Hi all,
Just wondering if anyone (WLS experienced or just knowledgable about plastics) has any wisdom to impart in starting the search for a suitable plastic surgeon for excess skin removal procedures. I’m midlands based (Nottingham) but prepared to travel within the midlands or perhaps further up north if necessary.
I’ve lost just under 75kg, and I’m still losing, albeit quite slowly now (a couple of pounds a month usually). My BMI is 31.6, and I know most surgeons want you to be 30 or below, and some even 28 for plastics. Initially I’m looking at brachioplasty and thigh lift with possibly some lipo to shins/ankles. Boobs and belly are on the list for a much later date as I’ve not had any children yet, nor decided fully if I definitely will (I’m 35 so time is of the essence there, but that’s another thread). I’m certainly not planning a pregnancy this year so there’s no reason I can’t get the arms and thighs done and enjoy them.
I’ve followed lots of the London based plastic surgeons, minor social media celebrities and of course you get to see a constant stream of their work and happy customers. But it’s a different kettle of fish for some of my more local surgeons, where you can barely see any work at all on their websites, but I’ve been assured that photographs will be available at the consultations (at £150 per surgeon). I’ve absolutely no doubt that these local surgeons are experts, the three that I’ve enquired with all hold full time NHS consultant posts in burns and oncoplastic breast surgery, etc. From what I can see online they’ve all contributed massively to the literature in their specialities and one of them is even the director of the East Midlands Plastic Surgery training programme, so responsible for signing off all newly trained plastics consultants.
The three surgeons I’ve made enquiries with are Stephen McCulley, Ciaran O’Boyle and Anna Ruarall.
How do you choose when it comes down to it? Do I suck up the cost of consulting with all three and go off the vibes and plans during those meetings?
Any pearls or pitfalls to be aware of? I’ve seen bits and bobs online that say if you’re having two procedures on the same day I.e. arms and thighs, that surgeons will only then allow one area of lipo to minimise trauma to the body. Does anyone know more about this?
What’s better about Vaser over standard lipo? When is one indicated and not the orher?
One of the surgeons has said he would operate on me dually with one of his colleagues, to minimise time under anaesthesia, so one would do my arms and the other my thighs. No increased costs for this, they fit the fee between them. However this guy is the most expensive so far, his minimum estimate is £13,600 for both procedures. Whereas the other Surgeon (director of plastics training) has roughly quoted £8,700, and she’s a woman so I dunno, part of me feels she’s more likely to get me, and my specific aesthetic concerns.
I’ve also looked into Kat & Co in Birmingham, but they do all their procedures under twilight sedation, which terrifies me, and they don’t keep anyone overnight, I think I want to be knocked out. But if anyone has been operated on at Kat & Co and can provide reassurance about twilight then I’m happy to hear it.
How do you choose?
Please don’t suggest going abroad, the cost isn’t the issue. I’m sure there are wonderful skilled surgeons in Turkey and Latvia, etc. But for personal reasons (death of a sibling in their 20’s) I absolutely cannot put my parents through the worry and trauma of me going abroad for these procedures. It will be worrying enough for them as it is, but they understand my need to now make the best of my life and live in a body that I am happy with, so the UK is a happy medium for all of us.
Also, if you don’t agree with plastic surgery or think I’m vain or frivolous there’s really no need to comment on this thread, like you do all the threads about Botox or fillers. And in the same vein, this skin is not fixable by exercise alone so please don’t suggest that, I would need the musculature of Eddie Hall to fill this skin back up.