Lower Body Lift Scheduled April 9th 2012 Wichita, KS

Thank you so much for your encouraging words! I rarely read anyone having a TT that smoke as I do. I agree with you that throwing this nasty habit away for good would be the best thing I could ever do for myself. I stopped smoking last summer for three months for my TT procedure and worked myself into a tailspin over worry. So, sad to say I did back out of the TT and took up smoking again. Tried to quit later and it seemed impossible.My mother having smoked for many, many years told me the second time would be the hardest. She has now been smoke free for 5 years. I will say however, my mother had a breast reduction 12 years ago, smoked like a freight train and come out of surgery with flying colors and perfectly healing breasts.She even lit one up the moment she was released from the hospital. They look so good now compared to mine. She had an angel watching over her as I would never consider smoking while going through any operation. Still have the date for July..I pary I don't back out again.

I have never had any kind of surgery to this extreme. I had a tubal, which was so easy, and I did have my gallbladder removed as well. That's it. That being said this would be my first time for any real long surgery and recovery period. I have 2 plastic surgeons in mind. One is very respected, I have heard rave reviews about him. However, his bedside manner has quickly changed after 3 consults with him. I remember asking him if other women had a hard time with this and he said, "well yes they are nervous to some degree but they just do it". I have too many questions for him I believe. Although my husband thinks he may be the best, with the most knowledge and skill. I have had 4 consults, hubby has been to them all. So far he is still sticking with this certain PS.The other one I REALLY like is about 3 hours away, he has the BEST bedside manners EVER, so very understanding about my fears, never pushy, and the sound of his voice could calm me in a minute. However, when I went to the website they were offering a 10% discount on surgeon fees IF you have the surgery completed before July 1st. This raised a HUGE red flag in my eyes. Seems they are discrediting themselves in a way. Almost like a sale at Walmart.I have never heard of a PS that offers discounts. That to me is scary.Has anyone ever heard of this? So, now I am torn between plastic surgeons. I have been recommended to one more PS, 45 minutes from home in Wichita. He has an awesome website, quite a young doctor but has credentials that go sky high. I will be calling him tomorrow to set one more consult. Then I will decide. If I was smoke free today I would jump at having this surgery I believe anyway. My stomach is sooooo disgusting! Thank you so very much for your kind words, I really appreciate you taking time for me.

I too was very nervous about the surgery and as I said, I've had plenty of surgeries before, so I don't know why. I researched and researched the procedure and then began my consults with PS's. I had 6 scheduled, 3 of them with highly reputable, and recommended surgeons. I also had to wait almost one month to get in for the consults for my last 3 so I had plenty of time in between my first two to research more. First two consults down, I knew i wouldn't be using them...one was not board certified and one didn't do any lipo. 3rd consult was a male doc who came highly recommended and I found him very condescending and dismissive. I mean he dismissed my concerns and when I asked to tell me about the procedure he began by saying "well we start you out in the prone position", I didn't want nor was I asking for a step by step, so needless to say, I was very put off by him and waited almost two weeks for my next appointment. My next appointment was with the highest recommended ps around and my nerves were shot when I went to see her that day. It was as if, I had never been to a consult and knew nothing about the procedure. I left there and told myself that something was wrong there; there was no reason I should be feeling like that. The very next morning I had my 5th consult with Dr. Kim and I immediately knew I had found the "one"! There were no nerves, we were talking and laughing and I had actually been in touch with two women on this forum that had told me to definitely give Dr. Kim a try because she was more interested in taking care of her patients than promoting her practice as some of the other docs I had seen. Needless to say, I scheduled my surgery that day and two weeks later I was on the road to recovery. This has been the absolute best thing I have ever done and I'm just sorry that I didn't do it years ago!! I am 25 days post op today and did my first jog on the treadmill and worked out my arms with weights and I feel fantastic.

This is why I say, find the right doctor and all your fears will be put to rest! When you have found the right one, you will know also..you will feel it and you know we women need to go with our gut and trust our instincts more! As for the discounts, many doctors offer mommy makeover specials, breast augmentation specials and I had two of them discount their fees on their quotes, so it is not unheard of and Dr. Kim discounted for cash payment also. They discount the 3% that they would have to pay to the credit card company but any little bit helps. Don't be so concerned over the "specials" that they run as long as the prices are in line with all the other docs. Check out their credentials, talk to others that have used them and had your procedure, find out how many of this procedure they perform in a week, month, etc. and then make your decision.

You really need to be sure you want to do it before you put down any $ so you don't lose your deposit if you change your mind. This forum is great and the internet with all it's info is great also, but it can also cause you to go into information overload. Good luck to you, ultimately you have to decide what is the right choice for you and if you are not ready then wait until you are!

Well, I can not seem to get the PS out of my mind that is offering the discount. I am however going to go to this consult in Wichita on the 6th of July. And yes I know, I have already lost one deposit due to me chickening out.Rest assured I will not make that mistake again. How awesome it is that you are already on the treadmill!! I am truly happy for you!! You really look great :) I will tell you one thing, I already have too much information overload, which is why I have been so afraid to do this surgery...

If I were you, I would get off the boards, go on with my life, talk to people that may recommend other ps to you and go to the consults and then see if you find the right "one". It is you that must be comfortable with your ps because you will be spending time with your ps thru your surgery, and recovery so it is also important you are comfortable with the office staff and nurse also. If you are not feeling it with the ps then your nerves are going to get the best of you and you will back out! Feel free to email me if you want at any time. My name is Libby btw! Good luck. BTW, your hubs is a good man to go with you to all of the consults and deal with your nerves. Mine would have killed me!

Wow! Only a week before surgery?? The doctors here will not touch me until I have been smoke free for 30 days. Yes, I am just shaking in my shoes to even think of having this surgery. I'm not sure why this is, I wonder if it's because everyone keeps warning me about blood clots, also that this is not a life saving surgery with no choice. I think if I could just FEEL comfortable about this surgery the smoking would not be a hard thing for me. How is your scar healing? Your pics look wonderful!! I am very happy for you and hoping that I will be posting before and after pics as well. Thank you for your words of encouragement, I really appreciate them and NEED them as well.

My scar is healing good, I haven't been a heavy smoker for months now but I was smoking one to a couple a day until the week before surgery, quitting smoking was tough and I am so happy I did! The most important is the first 10 days after surgery but eithr way I'm not going back I'm done with stinky, nasty ciggarrettes...to be honest I never thought I could just quit cold turkey but it was way easier for me to taper off...when I stopped I see how much time and money I really wasted lol =) Good Luck!

Happy to hear your scar is healing good!! I quit last summer for 3 months preparing for my TT and then chickened out and started back up. Was the WORST thing I ever could have done. I remember walking by people who smoked thinking gosh did I stink THAT bad!! Well, I will be quitting cold turkey again on Sunday. Hubby has a 17 day vacation starting Friday, so I figure I can sulk in bed for a few days if needed!!

Congratulations on quitting this awful habit and your TT!! I am amazed at the fact that I have now read of 2 people that were smoke free for 2 weeks only before TT operations. The docs around here will not operate if we are not smoke free for at least 30 days. I looked at your pics and your stomach looks AMAZING!! May I ask why you did not have muscle repair? I have been considering this as well due to the fact that I have bouts with asthma every now and then and I had read that if you do have asthma sometimes they will forgo the muscle tightening due to breathing issues. There was a particular story I had read where a lady could not tell whether she was having an asthma attack or simply could not breathe because her PS tightened her muscles a bit too tight. It was determined that the PS was a bit aggressive in the muscle repair. Your stomach looks beautiful! I am very happy for you!!

Thank you! I had a choice to make between lipo on the fat pockets that I could not exercise and diet off or muscle tightening. The PS really leaned towards the lipo saying that I could do situps for the ab muscles. I am still not sure that I am happy with out the muscle tightening but I also wanted to get rid of the fat and now I'm chomping at the bit to get my thighs done LOL. I did not find it painful at all and would do it again in a heart beat!

Nicotine does not take more then a day to get out of your system so a month is a long time. My PS says between 1000 - 2000 mg of Vit C before and after so that you heal better.

Wow!! Thanks for the info on the Vit C. I will be sure to keep that in mind. Did you have Lipo in the stomach area? I am wanting to have Lipo in my hips, along with the TT. I have read some women think the lipo hurts worse than a TT. Any input on that?

Hi! I live in Wichita and want to have a TT. I have a couple recommendations, but since you have heard he is the best, could you please tell me who you are going to see on the 6th? Thank you!

Hi Wichita6413,

His name is Dr. Poggi. I had to reschedule my consult so now I go August 12th. Have you consulted with any other plastic surgeons there? And have you made a decision? If you want you can email me personally and we can talk by phone or email.