[not quite Barbie]

I went for my consult yesterday and I've got mixed emotions today. I need to give a little background first.

Last year I had a tummy tuck and breast augmentation. I went to three different PS and got three different opinions. The one I liked the most was up in Fairfax (and the most expensive), a two hour drive. The other two are at UVA which is only a one hour drive and where all my records are. So I chose to go with one of the UVA doctors. I selected the resident program, where the resident PS does the surgery and the attending watches over what he's doing.

I initially was going to get a butt lift first, but on the second visit to the PS I saw what the attending PS had drawn on the picture of me and knew that what he was planning was just not going to be aggressive enough. Most PS take off a strip of about 6" or more and he had drawn a cut of only about 1 1/2 inches. So I changed my plans and went with the TT instead.

The resident PS talked to me about removing a 4" wide strip of skin from my lower belly, lifting the skin all the way up to my rib cage, and tightening my muscles. The day of surgery he even drew on my belly exactly where he was going to cut and it was just like we had talked about. When I came to, I saw that they had done a much smaller cut, only about 1". I was sooo upset. I've still got loose sking all over my belly.

So anyway, yesterday I had an appointment with the PS up in Fairfax (who I should have gone to in the first place). Whe we first started talking I told him that I wanted a butt and inner thigh lift and confesssed that I'd had ork done elsewhere and wasn't happy. He initially supported the first PS, saying that he probably was jsut being cautious in pulling me too tight. Then he got to see me with my clothes off and just kept pulling at all the loose skin and saying "He didn't do a TT on you at all!"

So the end of this long story is that I'm doing the Lower Body Lift (LBL) which goes all the way around and pulls everything up and down. I'm so depressed that I'm having to pay for a second TT. That was money I was going to spend on my thighs, now I may never get my thighs fixed. DH is ok with the cost, but I just feel used.

I've thought about getting a lawyer and suing but that costs so much too. Plus I'd have to sue the resident who has moved on and I hate to do that to him because I know he wanted and planned to do right, but the attending made him do a much lesser surgery. I don't really know what to do other than just write it off to experience.

So I'm just feeling really sad today. Thanks for listening.

[BreeChick]

Oh girl, you have every right to be sad and I hate that for you!! {{hugs}} The lower body lift will actually pull up a lot of the thigh and you may find it does a lot more for you than you thought..

That is just so unfair that they went the cautious way on the TT the first time AND that you are having to pay out of pocket to fix what someone else did inadequately.

it sucks!!!!

But ..chin up! You look great already and the lower body lift will amaze you..be agressive with the doc if you have to, to get EXACTLY what you are paying for. Fight for what you want the end result to be sweetie.

{{hugsagain}}}

[MHSG81]

I'm so sorry to hear that you had to go through all of that at first just to be disappointed. I think you going with this PS is a wonderful step and I agree w/Bree that maybe this lower body lift will help w/your thigh problem. Personally, I would still go after the old PS b/c he promised you one thing and delivered another - that's not right. On the other hand, the past is in the past and all you can do is move on and move up. You look gorgeous already so this can only make things better. Big hugs to you!!!

[clancythecamper]

I'd be bummed too. I'm sorry that didn't work out as planned ~ I could say all sorts of stuff to try to make you feel better, but sometimes we just need to be heard. Thanks for sharing your experience, hopefully it will help others.

[DocSanae]

Aw (((HUGS))) I'm sure your new surgeon will do a superb job because of the previous job.

[luckylocke]

Did they ever give you a reason for not taking off the 4 inches? Sounds inexcusable. Glad u found a better surgeon.

[not quite Barbie]

When I went back for my follow-up I got to talk to the attending surgeon because the resident had moved on. I was crying my eyes out, I was that unhappy ith the results. You would have to know me to know that I almost NEVER cry, I'm introverted and letting people see me cry is like a major no-no in my personality. So he wasn't moved by my tears (probably all his patients are that way???) and told me he did try pulling the loose skin down and by doing so I lost all my definition (right now you can see my lower ribs and ab muscles). He said it was like pulling a T shirt down tight, it pulls away from the body and you can't see the underlying structure.

I personally thought "Bull####" but he told me he was very pleased with my surgery and would not do a revision. He offered to fix a little "dog ear" on one side and trim one spot that had a wider scar than the rest and that was it.

The Fairfax surgeon told me that I wold NOT lose the definition by being pulled tighter, if anything I would see more definition, especially after he tightens the muscles which he could feel were loose. Which makes sense that they would be after being overweight for so long.

Thanks for the kind words. I'm sure I'll be much happier about this once the surgery is over and I can see results. I've just got to get over the disappointment and look forward.

[bela]

Barb, thanks for sharing your experience.

I know what you mean about the crying thingy. I'm the same way so I can imagine how upset/sad you were.

It will go alright now you'll see.

[countrygirl]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I am so sorry that you had to go through it. Good luck with the upcoming procedure. Keep us updated on how it goes. I'm only 4 months out, but at some point down the road a year or two I know I will need some PS.

[MsVickie]

Awee bless ya heart. This is the only thing I dont like about UVA. I want a Dr. Not a resident. I know they all have to learn and yes they have to pass everything through a Dr but things do get overlooked because they have so many to oversea. If you got a lawyer honey it will be UVA that gets the suit not the Dr I would think because he was working under the hospitals malpractices insurance I would think. I do know. I know that was money you kinda just threw away really. And yes it would be very sad indeed.