AZDee

Everyone heals differently, but when I had my arms done I also had my breast and lower face/neck done at the same time. I am not going to lie, recovery for me was hard, 3 times the pain, but as I remember the arms hurt the worse. The first week was tough, I did have drains, but they were only in for a few days, not sure why they were taken out so early, since I noticed the area still leaked on the sheets while I slept. I was able to get around pretty well after the first week, I just did not use my arms much at all. I started wearing the support sleeves and they helped so much, they gave me secure feeling, so I didn't feel like I was going to rip anything open. I wore the sleeves for about 3 months. I believe they helped keep my scars nice and thin too...

I went to Cosmed 4/13 for 3 procedures due to weight loss 2 of the 3 procedures must be revised due to poor work. My breast implants must be taken out and my whole breast pocket must now be rebuilt and allowed to heal for at least 6 months due to sloppy work. My arm lift was cut improperly causing it to need to be redone, and several Doctors did n't even want to touch it...Couldn't guarantee a good outcome. I did however find a really great new surgeon also in Tijuana, Dr. Victor Gutierrez, he just did my lower body lift and it came out beautifully the scar line is so thin and faint I know it will not even be noticeable shortly. He will also be doing my revisions from the poor outcome I had the year before. Dr G told me that 3 out of 5 of his surgeries are revisions, from other dr's work. It saves a lot of time and money to do it right the first time. I found my new Doctor after seeing his great reviews and pictures over at www.realself.com where you can input any PS you are considering and have a ton of reviews (good and bad) from real people...I just wish I had known about that site when I first had plastic surgery, because I would have learned I was not alone in my poor outcome....So do your homework, research for yourself. I had 10 consults for my lower body lift, some in person and the rest online. I was so paranoid after my first outcome, I had to know for sure. It paid off because I could not be happier with my choice today.

Yes that's how I found my new surgeon too....So important to read all the reviews the good ones and the bad ones...I learned about the site after I had a bad experience with my first surgeon, who happened to have a 4.5 star rating there, but if you read the bad reviews on him you would have found a pattern of sloppy sewing, just like I had....I found my new surgeon there, after seeing incredible pictures of his work. He has a 5 star rating, his name is Dr. Victor Gutierrez. Also, some people may post a bad review for no good reason, since PS can be such a emotional time in a person life, but the pictures tell the real story...

Anyone considering Plastic Surgery in Mexico or just Plastic Surgery in general really should check out www.realself.com where you will be able to look up the surgeon you are considering and read surgery reviews and accounts from real patients. You will read the good the bad and the ugly about some PS's. Anyone can go to a PS's website and see the pictures they want you to see, but if you go to this site, you will see unbiased reviews from real people who usually post pictures to go along with their account of surgery. You can simply put in the surgery you are considering and tons of reviews will come up for that procedure or put in the name of a surgeon you are considering and all of their reviews will come up. I always make sure I check out the least favorable ones too, as those are the real important ones. It's good to see how a surgeon handles something when a procedure doesn't turn out as planned. Good luck everyone on your search for the best Surgeon out there. Mexico has some really good ones too!

That's about what I paid too...my recovery was a little less, and I didn't pay for any meds.

Not sure what all prices are like but for me it was 1/2 of the price that I was quoted in CA for having a lower body lift. But honestly I didn't go to Mexico for the lower prices, don't get me wrong that was a nice bonus, but actually I saw the incredible job my surgeon (Dr. Victor Gutierrez) did on the LBL of another person here, I think here name here is SweetPea, so glad I did since I got the same results she got....So yes there is a good savings but make sure you are going for the surgeon above all...

So many variables when it comes to scaring. Before you concern yourself if the scar is going to turn white, you must be concerned on the initial incision to begin with. Since you are asking this on a plastic surgery board I am assuming you are asking about PS scars. Let's talk arms for a minute, I have seen surgeries where the arms were done incorrectly and the scars spread and widen horribly. So more important than when will they turn white, (which they will in time if the incision was done correctly), but having the right surgeon do the job to begin with. My first surgeon who did my breast lift, simply folded a little extra skin and sewed it up under the breast leaving a bulky scar that never completely turned "white" like the rest of the other scars but still remains raised and pinkish in color. After having that bad outcome I went looking for a surgeon who was known for his fine incisions and sewing. My lower body lift turned out beautifully, the scars are very thin and I have no doubt they will continue to heal perfectly to that fine while line which is almost unnoticeable. So I would have to say the important part to having that fine white line besides all the after care such as using silicone strips etc, is finding the most perfect surgeon you can. A great outcome all starts with the right surgeon.

I had a lower body lift, and a inner groin thigh lift and a Brazilian butt lift almost 3 months ago. I did this all on the sly since I decided to have the surgery after taking a month long cruise, so I only could take a couple of weeks PTO time that I had. So after two weeks I was back to work, sitting mostly, it wasn't bad for me at all as I had no complications and I felt great, not too bad for being 60 years old...Everyone is different I guess...

So happy for you, can't wait to see the pictures and that's funny about the drain, my last drain did the very same thing...which was good, I didn't have to take it out it came out on its' own...

I had my breast lift as part of other procedures so there was a multi procedure discount given. Most people who need skin removal surgery usually do the breast surgery as part of other procedures they do at one time . I know my surgeon does Mommy make overs (beast lift and tummy tucks) right around $10,000 give or take depending on what you need....I flew into San Diego was picked up and taken to the clinic just south of the border, so simple. I used this surgeon because of his great abilities first, price was important but it was down on the list....

I had my breast done when I did some other skin removal surgeries. My breasts were like empty tube socks. They didn't look too bad when I would roll them up and put them in a bra, but lookout if I wasn't wearing one. I know I needed a lift, wasn't too into getting a implant, but was told by my surgeon that there wasn't enough tissue to fill an A cup so I went ahead and had a implant put in. I wasn't prepared for the emotions I would feel after having the lift. One morning I was walking past a mirror in the bathroom caught a glimpse of my new look and was stunned, I started to cry, had no idea what they meant to my self esteem. No longer embarrassed, and now able to hold up a dress without sagging boobs bringing it down. I am happy I had the lift and implant.

I recently had PS surgery in Mexico and I had used up my vacation time, so I decided to use my two weeks of PTO days also. I told HR I was having "a procedure". I spent a week down in Tijuana, and flew back. After a few days I also was back at my desk. I head up a dept, so it was no big deal as long as I showed up, that was all that mattered, I did not stay long in the beginning, took a lot of my work home. It was fine, most people were not even aware I was gone...I felt great and healed nicely....

I had RNY in Ensenada, several years ago. Then last year I started my plastic surgeries also in Mexico, this time Tijuana. I found a wonderful Plastic Surgeon, named Dr. Victor Gutierrez, not only is he a board certified Plastic Surgeon, but also he has a specialty in Micro-Surgery, his incisions and sewing are flawless. I had a lower body lift with him 2 months ago and could not be happier. I flew to San Diego, was picked up and taken to the clinic, where I had surgery, spent a week there and flew back. My stiches were all interior so I was able to return after only a week....Healing went very well, no issues at all. Results, better than I could hope for...

Happy Healing!!! Take care and rest, thanks for the update....

Thanks ladies, I plan on going down for a in person consult, in Sept. to finalize what is next for me. I am in need of some revisions from the work I had done with that other doctor last year, and I would love to have my eye lids done...Surgery takes a lot of preplanning, time and money wise....

When this question was first being asked I was down in Tijuana getting ready to have my lower body lift. I am every happy with my outcome. My butt lift was amazing, the back flaps (tissue) that were still attached to the blood source were implanted to rebuild my rear since with the LBL the butt can become flat, so my surgeon rebuilds it, much better than just having fat injected back there...I had a beautiful cut line in the shape of a heart on the rear sloping down to the front and a new bellybutton that looks exactly like my original one. My stomach muscles were re-sewn nice and tight. Overall, I could not be more pleased, my surgery went well, my recovery stay was wonderful, I only had to stay a week since my stiches were all internal. I was picked up at the San Diego airport and taken back when it was time to leave. I even traveled alone this time, since I knew I was going to be cared for so well I felt like it was something I could do alone and it was easy. I highly recommend my surgeon, Dr .Victor Gutierrez, he is a very talented surgeon and just the nicest doctor you could ever hope to meet...2 months out from surgery and everything is great, I feel 100% back to normal...I plan on going back to Mexico for more work, I felt very safe.

I know this question was about who we would recommend, but I thought I should share who I would not recommend...I had a breast lift/implant done April 2013 at the CosMed Clinic. My surgeon was Dr. Quiroz. At first I was delighted, as it was a good experience. The clinic was beautiful, the recovery center was really nice, I left there thinking everything was great. When I looked at my incisions and my sewing I noticed the skin at the bottom of the breast had been folded over and what looked to be a basting stich was there...I wore my sports bra 24/7 as told, it wasn't until I had reached the place time that I no longer had to wear the sports bra that I noticed the implants would move all over the chest from up to the collar bone to down to my sides...My surgeon didn't seem concerned with the movement or the folded skin, saying it was all normal and that when the breast healed they would be fine. Well things didn't get better and now it turns out I must have the implants removed and the breast pockets rebuilt and then allowed to heal for 6 months before being able to have new implants put in. I do how ever recommend my new surgeon who will be doing the revision, removing the implants and rebuilding the pockets, then at a later date putting in new implants.

There was a woman on another site that said she did have her extended tummy tuck, neck lift and her arms done at a Yale Hospital in CT with a residency program at a discounted rate , but her surgery was 6 years ago she said, so not sure If that is still available. I paid about the same as she did recently by going to a fantastic clinic in Mexico, so there are options, you just need to do some checking...

Realself is a great site, that's how I found Dr. Gutierrez, it's pretty easy to use once you get the hang of it. simply type in what ever surgery, or doctor or member you want to look at in the search box and it should come up...You may want to get a profile and pick a name to use there, so you can leave comments or ask questions...People over there are very friendly and they will give you straight up reviews and pictures of any PS you may be interested in....

Last year when I had my breast lift/implant, lower face/neck lift and arm skin removal, all done at once, I felt like I wanted someone to just put me out of my misery...My hubby's take on the subject was, well if you are going to be down recovering anyway, might as well do as much at one time as you can....I had no idea, it was going to be three times the pain, should have known...After two weeks I did start to feel better, could not lay on my stomach for at least 2 months...Time does go by much slower after surgery, I have learned that. Next time I have any surgery, I am going to recover on some sort of vacation, since everyone knows vacation time goes by faster than any other time! lol Hang in there, it does get better and you will be so happy you had it done and that it's all behind you!!!

Great news about your healing....Just keep pushing down the breasts, I had to also...It seemed like mine were up in my collar bone, but at about 6 weeks they did drop...so it's very early....No worries for the first couple of months...Just give them some time and see how they look later on...4 months is a good time to judge the outcome...Can I ask what size you went with? I said I wanted a 325cc but then left it up to the surgeon to make the best fit, ended up with 370's, so alittle bigger than I had planned...

AvaFern, how exciting for you...5 weeks, that will go by in no time...what are you having done???

According to RealSelf the average price total for a Panni with out the muscle repair is $6,125 with prices I saw anywhere from 3-8 thousand...so the 5 you were quoted sounds just about right...You can go there and check out other reviews from his patients too..

I paid consult fees for some of the doctors I consulted with. The ones who didn't charge usually had a sales person meet with you before and then after the short dr's visit. I didn't mind paying for the ones who charged, since I was given a lot more time with the Surgeon when I did. Most of my consults were done online with Realself doctors and with those, there is no charge. I was not apposed to traveling so most of the Doctors were not close enough for a one on one visit anyway...The surgeon I did choose was not local and so I met him in person when I had my surgery but felt very confident with my decision from our phone calls and messages...

I happy to know you also were really hungry after surgery...I have been mad at myself for eating so much...I have been really hungry...The same thing happened last year too I ate for several months after my first surgery and swore I would not do it again this time...but turns out I have...It's two months now, so I am reigning it in, but still....I hate the numbness to the stomach, I don't have it in the rear only the front... Thanks for the update...