What PS would you (or did you) have first?

Thank you. I'm not in a position yet to pay for surgery, so figured I'd give it a bit, while I worked on entering maintenance and remaining stable and at a low weight. I will likely schedule consults next year, though! Thanks for your info, I appreciate it!

then what you might want to start doing (now or within the next few months) is researching surgeons to figure out your best options so that when you're ready to schedule consults, you'll already have some shortlisted. It took me quite awhile to come up with my shortlist!! I started with realself.com. I also searched OH for names, too..

this is supposedly a complicated subspecialty, so ideally you want someone who does a truckload of these things, or better yet, specializes in it..

I for sure want to have a specialist in reconstructive PS for the massive weight-loss patient. My skin is like some sort of strange and delicate fabric, not springy, snappy and dense like it used to be. I need someone with lots of experience, technically superb, with a very discriminating, aesthetic eye. God only knows where I'll find him or her! I'd traveltravel for the best, but hope there will be someone fairly close. Starting to look.

My facelift was my #1 issue as my jowls and turkey neck couldn't be hidden and I felt I looked way older. I had a TT at the same time because that is all I was planning to do. My thighs aren't terrible so it wouldn't be worth the recovery issues, my arms are also not bad enough to warrant the scars, and although my breasts are way smaller and saggy they look fine in a bathing suit and bra. So I thought one shot was it until the facelift made such an improvement that my saggy eyelids became more noticeable so I had upper and lower lids done along with a brow lift.

IMO it really comes down to what bothers you the most and what you are willing to spend in money and recuperation time.

Your facelift and eyes/browlift are amazing! I need that done too. I saw a whole new wrinkle emerge on my face a few days ago, where previously there had only been a bit of sag. Now that bit of sag is underlined - in bold! Argh! The joys of aging!

Do you have a surgeon picked out? If not, go to several to see what combinations they usually do. Also, you may need to find a different surgeon for your face. For the body work it is important to find someone with experience with bariatric patients. For face work, it is not.

For me, money was an issue. I had my arms done first because I could hide everything else (I love wearing sleeveless shirts). Arms are relatively inexpensive to fix. I was not sure I would ever be able to afford anything else at the time. Fast forward a few years and I was fortunate to have an lbl and bl (at the same time). My legs are a hot mess, but I have made peace with them and will never get them fixed. In clothes I look good. I may get a face lift at some point, but I'm not sure.

Money is an issue for me too, but it is something that in time I can resolve. If I could only have a few procedures is choose a LBL, BL, and facelift, probably. But my thighs really need help, as do my arms...honestly I would like everything done!

I don't have a surgeon picked out, but would travel if I had to and was unable to find someone truly top-notch up here. I wish Dr. Michaels wasn't so far away, he sounds pretty perfect. I don't mind traveling as I said for the surgery, it's the follow-up visits beyond the first couple of weeks that would become difficult.

Good to know that it isn't so important to have a face lift done by someone deeply experienced in post-massive weight loss PS. I'm sure I can find a good regular cosmetic surgeon in the greater Seattle area, or I could go to Santa Barbara and have it done down in that area, since I could stay at my brothers, at least until they sell or rent their house there.

I'm sure there are people of Dr. Michaels' caliber on the west coast. I've heard Dr. Katzen in Beverly Hills mentioned quite a few times, for example. I'm sure there are others - it's just that I didn't research west coast possibilities at all since I'm east of the Mississippi and there are a handful of well-known specialists on this side of the country, too. There are also a couple of very well-known specialists in Mexico, too (Dr. Sauceda and Dr. Cardenas). There may even be one or two up in the PNW - just check around....

Thank you. I will do that! I have considered Mexico, I'm just nervous about needing to travel again for any possible complications. But that would be true if I flew anywhere for surgery, rather than staying at a driveable distance. Hopefully I won't have any complications, of course!