Plastic Surgery?

[Stephie95 0]

I've been wondering about this.......How do you STOP losing weight?

[sgc 538]

Went to my consultation today. To do the adominalplasty and trunk lift, would be about $11,500. It seems like that would take care of my stomach, love handles, and ass. I can live with the inner thighs. I'm kind of concerned about the chest. With a flat stomach I would look more female I would think. I suppose I could wear a chest binder. I do want my arms done but that would be another surgery. That's a lot of money to come up with. I see a lot of people go to Mexico but I have concerns. Why don't these doctors set up shop in the US and charge the same rates? Why is Mexico cheaper? What is the difference?

[Syaniya 319]

I've been wondering about this.......How do you STOP losing weight?

I had Abdominoplasty / Tummy Tuck on Feb 6th and had my one week follow up today. It's the first time I got to look at it and wow. I love it!! Yes I have a cut from hip to hip and they only removed one drain along with every other staple today but the incision was pulled together flat tight and perfect. The right drain line was removed and that was FAR less painful than the tape removal.
I am so pleased!! I go back in a week+ and the other staples with drain will be removed. I have hip bones, expect flat sides, which I really wanted , and a cute belly button. I didn't need much pain meds and except for the last two days of tape itching I've been great. A pull on the drains were uncomfortable at times but I just changed positions.
My sleeve surgeon also does tucks for his patients at a cash price far below anywhere else (plastic surgeons) that I could get to return my calls.
He only does tucks and no other procedure I.e. Breast, legs, or arm lifts.
i am 62 and debated the surgery the last 18 months from my sleeve date; however older ladies it IS so worth doing for yourself! No one may ever see it but hubby and I and that is just fine by me. I no longer expect to be pushing skin into a stretch "Cami" or slimming underwear but I also won't be getting sores under tummy hang over either.
I wish i could throw myself into a dryer and "shrink" all my other loose hanging skin. But I will take this with a huge smile on my face.
write if you have questions???

Increasing your daily calories maycbe a start.

Sent from my SM-N920V using BariatricPal mobile app

[sgc 538]

I got a wacky idea. What about Canada? It seems prices are the same but the exchange rate is 76 cents. That would be a discount of 25%. I live on the Canadian border so I would save in travel as well. Do Canadian surgeons work with foreigners like in Mexico?

[sgc 538]

I looked at the exchange wrong. Currently one USD is worth $1.32 CAD. That means a $15,000 CAD surgery would cost about $11,300 USD. That's almost a $4,000 savings. Am I crazy to be looking into Canada? I know Mexico would be cheaper. I know lots of people get surgery in Mexico but I feel their standards would be less than the US or Canada.

[Stella S 612]

Different answers for everyone! Find what works for you.

Regulations drive.the USA costs plus local markets For PS so my urban R was likely more than a less populated space. I stayed

local and saved by bundling procedures. Skin work is a lot of small blood vessel work. Not simple with muscle and neuro involvement

You know your body and any associated need for near by follow up. Good luck

[sgc 538]

I emailed a surgeon in Toronto. Appears my idea is not going to work. Apparently it is exceedingly difficult for surgeons in Canada to get malpractice coverage on elective surgeries for non Canadian citizens. This could have worked out well too. I only live about 20-30 minutes from Windsor. If I could have found a good doctor in Windsor, they would have been local. With the Canadian dollar being so low right now, I could have saved thousands. Still would have been more than Mexico but it would have been local. I'm pretty sure Canada would have the same amount of regulations as the US so it makes me wonder what the standards are in Mexico? How do you become certified in Mexico? It seems like this low cost of surgery in Mexico comes at a price.

[Ldyvenus 317]

The low cost of surgery in Mexico is due to lower operating costs and operating room fees. If you do your research you can find great surgeons in Mexico. I am currently looking at Dr. Marco Carmona in Cancun. He has a great rating on Realself.com.

Edited June 27, 2017 by Ldyvenus

[sgc 538]

I question why operating rooms and costs are less in Mexico than they are in the US and Canada? I've also read that a lot of the nurses and staff are nothing more than maids in Mexico. I don't know how accurate that is. Another obstacle to Mexico is I have a fear of flying. I'm probably just going to stay local if I decide to do it. I read someone on here getting a good deal at a university. I'm going to look into that.

[Stella S 612]

I know. Hospitals in USA spend a ton on accreditation and inspections - it is expensive I do not know other places but One could look up their accreditation entities and review the standard of care

[GBLady41 393]

I'm really not sure where you are getting your information from concerning Mexico. Their standards are at least as high if not higher than in the US or Canada. I had my bariatric surgery in Mexico and had one of the best bariatric surgeons in Mexico, who is now an International Member of ASMBS (American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery). Also, the hospital (Oasis of Hope-a full service hospital, not a clinic) where I had my surgery had very skilled and educated surgical staff, doctors, and nurses, who were more attentive than in the US. They came to the room when I hit the nurse button. They didn't ask me what was wrong on the speaker; they came to my room. The company I went through also had valets that checked on me and my companion to make sure we were doing fine. I stayed in the hospital for three days, then went to the hotel, where I was visited both days by a doctor to make sure I was progressing well. That kind of care doesn't exist in the US. It was the best hospital and subsequent care I have ever received, bar none. Not to mention the fact that whenever I have questions, for the rest of my life, I can get in touch with my surgeon and nutritionist, via email or Skype, and get my questions answered within 24 hours.

More than likely, I will go to Mexico, through the same company to get my plastic surgery as well, because I know I will be well taken care of.

My bariatric surgeon is Dr. Selim Illan, and the company I went through is Bariatricpal Team Mx.

[sgc 538]

I guess for me the cliche of you get what you pay for keeps coming to me. I understand the exchange rate of the Peso plays a role but if Mexico can offer higher quality care at half the price, then the US, Canada, Europe and every other developed country needs to get in on this. I just feel something is inadequate along the line. There are other concerns as well. I hate flying and would only fly as an absolute last resort. Tijuana also has high violent crime rates even for Mexican standards and the US State Department even warns of travel there. That doesn't exactly make me comfortable being in a dangerous city I'm unfamiliar with and don't speak the language. If I do this, it looks like it will be in the US. The main thing I want to get done is a body lift. I feel like I'm wearing an inter tube. I can live with the inner thighs. The arms I would like to do as well. At least both my sleeve surgeon and plastic surgeon said I was skinny. They estimate upwards of 20-30 pounds of excess skin and fat which would put me under 25 BMI. I may try out for that skin tight program. Wouldn't hurt to try.

[GBLady41 393]

I think what it really is is understanding that the US and Canada are not countries with a high standard of medical care. There is better care in Europe compared to the US. As far as Tijuana being this dangerous place, I was there. I wasn't in any danger at all. I took my daughter. She wasn't in any danger at all. Bottom line - there are cities in the US that are a lot more dangerous.

But...to each his own...if you want to spend more money and receive less care and get discharged 24 hours after your surgery and hope you can get in touch with your surgeon and/or nutritionist in a decent amount of time when you have a question, have it in the states. At the end of the day, you have to be happy with your choice.

[thisisthenewme 358]

Went to my consultation today. To do the adominalplasty and trunk lift, would be about $11,500. It seems like that would take care of my stomach, love handles, and ass. I can live with the inner thighs. I'm kind of concerned about the chest. With a flat stomach I would look more female I would think. I suppose I could wear a chest binder. I do want my arms done but that would be another surgery. That's a lot of money to come up with. I see a lot of people go to Mexico but I have concerns. Why don't these doctors set up shop in the US and charge the same rates? Why is Mexico cheaper? What is the difference?

One difference I've heard of is the cost of insurance for surgeons is crazy in US and Canada and that expense is past on to you. Your quote sounded pretty good compared to what I've been getting (I'm in Canada) at $18000-20000 for a lower body lift! I'm going to investigate a plastic surgery teaching centre I found in Toronto :-) Or Mexico will likely be my only option.

[sgc 538]

I never had issue contacting my surgeon but I also never had complications from my sub standard surgeon that I needed to contact him. Tijuana had over 800 murders and the US State Department even warns about drug cartels and Americans being kidnapped and held for ransom. I'm from Detroit and even that pales in comparison to the 62/100,000 homicide rate of Tijuana. This leads then to another obstacle. I have no one willing to accompany me to Mexico and it seems like most require a companion. I also didn't factor in that my insurance is paying part of it in the US. I would probably be paying close to the same in Mexico as the US.