Lift First THEN Augment? Hard Time Choosing

I also lost 200 pounds and wear a bikini (at the age of 50). HERE was a picture I posted last year. It is wonderful to feel "whole" again after plastic surgery.

You can take pics from the front, side, back, other side and send to [email protected] with quote in the subject and he'll send you back a quote. As you combine procedures the price goes down as you are already on the table.

I had the works done at 1 time, as work would only let me have 8 weeks off, and wouldn't consider 3 weeks here and 3 weeks in a few months. I had one recovery period.

If you are in the northeast, Dr Sauceda will be in Chicago on 6/24 & 25 and is available for consults if you want to meet him in person.

I totally get your dilemma. I knew, when I chose my surgeon, that other surgeons would combine surgeries, so I'd need fewer - or they'd do things cheaper. But, ultimately, I knew it was in my best interest to go with the surgeon with the most experience.

Did you ask why he chooses to do the augmentation as a second surgery? His answer might help make the decision.

I ended up opting for a surgeon that had the most experience with massive weight loss patients, even if he's the more conservative in terms of number of surgeries. That experience is worth spending the extra money - even if it's a rather large amount of money.

For me, a surgeon who IS willing to do all these surgeries at once is actually a turn off. They're very long, complicated, and involved procedures. To do them all might involve an assistant that isn't as capable or as experienced. Plus there's the fatigue of the operating team to consider. And the length of time under anesthesia.

Lots of stuff to keep in mind.

I definitely understand that! I just don't think adding a BA to already having a lift and LBL would really be that much of a factor. I was advised it would take like 30 minutes for the BA - especially if already in there for a lift.

Right, for the lift and augmentation I wouldn't be too concerned about the time issue, but I'm not getting an augmentation so I haven't looked into any specifics about it.

My limited understanding is that implants have a lifespan and the idea of needing to redo them every 10-15 years is totally unappealing to me.

I did ask my PS about the lifespan of implants and he said the implants are much different now and do not need to be replaced. Of course, I'm 60 so maybe if someone was getting them in their 20's the life expectancy of them might be different. :) I just know that I do not anticipate having to get them replaced in my lifetime.

Everything I can find says 10-20 years for the implants. So it's definitely a different consideration at age 60 than where I am at age 40!

Yes. The fact that they aren't "permanent" is definitely the biggest put-off for me to have them in. I spoke to my surgeons about it and they mentioned there are no hard and fast rules for if/when it will happen, and that newer implants do just get better and better. Also, because a BA is such an "easy" procedure, I was OK with knowing that maybe some years down the line, I'd have to go in for a "touch up."

Thank you. I did ask about separating the lift and augmentation, because it surprised me. All the other surgeons I spoke with - whether I had a consult with them or not - mentioned the lift/BA as one procedure.

He mentioned that having the lift first would address more loose armpit skin, and also be a better "starting point" for an eventual augmentation, so that my results would be better. He also mentioned that it would be better for me then to see which size implant I was interested in, because I would be starting off in the same position as someone who didn't have large breasts. I already know I want to be at like a DD or DDD. I'm kinda filling out a DDD now, but with loose skin moreso than volume.

I am also not really concerned about my armpit skin and my arms are fine (no need for surgery there).I think he was of the mind that maybe I would like my results with just the lift and not need to pursue implants - pointing out that appearance would also be greatly improved by my newly flat tummy, but my mind is pretty much made up.