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I've lost over 80 pounds and these last 10 have...
Lap band port... this is getting frustrating
Preop appointment made me feel better.
RealSelf sisters: How are we supposed to be qualified to make such a monumental decision as which doctor is qualified to slice and dice our bodies? As an informed consumer I can research which dishwasher has the highest ratings, but isn’t it bizarre to be treating a doctor the same way? Consumers who have to somehow be medically knowledgable when it comes to the art of plastic surgery. No wonder we’re terrified.
I am a borderline case for a lift in that there is not much ptosis but also a small nipple to fold measurement. Several of the doctors I met with said no way would they lift me because it's about trade-offs: not worth the vertical scar if my nipple is above the fold. Others said I wouldn't be happy with how low my nipples end up without the lift. This was pure misery making. Agonizing, even. Had my preop yesterday and after talking with Dr. Smith, I feel like he is going to do what's necessary to make me as happy and close to my wish photos as possible. I think the donut mastoplexy is sort of an in between solution. My nips are on the small side so I am not worried about the “flattening” that some people complain about with this type of lift. My boobs should have a sign: Caution: you have entered a CONE ZONE! Some flattening might do them good. Anyway, I slept much better last night because he basically said he is going to look at me while I’m under, and if he is not happy and does’t think I will be happy with the result, he will make it right in the operating room as best he can. I love this idea. Today I love it, and I’m happy with it. But stay tuned… I have 2 whole weeks to second, third and fourth guess my decision! Yippie skippie!
I have decided on somewhere between 330 and 371cc moderate silicone. Dual plane 2/3 under the muscle. I do NOT want doll [RS bleep]. I am 5’8”, 165 pounds of pushing-50-cougar-mom! I have a huge rib cage and I know I could go way bigger, but I’d rather look more natural and more like I did before breastfeeding. Hubby is totally on board, as you might imagine. ;)
Provider Review
I met with so many board certified surgeons and narrowed it down to 3. I had second appointments with all of them. I felt like any of these 3 would have done a great job, and that was reassuring. All 3 of them had some different ideas about how to approach my somewhat challenging augmentation. To make my final decision I had to use a little bit of intuition, for lack of a better term. Also, I felt like Dr. Smith had the best of all worlds: the technical/artistic talent, experience, and outstanding interpersonal communication. I felt like I was being treated as an equal, and almost like I was having a conversation with a friend. There wasn't that stiff formality and he called me on my cell to discuss further some questions I had posed. Even though I brought in what must have seemed like every possible horror story and complication imaginable, he explained everything and was reassuring. The other reason I chose him is that he has really tried to work with me to get my lap band port exchanged, where others were somewhat dismissive and told me to have separate surgeries. That's just counterproductive. I had my surgery on 12/31/2014 - ring in the new year with a new body! He was great and so far all my worrying was for nothing, even with my more than challenging surgery. During the surgery he discovered that I had a tendon in my pectorals and bands in my constricted lower pole that had to be released to create the pocket for the implant. If he can make me look this good, he can make anyone look like a centerfold. I will keep this updated as I go along. So far GREAT!