POSTED UNDER Arm Lift REVIEWS
Pre Op for Arm Lift Surgery -St. Petersburg , Florida
ORIGINAL POST
Today I had my Pre OP for surgery in approx. 2...
Tammy18December 20, 2013
WORTH IT$5,100
Today I had my Pre OP for surgery in approx. 2 weeks from now.
I'm so anxious to get the surgery and was amazed by my doctors explanation of almost every step of the surgery.
I had a facelift last year and I didn't get such a good explanation since the other doctor who did an excellent job, was more talking about his private life than my face but it worked out very well and I happened to be on tv today (just something that was very unexpected) but I got so many positive remarks from friends and family and was proud to post the 2.40 min of being on tv on my facebook without thinking how I looked and actually I felt really good.
My arms are something I dislike so much. I'm 5.3 and weigh now 119 lbs and at the highest ever weighted 127.8 lbs so I'm not the person who lost like 100 lbs but arms like mine run in the family. Sometimes I feel embarrassed to mention it since I see many others with similar arms but either it doesn't bother them due to wearing different type of clothes or they may not pay attention to it. I'm not superficial all the time but this is something that is bothering me and I'm doing it for myself. I like to wear blouses and sometimes a blazer for work and right now the blouses have slimmer sleeves and I have to buy either a bigger size or it is uncomfortable or I look like I'm pregnant and I'm 51 and have two wonderful kids and I'm not the type to become a mom again or want to look like a pregnant person.
The scars worried me and the doctor took all my worries away by explaining exactly what and how he will do it and what not...most likely I will not get any drains.
Today pictures were taken and to me it confirmed that I really want this to be done. I felt even better leaving the doctors office than going in..I'm totally convinced and counting down the days.
I'm so anxious to get the surgery and was amazed by my doctors explanation of almost every step of the surgery.
I had a facelift last year and I didn't get such a good explanation since the other doctor who did an excellent job, was more talking about his private life than my face but it worked out very well and I happened to be on tv today (just something that was very unexpected) but I got so many positive remarks from friends and family and was proud to post the 2.40 min of being on tv on my facebook without thinking how I looked and actually I felt really good.
My arms are something I dislike so much. I'm 5.3 and weigh now 119 lbs and at the highest ever weighted 127.8 lbs so I'm not the person who lost like 100 lbs but arms like mine run in the family. Sometimes I feel embarrassed to mention it since I see many others with similar arms but either it doesn't bother them due to wearing different type of clothes or they may not pay attention to it. I'm not superficial all the time but this is something that is bothering me and I'm doing it for myself. I like to wear blouses and sometimes a blazer for work and right now the blouses have slimmer sleeves and I have to buy either a bigger size or it is uncomfortable or I look like I'm pregnant and I'm 51 and have two wonderful kids and I'm not the type to become a mom again or want to look like a pregnant person.
The scars worried me and the doctor took all my worries away by explaining exactly what and how he will do it and what not...most likely I will not get any drains.
Today pictures were taken and to me it confirmed that I really want this to be done. I felt even better leaving the doctors office than going in..I'm totally convinced and counting down the days.
Tammy18's provider
UPDATED FROM Tammy18
5 days pre
6 days prior to surgery
Tammy18December 28, 2013
Next Friday will be my surgery and aside from a busy schedule at work, I hardly can't wait to get my surgery done and look at my new arms. I have been looking at many pre-post surgery pictures and I'm amazed about the results and hopefully my results will be just as great as most others have. I'm not surprised that this is now a very popular surgery amongst women and also noticed some men are having this done...I can't blame them.
My plan is to be back at work on Tuesday after Friday's surgery, since I was back at work so fast after my face lift surgery. Hopefully I will not be disappointed with that time frame since I already have appointments scheduled and right now I have prepared to get all my heavy groceries in the house so my husband doesn't have to do that;)
My plan is to be back at work on Tuesday after Friday's surgery, since I was back at work so fast after my face lift surgery. Hopefully I will not be disappointed with that time frame since I already have appointments scheduled and right now I have prepared to get all my heavy groceries in the house so my husband doesn't have to do that;)
Replies (12)
December 28, 2013
Thanks for the good information. I am also in St Pete and am considering having this done. I am also thin but have very loose skin. I hope you will post an update after your surgery to let us know how it went and if you are happy with your results. Thanks for sharing your experience!
January 1, 2014
I will absolutely post my results. I had a face lift less than 2 years ago, also in St Pete with a different doctor and I'm happy with the result but I have chosen a different doctor this time, and aside from saving over $1000 with this doctor...his office staff is so much nicer and I feel I got more professional explanations and advise.
January 1, 2014
Hi Tammy. That price is a good bit less than the doctor I consulted. Is it for the whole package (anesthesia, etc.) or just the doc fees? I have read very good reviews on your doctor so might try to get in for a consult. Mine is actually more than twice that much. I like him but wonder what justifies that high price. You seem happy with yours. It's an important decision and one you don't want to make just on cost but yet.....I'll look forward to checking in on your follow up. Good luck!
January 1, 2014
It is for the entire package. They only told me the price could increase a little bit if the surgery takes over 2 hours but than the cost will only increase for the hospital and anaesthesia, not for the doctors part.
I will have the surgery at Bayfront hospital. The doctor who did my face lift had his own surgery room but he charges way more and I think by now that room should have been paid off many times..
The othrr doctor is nice and I dont even know if he is aware how many times his staff has cancelled appointments. My daughter actually had an appointment for last Monday and it was cancelled again. Her scars are not so nice after a breast augmentation but her boobs look great so it might be her skin but we had a follow up appointment to see what can be done. Now she has to wait 6 weeks again for the next appointment and this was the 5th time one of her or mine appointment was reacheduled and I was told that new patients go first and pre op 2nd and all other appointments are easy to reschedule. ..this was a new person working there so I guess this was a "honest"explanation.
Dr. Gayoso took a lot of time to show me as good as possible how he will do the surgery in my case and I walked out hating to wait any longer...so I feel very confident.
January 1, 2014
Sounds like you made the right decision to move to another doc. Sometimes I wonder if they know what their staff is doing - rescheduling you so many times is really bad customer service. That's not the way to keep patients.
January 1, 2014
Both doctors have stated similar treatments although the other doctor at first stated it could be under my armpit only and that was the same costs of $ 6150. When I started to read more about it I felt like that surgery would be nice due to the less scars that will be as a result but the the overall result would not do much. When I went back it was still unclear how it really was going to be done but most of the conversation was about his family again....and that triggered me to check else were as well. This doctor doesn't do free consults so I had to pay $ 50.00 but it has been deducted from the surgery charge when I scheduled to have it performed. Even though the other doctor is very likeable and good in what he is doing I like this approach better and now got a complete explanation how it will be done. Both have stated it will be under 2 hours for the surgery unless something else comes up and I can be picked up by my husband at 11 am. I even have a paper with all post op appointments so I know upfront when I have to come back. I hope to be back at work on Tuesday, since my face lift was performed on Thursday and I was back on Tuesday as well. I'm self-employed so I can make my own schedule and much of my work is on the comp. so unless something happens that is not foreseen, I will be back to work soon...
After my face lift I was answering emails the same night from my phone which actually was relaxing for me since I couldn't sleep. The other thing I didn't like at the other doctor was the person who had to stay with me in the hotel for the overnight stay after my face lift which was mandatory. It was a nurse arranged by the doctors office. That nurse didn't do anything for me. Didn't ask me if I wanted a drink and when I was throwing up from the Vicodin (It seems I can't handle that drug) she walked out of the bathroom to give me some privacy but never came back so I walked back to my bed. Luckily my daughter lived close by and came by to see hi and gave me a drink and a little cracker and my phone. The nurse sat almost all night behind her computer or was on her phone. I told the doctor how I felt she was very bad and he stated that he always heard positive remarks. If you see the reviews on the other doctor than they all share my opinion that he is nice and very qualified by his office staff (aside from one elderly nurse) is horrible. When I read reviews on the doctor I now will have the surgery perform, so far everything is as others describe so these reviews are very helpful.
I didn't mind paying more if I would feel confident but of course I'm glad I pay less now and I wonder how much less my face lift and my daughters surgery would have been...
December 29, 2013
Hi there, welcome and thanks so much for sharing your journey with us!
Just wanted to say good luck with your surgery. I hope everything goes well and you have a smooth recovery. Looking forward to seeing how you progress post-op!
Please do keep us updated with your progress.
Just wanted to say good luck with your surgery. I hope everything goes well and you have a smooth recovery. Looking forward to seeing how you progress post-op!
Please do keep us updated with your progress.
January 1, 2014
I hope they replaced that nurse after your experience. That is inexcusable behavior for someone who is supposed to be taking care of you after your surgery. I think you were right to not do the small scar surgery - I have heard from a couple of doctors that although the scar is much smaller the results are nowhere near as good as the full incision. From all of the postings I have seen online, I haven't found anyone who regrets the surgery, even with that fairly serious scar so..... I think that's encouraging. I'm leaning toward getting it done. I know your surgery is in a couple of days. I'll be checking back - although I won't expect you to post for a couple of days - you'll probably be a little bit under the weather :-).
January 1, 2014
I felt my input about the nurse was not listened to and I had to pay $ 500 for that service and if I had my adult daughter or husband there it would have been much better...
The explanation why the small scar surgery wouldn't work is because it is basically only doing some lipo and a little removal of skin but not where most women like me have the issues with. This doctor showed me how it would look on me and it would have been a huge disappointment and waste of money. I have seen some people writing about bad experiences but they seem to have huge weight loss combined with not having done much research on who the doctor is and how much experience they have...I wonder if these doctors are even board certified. I can't speak for others but I'm very healthy and always take good care of everything they tell me to do prior to surgery and what not to do. I have even been disinfecting my arms for the last 2 weeks even though that is not really needed but I want to prevent any complication. In my mind a good preparation and good sleep will be helpful for a good and fast recovering. I will post a.s.a.p. so you know how my experience will be. Happy New Year.
January 2, 2014
Good luck tomorrow with your surgery, I know you are going to love your new arms...As far as healing time goes, If you plan on being out and about so soon after surgery I would definitely make sure you are a wearing arm support garment. They really gave me the extra support I needed. The sleeves became my "security blanket" I wore them for 6 weeks and did not want to give them up, but I am convinced they helped with my scars not spreading as many of the pics I have seen. Take your pain meds, they really helped me too...And keep us updated I will be following!
January 2, 2014
Thanks for your advise. I was told I will receive the garment at the hospital or on Monday for my follow up appointment, I forgot about that part but it is incl. in my payment. I will listen very well to what they advise me to do as well as advise from any other patient and it is appreciated. They recommend Biocorneum for later to treat the scars and I will buy it at their office when they tell me too. So fare their price and the online price are so close to each other that I decided not to risk getting a fake product in the mail...maybe you or anyone else has experience with that product? I got a different one for my face lift scars but later the plastic surgeon informed me about a newer one and I have no clue about the brand name or product name.
Thanks for your well wishes and I will post afterwards...counting down the hours.
UPDATED FROM Tammy18
1 day post
1 day post surgery
Tammy18January 4, 2014
Yesterday I had my surgery and the staff at Bay front hospital and Dr. Gayoso were great. They went over my medical history numerous times by different people so nothing could be missed. I got a sleeve around both my legs that inflated one at the time to avoid blood clots, a lot of blankets and the doctor came in to draw the lines on my arms and it seemed a lot was going to be removed. It was all very relaxing and I felt very calm. I have in the past been sick from aneasthesia and this time it was worth than during my face lift but it might have to do that my surgery took longer than expected or just my motion sickness that I have since I was a child.
I remember coming by and my first memory was a nurse asking me if I wanted sprite or coke...I stated sprite, but I'm not sure if that was for real or not or perhaps I dreamed it....but it could have been to get me ASAP over the nausea and vomiting which seems to have gone on for a long time.
My husband told me that at 10.30 am, half an hour before they were suppose to pick me up when they called the hospital he was told I was still in surgery.
The nausea was the biggest issue for me and later pain in my throat perhaps from the tube or vomiting but when I got home I kept being nauseous for a long time but when it finally stopped I felt much better but at that time the throat pain started.
My arms are not painful and I haven't see how it looks since in the hospital they put a very tight white long sleeve garment on me which closes in the front and is like a short top that end just above my belly button and closes with bra hooks.
I can see in the mirror that my arms look slimmer but they are swollen. I have to keep this on until Monday when my 1 st post OP appointment is and I'm anxious to see what is underneath the sleeves and how my scars look.
I have not taken any of the OxyContin that i was prescribed since I'm not in much pain just feel some tightness and when I walk my arms are like a Michelin man or body builder, away from my body...
I have taken Tylenol for my throat and if it wasn't my throat than I wouldn't have taken any pain killers, only the antibiotics that are prescribed.
My family has been great and treated me like a Queen and I'm glad that they don't have to do everything. I could go to the restroom by myself and help myself and this morning I made my own cup of tea but I drink it with a straw since my arms won't bend to much although my left arm can bend further than the right one...I probably can bend them more but I don't want to force anything so soon.
I have been answering emails since yesterday for a few min. and this morning I worked a little bit. Sleeping went reasonable well and I put some pillows under my arms but at some point I tried to lay on my side and it worked well too. I woke up every couple of hours and took a Tylenol just for my throat....
Right now I can't reach above shoulder height so there are limitations but right now I'm just wondering what is underneath my sleeves and further no regrets whatsoever.
Every step was explained so well that. I'm confident to refer anybody to this doctor who has the nicest staff and even the nurse in the hospital stated they work with 6 plastic surgeons but she stated that if any of the staff needed something done they would choose him since he aside from friendly, very good in what he does and never rushes it and delivers beautiful work. Of course I don't know if she tells patients of other doctors the same but she came across very sincere.
I remember coming by and my first memory was a nurse asking me if I wanted sprite or coke...I stated sprite, but I'm not sure if that was for real or not or perhaps I dreamed it....but it could have been to get me ASAP over the nausea and vomiting which seems to have gone on for a long time.
My husband told me that at 10.30 am, half an hour before they were suppose to pick me up when they called the hospital he was told I was still in surgery.
The nausea was the biggest issue for me and later pain in my throat perhaps from the tube or vomiting but when I got home I kept being nauseous for a long time but when it finally stopped I felt much better but at that time the throat pain started.
My arms are not painful and I haven't see how it looks since in the hospital they put a very tight white long sleeve garment on me which closes in the front and is like a short top that end just above my belly button and closes with bra hooks.
I can see in the mirror that my arms look slimmer but they are swollen. I have to keep this on until Monday when my 1 st post OP appointment is and I'm anxious to see what is underneath the sleeves and how my scars look.
I have not taken any of the OxyContin that i was prescribed since I'm not in much pain just feel some tightness and when I walk my arms are like a Michelin man or body builder, away from my body...
I have taken Tylenol for my throat and if it wasn't my throat than I wouldn't have taken any pain killers, only the antibiotics that are prescribed.
My family has been great and treated me like a Queen and I'm glad that they don't have to do everything. I could go to the restroom by myself and help myself and this morning I made my own cup of tea but I drink it with a straw since my arms won't bend to much although my left arm can bend further than the right one...I probably can bend them more but I don't want to force anything so soon.
I have been answering emails since yesterday for a few min. and this morning I worked a little bit. Sleeping went reasonable well and I put some pillows under my arms but at some point I tried to lay on my side and it worked well too. I woke up every couple of hours and took a Tylenol just for my throat....
Right now I can't reach above shoulder height so there are limitations but right now I'm just wondering what is underneath my sleeves and further no regrets whatsoever.
Every step was explained so well that. I'm confident to refer anybody to this doctor who has the nicest staff and even the nurse in the hospital stated they work with 6 plastic surgeons but she stated that if any of the staff needed something done they would choose him since he aside from friendly, very good in what he does and never rushes it and delivers beautiful work. Of course I don't know if she tells patients of other doctors the same but she came across very sincere.
Replies (2)