legs and arms done.  Because of placement, they can't be seen when I'm standing still and my arms are down at my side.  But think about how little time you spend totally still.  You're in motion most of the day, and the scars are not hidden while in motion.  You will have scars.  They will be visible.  Whether that's okay with you or not depends on you and your sensitivity.

Healing and scars in general - skin is different on every part of your body, and it heals differently.  The arms and legs are the hardest and they are the most visible.  Facelift - you can't really see the scars and it healed fast.  Breasts also healed well and fast.  Lower body lift - the scar looks like no more than a tan line.

Hi mell90,

Sharon0055 shared one of my posts. I hope it's helpful. I've posted a lot about my experience with Dr. Capella. I had surgery on Jan 25th, (I think it was 1  1/2 months after my initial consult). I'm sure the timing has more to do with their schedule load, and is variable. That was my experience. I imagine all of this is so particular to the individual and their health and history, so I don't want to in any way suggest that my experience, good and bad, would be yours, but take what you like from my posts with that caveat :-)

I lost 90 lbs from a revision RNY surgery in 2013. Then Jan 25 2016 had a lower body lift, arms, and breasts done in one 7 hour surgery with Dr. C. It seems like the scars sometimes look more faint, and sometimes appear to have spread and be redder still. The back side for me has been the worst. It is still healing in spots. My legs are still meh, and my back is still fat---but all that said, I am still SO happy to have done this and look forward to seeing the scars continue to fade. I've already been wearing 2 piece suits and the scars are covered. You would definitely see them if I raised my arms. Even though that is the case, I've been wearing sleeveless tops a lot already because I feel so much more comfortable with my less flappy arms. They still are a bit weird at the elbow, kinda either puffy or fatty, but still a vast improvement. 

Dr. C will adjust any scars that a patient is not happy with (I think) at one year out. With luck, that won't be necessary, but it helps to know that he can do that, if it's in his office, it would not cost anything, if in the hospital it would be only the cost of the room, anesthesia etc..

I think you will benefit a great deal by having the consultation and maybe with more than one surgeon who specializes in this work. It is all so individual! Good luck!

In the field of plastic and cosmetic surgery, a single procedure has grown increasingly more popular and in demand, and it has nothing to do with the breasts. In a 12-year span between the years 2000 and 2012, one of the most requested plastic surgery procedures was an upper arm lift. Many people, especially women, are more than familiar with that upper arm "wobble", and the number of upper arm lifts, according to the American. I can recommend Placidway for the best prices and they can help you with advice and more information.