I am team Dr. Joseph Michaels 100%! I had the best experience with him. He does virtual consults. I can't say enough good things about him.

Here is a post I did a couple of years after plastics, and it links to my original plastics post.

I would recommend waiting more than a few months. Many surgeons recommend that you spend 6 months to a year at your goal weight. I have had regain since my lowest weight, and had I had plastics at that low number where I stayed for like a hot second, I don't think I would still have such awesome results.

Where in upstate NY? I went to college in Ithaca!

a lot of surgeons in Mexico seem to use recovery houses - I think they're a great idea! Another surgeon in Mexico who's pretty well-known on OH is Francisco Sauceda. I actually did an email consult with him - he's much cheaper than US surgeons - probably half the price, as I recall. Dr. Carmina Cardenas is as well, from what I've heard. They are both very well-respected and well-trained surgeons - in fact, Dr. Sauceda at one time worked in the burn unit at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. If you end up going to Mexico, either one of them would be a great choice.

overall, there are excellent surgeons abroad, and some not so good ones. You just have to do your research to make sure you're getting a good one. And from everything I've heard, Dr. Carmina Cardenas is very good.

I know what you mean about going abroad, though. I was tempted but decided to stay in the US in case there were issues. Although I suppose most doctors here would treat you if you had a complication - but maybe you should check with yours first to make sure that's the case. Just for peace of mind. It'd be a huge pain to fly back to Mexico. But if you're covered on this end for potential complications, you may be fine.

Thanks a lot for all this information!

Thanks Maddymoe, I am also hoping for this winter, sometime Feb-March. I want to get down another 30 pounds and then settle into that weight for a few months to be sure it's stable. Good luck to you on your journey!

I've heard of all of them except for Kovach, Giles, and Shuster. The others you mentioned are pretty well-known to the bariatric community and have excellent reputations.

I used Lawrence Zachary in Chicago who also has an excellent reputation and is pretty well-known in the bariatric community as well, but there are enough "stars" on the east coast (i.e., closer to you) that I would go with one of them. Plus if you're one of the few who experiences complications, it'd be helpful if your surgeon was within driving distance, I would think.

Edited to add that a lot of people do travel for plastic surgery, so it's not NECESSARY to have someone within driving distance, but it might be easier...