JerseyMom
November 17, 2006 -112 lbs.
Make me beautiful...a perfect soul, a perfect life, a perfect face...a perfect....lie... ~Gabriel & Dresden. Theme song from Nip/Tuck.
Hey Everyone!
Okay...so I went to the plastic surgeon yesterday. It was interesting. I had to fill out the usual PITA forms. Then I sat and waited for a looong time but at least there were lots of photo albums in the waiting area. The results of many of the procedures were really impressive to look at. Unfortunately, the most impressive photos were of people who were not WLS patients...just skinny kids wanting larger ta ta's. But, really, all the before/afters were impressive!
I was finally called in to meet the surgeon. I was impressed with one thing immediately...he is actually quite a bit taller than me! That is so rare these days! Other than that...nice man...not much personality...kind of stiff...kind of a dork. But what I liked was that he had looked over my form carefully before I got in there and he knew about the procedures I was interested in. However, I checked off that I was interested in almost everything and I guess he is gifted enough to, right off the bat, know much more about what I need. What I mean is...he started talking about various procedures that HE thought I would benefit from. I guess they take people in immediately and can make that determination. He did, anyhow.
Okay, moving on... He talked about the best procedure out there right now for WLS patients...the lower body lift (LBL). What it does is literally lift the area from the knees to just under the breast. He said that WLS see incredible results from this procedure. Then he started talking about breast lifts. He looked at me and said, "You may only need a lift." I replied, "Well, maybe, but I want my shrunken kiwis lifted AND enlarged." He said that would work well, too. He showed me some slideshows of before and afters on his PC and talked at length about the procedures...how they are done, etc. It was interesting...kind of like being in an episode of Nip/Tuck. Now, if this surgeon looked ANYTHING like Dr. Christian Troy...I would be in trouble! 
After the discussion part of the consultation, I went into the examination room. He said I had to take off everything. I said, "Uh...everything?" He said that would be best, yes. However...sorry for the TMI...but it is my time of the month and I cannot wear tampons so it was me and my pad. 
I told him that and he stuttered, "Uh, ok, fine...leave them on." I thought it was funny but, really, not much sense of humor in Dr. Nip/Tuck.
Anyhow...so he returns and tells me to take off the robe. One whole wall is a mirror. I was bummed to disrobe because I was admiring just how nice I actually looked in the robe (I used to look like a hippo in robes pre-WLS). Anyhow...so I dis-robed and stood in front of the mirror wall. Okay, so I look like the Crypt Keeper...but here is the wonderful thing...I did not CARE! I felt better about myself standing there like a semi-Shar-pei than I would have at almost 300 lbs. And then he said something that made me fall immediately in love with him. He said, "Oh, okay...you're not bad at all." He said that a LBL would be perfect for me. He told me that there is a good chance I would not need an additional thigh lift later on (most WLS patients get a LBL and then a subsequent thigh lift. The LBL pulls the skin taught on the thighs but does not lessen the circumference).
Then we talked about my girls. He said that, with my right breast, I could get away with the type of procedure that only leaves a scar around the areola. Unfortunately, her sister is saggier and she would require a scar underneath and from the areola to the base. He said I could get away with just a lift if I wanted. I repeated again that I wanted to be LARGER. I think he actually said, "Oh, good" but then stuttered. I asked him what size I should be for my height and stature. He had shown me a picture of a girl who wanted to be REALLY big. He said he normally does not do that because he does not like to but she was a big girl...and also very tall. So, anyway...he said, "Well, you are not as big as the girl I showed you but you are her same height. I would recommend a high C cup for you." That is the EXACT phrase I used...that is what I wanted. Then he said, "Yes...you would look amazing...er, I mean...that size would be good for you." I guess he is in the practice of not directly complimenting patients. Again...he is rather stiff.
The next step was to look at my arms. He told me to hold them out. I did and he said, "Oh...you do not need your arms done." He told me if I really wanted them done, he could do it but he does not recommend it. YAY! That made me happy although, who knows, I might have it done some day.
So, after some more poking and prodding (literally), I got dressed and met him back in his office. I asked him additional questions such as...can I have this done all at once? He said no and gave me VERY good reasons for it. I did not get the impression that he was just splitting them for monetary reasons. I asked him about the pain and how long out of work (pain will be considerable for the LBL...almost nothing for the lift/augmentation). I asked him how long I would have to wait between procedures (3 months). I asked him other things but I do not have the list with me right now.
The last thing I asked was..."When could I do all this if I wanted?" He said, "When your weight stabilizes for a few months." I said, "Oh...ok...because I want to lose about 16 more lbs." He said, "What? Nooooo." Then I totally fell in love with him. ;) J/K!! I said, "What do you mean?" He said, "You are at the perfect weight now and I would highly recommend that you do NOT lose anymore." He said that I have about 12-15 lbs of skin and, when that comes off, it would put me at 160...my ideal weight according to my 18-month planner. He said that if I got down to 160 and then had the procedures, that would put me in the 140-range which he said is "ridiculously" low for my stature. I was, at once, both exhilarated to hear that, for plastic surgery, I am at goal...but a little disappointed because I really would like to get to 160 on my own. But he said that dropping below 160 is probably not sustainable long-term. Hmm...something to think about!
So...that is how it went. I still plan on seeing other surgeons and talking to them. And I cannot have these procedures anytime soon. Why, you may ask? The price tag on both procedures (total) would run nearly 25,000. And I just do not have that right now!! Ah well!
If you have any questions about this, feel free to let me know!
