Hey,

Canada is great, I am sure you would love it here. :-) I am on the east coast, is beautiful.

I have been I touch with Dr Sauceda today,I emailed him from an email address I found on this site.

He responded to me within a few hours,I was wowed.

I wrote back with some questions and am waiting to hear back. I have an email into a Cuba clinic as well and waiting for response.

keeping my fingers crossed

I had my pre-op appointment this afternoon and they set me up for two weeks from Monday to remove 10 lbs of ugly fat. I said "No, doc, not my head! I just want this excess skin gone!"

Seriously, it went well and I am excited about it again. The doc has a pretty good sense of humor so there was some joking around. He is going to do what he calls an inverted T. Since insurance is picking up a small part of the tab, he said it is non cosmetic. I guess if it is cosmetic, they call it a fleur de lis.

"What's that mean, Doc? You use fewer stitches?"

"No, it means we can't do any liposuction or other things. Most men don't need or want cosmetic anyway."

"Well I'm almost 60, and I have six grandchildren. I'm supposed to be a little lumpy and wrinkly by now."

He laughed.

"What about my fur patch on my chest and belly? (Here's a problem you ladies don't have I'll bet!) I guess it's going to be significantly disrupted."

"I'll see what I can do, but you're probably right."

"Can you graft it onto my head?"

He laughed again.

"Tell you what, I'll split it with you." He's as bald as I am. I explained that I would be telling my four grandsons that I'd been chopped in half in a hideous industrial accident to explain my scar. He thought they'd really get a kick out of that.

Overall it was a very relaxed appointment. He took all the time I wanted for the serious stuff about recovery time, post-op details, potential issues with another medical issue going on right now - no conflict, which relieved me - and brought my wife in on the whole discussion since she will be my nursemaid during recovery. She informed him she didn't really care about fur, lumps, whatever. She's put up with me for over 34 years of wedded bliss. She just wants to make sure I come through it okay.

Oh yeah, I asked about pain medication for afterwards. He blew a bunch of sunshine up my skirt, telling me I looked pretty tough. Well yeah, doc, but I can be a sissy sometimes! He said they make the determination on what and how much after surgery and observing how I am reacting. I guess I'll have to practice looking sore.

It is exciting and a little nerve wracking all at the same time. I've been sewn up more times than I can remember. I've broken all sorts of bones and been to the ER countless times starting at the tender age of 3 years old. But in just under 60 years, this will only be my second surgery, the first being my sleeve.

Thank you for your response,

Do you mind if I ask you some questions about your surgery plans?

Where do you live?

Did you have your consult and were you told what they can do in 1 surgery?

Did you get a total price?

Where in Mexico is this clinic?

I am not set on Cuba, my spouse would rather me have it home in Canada but the cost is double or more so I feel money better spent on bills. lol

I went for my VGS alone and was only a little scared but with the large cuts I am scared to death being in another country ,but am willing. I think ;lol

Thanks in advance,

Ave

thanks!! I'll check those out!!

After losing 200 pounds, the skin removed during my lbl was about 2 square feet in area and weighed 3 pounds. I am 5'7" tall and weighed about 140 at the time of my lbl.