Re: Talked to Dr. Melmed/ATTACHED DR MELMED'S ARTICLE

[Guest guest]

I found it now! I know many have read this but here it is again:

Dr. Melmed's article posted on explantation.com

In 1988, Connie Chung, on national television, reported about women

who were having problems with breast implants. I, like most plastic

surgeons, had performed this operation hundreds (if not thousands)

of times. Among the claims of adverse reactions were that women had

short-term memory loss, joint pains, hair loss, fatigue, etc.

Facetiously I said to myself, " I have those symptoms: do you think

it's from handling silicone? " Ha ha.

Then a lovely lady, a, came to see me, and I removed her

implants and she looked terrific and felt better. She asked me if I

was interested in seeing other women who had similar complaints.

Being very open minded, I started seeing these patients and this

really opened my eyes.

Now, nine years later, I have removed implants from over 700 women.

During the course of this time, my technique has evolved and I have

refined my procedure to where, if a woman has any tissue left

whatsoever, (I'll discuss mastectomy later) I can usually remove the

implants with minimal deformity. In fact, I would state, for a

number of reasons, that 95% of these women look much better after

explant than they did pre-explant. From what I have observed, most

implants are too large, women have aged and may have put on weight,

the breasts have dropped, become hard, displaced, etc. These

findings have also been documented in the Journal of Plastic &

Reconstructive Surgery in April 1998.

During explantation, when possible, the implants are removed within

the capsule through the original incision, exceptions being when the

transaxillary approach has been used or when the patient has opted

for a breast lift (mastopexy).

Throughout the years of my involvement in explanting women with

breast implants, I have come across some interesting findings. For

example, it is documented (but well hidden) that 30% of women lose

sensation to their nipples when an inframammary incision is used. My

findings are that between 20-30% recover feeling after explant!

Some of my significant findings post explant have been these:

Symptoms of fatigue usually respond well and improve after explant,

and energy is typically much better, yet joint pains respond poorly.

Memory loss is slower to recover (but does not continue to

deteriorate).

From my personal experience in dealing with women I have explanted,

I would estimate that 95% of them say it is the best thing they have

ever done (This calls to mind the old joke about the two happiest

days in a boat owner's life: the day he buys it and the day he sells

it ).

Explantation surgery is typically day surgery and is done under

general anesthesia with an M.D. anesthesiologist at a major hospital

where I practice . Regardless of whether the implants were placed

above or below the muscle, the silicone can be

removed, although under-the-muscle placement is much harder.

Patients go

home the same day with a chest wrap and a drain tube, which is not

sewn in.

The drain is gently removed the next day. Patients are then asked to

wear a sports bra. On the third day, they can shower. Pain is not

usually a factor as most pain was experienced with implantation, the

reason being when tissue is stretched, it hurts (putting the

implants in). When implants are removed, pain is often minimal, if

not non-existent.

Most women report that their back pain and shoulder pain immediately

disappear, as the adherence of the capsule to the ribs or pectoral

muscle is typically responsible for this pain.

As for sutures, since self-dissolving sutures are the sutures of

choice, most oftentimes, the sutures dissolve and there is nothing

to remove.

A personal note to finish with:

As a plastic surgeon who has been around throughout the entire

course of the breast implant era and witnessed, firsthand, the down

side of this ever-increasingly popular elective surgery, from the

perspective of hindsight of which I now view breast implants, I

think that future generations will look back on this time in history

and say " what did doctors do to women? And what did women do to

themselves in the name of self esteem? " BOTH are equally guilty. I

can also attest to the fact that, after 10 years, almost all women

with implants have alteration in shape, size, contour or feel.

Lastly, I find myself asking why is this operation pushed so hard by

the doctors (could it be the money?) and the media? As a plastic

surgeon who performs any number of various cosmetic procedures, I

can state unequivocally that there is NO other operation with a list

of complications like that for augmentation, which continues to be

done despite the GUARANTEE of such complications, and that needs to

be redone every 10 years!

>

> When I went to Melmed he told me he always tries to remove the

entire capsule. If there is a danger to the body he takes out as

much as he can, but especially with women who are symptomatic he

removes all of it. My caps were analyzed afterwards and were

complete. Every capsule is different-- some are tissue thin, others

thick; some adhere to the chest wall and need to be scraped off,

which is a delicate and difficult procedure.

>

> I don't know why you would have gotten the impression he doesn't

believe implants make you ill-- he testified in an FDA hearing that

they do. But I think he also believes that when a woman gets sick

with implants, it is because the body is responding to having a

foreign object implanted-- thus the " splinter " analogy. The fact is

that some women have implants for years with no problems, while

others get them. It is still a mystery why some women get sick and

others do not.

>

> When I went in for a consult, Melmed gave a list of symptoms and

asked me how many of them I had, and I had almost all of them! He

said I was typical of women who get sick with implants. he told me

that most of my symptoms would go away over time, but the muscle

aches would be the slowest and he has been right.

>

> Re: sagging: Melmed told me he would know once he saw me whether I

needed a lift, and he decided I did. I was a saggy A before

implants, and I am a perky B now-- lifted, post-implant. Go figure.

To me the scars are minimal.

>

> Yeah, he may have been laying a bit of the hard sell on you. It

may be because he is a bit egotistical and thinks he is the best at

what he does-- typical PS mentality. But he's a good guy.

>

> Try and find his post on Explantation.com on removing capsules.

It'll enlighten you on his views.

>

> I would still try and get some numbers for patients that your

current PS has performed caps on, and call them.

>

> Good luck figuring it all out. Let me know if I can help in any

way.

>

> Bindi

>

>

> Talked to Dr. Melmed/more confused what

to do!

>

>

> Just when I think I have it all figured it out...I need your

help!

>

> so I had a phone consult w/ Dr. Melmed to go over what the ps I

was

> going to go to for explant is suggesting. I LOVE Dr. Melmed, he

is

> darling, but he was really just telling me how he does the

explant and

> how I could come there etc. I mean, I contacted him just for his

take

> on this and was going to pay for a phone consultation. I was

just

> surprised it was about me going there, as that really wasn't an

> option, so he didn't refer to the organized questions I sent

him. I

> LOVED talking to him and what he said, don't get me wrong, I

just had

> to hurry and get a few questions in there regarding how I was

going to

> get it done HERE.

>

> A couple of things I would love you Melmedians' opinions on

> please!

>

> 1) He said the breasts WILL sag after the implants are removed.

SO

> confused! i thought that was not the case all the time and the

skin

> healed back. And he does a lift right then and there to

everyone? My

> ps was saying she doesn't do a lift til she sees if you even

need one

> after you heal. and she doubts I would!

>

> If I don't get a lift is it for sure I will sag? Has anyone here

NOT

> gotten a lift and been ok? I was an A.

>

> 2) I love his technique of not using stiches, but some of your

own

> blood to make the tissue stick. I've heard of this, and it

sounds

> very cool.

>

> 3) I wasn't totally clear about the capsulectomy thing with him:

I

> said 'so do you recommend getting all of the scar tissue out'

and he

> said 'we want to clean you out so your breast is virginal again "

but

> he didn't use words like capsulectomy or capsulotomy.

>

> 3) Yes, if I had the money I WOULD go to him in a heartbeat, but

the

> reality is this: I have a ps here who says she'll do it how I

want

> it. No, I don't adore her, and I wouldn't follow her advice

about not

> wearing a bra, for example, but she does have some good things

to

> recommend her.

>

> 4) Let's just pretend that if I now I consider FLYING to Texas,

I

> figure I then might as well explore DRIVNG to OHIO to dr. Feng -

(I'm

> in Chicago) But that office never got back to me on the two msgs

I

> left, so I let it go.

>

> I know people say you 'can't put a price on health' etc, but if

she is

> a good surgeon, does it matter that she doesn't agree with me? I

am

> not looking for idealism here, but reality - I do not have job

> security right now, and I may be without one around the

holidays, so I

> have MUCH to consider. We are talking about thousands of dollars

> difference, and traveling, which deeply stresses me out. This

not $$ I

> even HAVE. If I had it in savings, I would spend it.

>

> The only other thing is, I left word two weeks ago with my ps

that I

> DIDN'T want deflation prior to explant and just confirmed

a " Retalk "

> appointment would still be that same day. I never heard back,

and

> they never put my $300 deposit thru to hold the OR date. It may

be

> just a fluke...but that was 2 wks ago. I didn't call to see WHY

they

> didn't take my money yet, because I knew I would be talking to

Dr.

> Melmed. It occured to me she didn't like that I refused

deflation,

> but that seems preposterous.

>

> oh geez, I can't even remember the last time I had this kind of

stress

> eating away at me.

>

> Sorry, I babble, but this is my first step in 'meditating on it'.

>

> I guess I just wanted to talk to him, pay him for his time, but

not be

> sold on doing it there. sigh.

>

[Guest guest]

GREAT letter from Dr. Melmed! Do you have the link? Maybe I can put this in our files or links section for reference. PattyEmerald Kittee <emeraldkittee@...> wrote: I found it now! I know many have read this but here it is again: Dr. Melmed's article posted on explantation.comIn 1988, Connie Chung, on national television, reported about women who were having problems with breast implants. I, like most plastic surgeons, had

performed this operation hundreds (if not thousands) of times. Among the claims of adverse reactions were that women had short-term memory loss, joint pains, hair loss, fatigue, etc. Facetiously I said to myself, "I have those symptoms: do you think it's from handling silicone?" Ha ha.Then a lovely lady, a, came to see me, and I removed her implants and she looked terrific and felt better. She asked me if I was interested in seeing other women who had similar complaints. Being very open minded, I started seeing these patients and this really opened my eyes.Now, nine years later, I have removed implants from over 700 women. During the course of this time, my technique has evolved and I have refined my procedure to where, if a woman has any tissue left whatsoever, (I'll discuss mastectomy later) I can usually remove the implants with minimal deformity. In fact, I would state, for a number of reasons,

that 95% of these women look much better after explant than they did pre-explant. From what I have observed, most implants are too large, women have aged and may have put on weight, the breasts have dropped, become hard, displaced, etc. These findings have also been documented in the Journal of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery in April 1998.During explantation, when possible, the implants are removed within the capsule through the original incision, exceptions being when the transaxillary approach has been used or when the patient has opted for a breast lift (mastopexy).Throughout the years of my involvement in explanting women with breast implants, I have come across some interesting findings. For example, it is documented (but well hidden) that 30% of women lose sensation to their nipples when an inframammary incision is used. My findings are that between 20-30% recover feeling after explant!Some

of my significant findings post explant have been these: Symptoms of fatigue usually respond well and improve after explant, and energy is typically much better, yet joint pains respond poorly. Memory loss is slower to recover (but does not continue to deteriorate). From my personal experience in dealing with women I have explanted, I would estimate that 95% of them say it is the best thing they have ever done (This calls to mind the old joke about the two happiest days in a boat owner's life: the day he buys it and the day he sells it ).Explantation surgery is typically day surgery and is done under general anesthesia with an M.D. anesthesiologist at a major hospital where I practice . Regardless of whether the implants were placed above or below the muscle, the silicone can beremoved, although under-the-muscle placement is much harder. Patients gohome the same day with a chest wrap and a drain

tube, which is not sewn in.The drain is gently removed the next day. Patients are then asked to wear a sports bra. On the third day, they can shower. Pain is not usually a factor as most pain was experienced with implantation, the reason being when tissue is stretched, it hurts (putting the implants in). When implants are removed, pain is often minimal, if not non-existent. Most women report that their back pain and shoulder pain immediately disappear, as the adherence of the capsule to the ribs or pectoral muscle is typically responsible for this pain.As for sutures, since self-dissolving sutures are the sutures of choice, most oftentimes, the sutures dissolve and there is nothing to remove.A personal note to finish with:As a plastic surgeon who has been around throughout the entire course of the breast implant era and witnessed, firsthand, the down side of this ever-increasingly

popular elective surgery, from the perspective of hindsight of which I now view breast implants, I think that future generations will look back on this time in history and say "what did doctors do to women? And what did women do to themselves in the name of self esteem?" BOTH are equally guilty. I can also attest to the fact that, after 10 years, almost all women with implants have alteration in shape, size, contour or feel. Lastly, I find myself asking why is this operation pushed so hard by the doctors (could it be the money?) and the media? As a plastic surgeon who performs any number of various cosmetic procedures, I can state unequivocally that there is NO other operation with a list of complications like that for augmentation, which continues to be done despite the GUARANTEE of such complications, and that needs to be redone every 10 years!>> When I went to Melmed he told me he always tries to remove the entire capsule. If there is a danger to the body he takes out as much as he can, but especially with women who are symptomatic he removes all of it. My caps were analyzed afterwards and were complete. Every capsule is different-- some are tissue thin, others thick; some adhere to the chest wall and need to be scraped off, which is a delicate and difficult procedure.> > I don't know why you would have gotten the impression he doesn't believe implants make you ill-- he testified in an FDA hearing that they do. But I think he also believes that when a woman gets sick with implants, it is because the body is responding to having a foreign object implanted-- thus the "splinter" analogy. The fact is that some women

have implants for years with no problems, while others get them. It is still a mystery why some women get sick and others do not.> > When I went in for a consult, Melmed gave a list of symptoms and asked me how many of them I had, and I had almost all of them! He said I was typical of women who get sick with implants. he told me that most of my symptoms would go away over time, but the muscle aches would be the slowest and he has been right. > > Re: sagging: Melmed told me he would know once he saw me whether I needed a lift, and he decided I did. I was a saggy A before implants, and I am a perky B now-- lifted, post-implant. Go figure. To me the scars are minimal. > > Yeah, he may have been laying a bit of the hard sell on you. It may be because he is a bit egotistical and thinks he is the best at what he does-- typical PS mentality. But he's a good guy. > > Try and find

his post on Explantation.com on removing capsules. It'll enlighten you on his views. > > I would still try and get some numbers for patients that your current PS has performed caps on, and call them. > > Good luck figuring it all out. Let me know if I can help in any way.> > Bindi> > > Talked to Dr. Melmed/more confused what to do!> > > Just when I think I have it all figured it out...I need your help!> > so I had a phone consult w/ Dr. Melmed to go over what the ps I was > going to go to for explant is suggesting. I LOVE Dr. Melmed, he is > darling, but he was really just telling me

how he does the explant and > how I could come there etc. I mean, I contacted him just for his take > on this and was going to pay for a phone consultation. I was just > surprised it was about me going there, as that really wasn't an > option, so he didn't refer to the organized questions I sent him. I > LOVED talking to him and what he said, don't get me wrong, I just had > to hurry and get a few questions in there regarding how I was going to > get it done HERE.> > A couple of things I would love you Melmedians' opinions on > please! > > 1) He said the breasts WILL sag after the implants are removed. SO > confused! i thought that was not the case all the time and the skin > healed back. And he does a lift right then and there to everyone? My > ps was saying she doesn't do a lift til she sees if you even need one >

after you heal. and she doubts I would! > > If I don't get a lift is it for sure I will sag? Has anyone here NOT > gotten a lift and been ok? I was an A.> > 2) I love his technique of not using stiches, but some of your own > blood to make the tissue stick. I've heard of this, and it sounds > very cool.> > 3) I wasn't totally clear about the capsulectomy thing with him: I > said 'so do you recommend getting all of the scar tissue out' and he > said 'we want to clean you out so your breast is virginal again" but > he didn't use words like capsulectomy or capsulotomy. > > 3) Yes, if I had the money I WOULD go to him in a heartbeat, but the > reality is this: I have a ps here who says she'll do it how I want > it. No, I don't adore her, and I wouldn't follow her advice about not > wearing a bra, for example, but she does

have some good things to > recommend her.> > 4) Let's just pretend that if I now I consider FLYING to Texas, I > figure I then might as well explore DRIVNG to OHIO to dr. Feng - (I'm > in Chicago) But that office never got back to me on the two msgs I > left, so I let it go. > > I know people say you 'can't put a price on health' etc, but if she is > a good surgeon, does it matter that she doesn't agree with me? I am > not looking for idealism here, but reality - I do not have job > security right now, and I may be without one around the holidays, so I > have MUCH to consider. We are talking about thousands of dollars > difference, and traveling, which deeply stresses me out. This not $$ I > even HAVE. If I had it in savings, I would spend it. > > The only other thing is, I left word two weeks ago with my ps that I >

DIDN'T want deflation prior to explant and just confirmed a "Retalk" > appointment would still be that same day. I never heard back, and > they never put my $300 deposit thru to hold the OR date. It may be > just a fluke...but that was 2 wks ago. I didn't call to see WHY they > didn't take my money yet, because I knew I would be talking to Dr. > Melmed. It occured to me she didn't like that I refused deflation, > but that seems preposterous. > > oh geez, I can't even remember the last time I had this kind of stress > eating away at me.> > Sorry, I babble, but this is my first step in 'meditating on it'.> > I guess I just wanted to talk to him, pay him for his time, but not be > sold on doing it there. sigh.>

Stay in the know. Pulse on the new .com. Check it out.

[Guest guest]

-hi Patty,

You know it is just on www.explantation.com - when I find it under

articles, the link still show the main website.

If you go to the main website - www.explantation.com - enter the

site - then choose Articles - scroll down until you see 'Dr.

Melmed's article'.

-- In , Tricia Trish

<glory2glory1401@...> wrote:

>

> GREAT letter from Dr. Melmed!

>

> Do you have the link? Maybe I can put this in our files or

links section for reference.

> Patty

>

> Emerald Kittee <emeraldkittee@...> wrote:

> I found it now! I know many have read this but here it

is again:

> Dr. Melmed's article posted on explantation.com

>

> In 1988, Connie Chung, on national television, reported about

women

> who were having problems with breast implants. I, like most

plastic

> surgeons, had performed this operation hundreds (if not thousands)

> of times. Among the claims of adverse reactions were that women

had

> short-term memory loss, joint pains, hair loss, fatigue, etc.

> Facetiously I said to myself, " I have those symptoms: do you think

> it's from handling silicone? " Ha ha.

>

> Then a lovely lady, a, came to see me, and I removed her

> implants and she looked terrific and felt better. She asked me if

I

> was interested in seeing other women who had similar complaints.

> Being very open minded, I started seeing these patients and this

> really opened my eyes.

>

> Now, nine years later, I have removed implants from over 700

women.

> During the course of this time, my technique has evolved and I

have

> refined my procedure to where, if a woman has any tissue left

> whatsoever, (I'll discuss mastectomy later) I can usually remove

the

> implants with minimal deformity. In fact, I would state, for a

> number of reasons, that 95% of these women look much better after

> explant than they did pre-explant. From what I have observed, most

> implants are too large, women have aged and may have put on

weight,

> the breasts have dropped, become hard, displaced, etc. These

> findings have also been documented in the Journal of Plastic &

> Reconstructive Surgery in April 1998.

>

> During explantation, when possible, the implants are removed

within

> the capsule through the original incision, exceptions being when

the

> transaxillary approach has been used or when the patient has opted

> for a breast lift (mastopexy).

>

> Throughout the years of my involvement in explanting women with

> breast implants, I have come across some interesting findings. For

> example, it is documented (but well hidden) that 30% of women lose

> sensation to their nipples when an inframammary incision is used.

My

> findings are that between 20-30% recover feeling after explant!

>

> Some of my significant findings post explant have been these:

> Symptoms of fatigue usually respond well and improve after

explant,

> and energy is typically much better, yet joint pains respond

poorly.

> Memory loss is slower to recover (but does not continue to

> deteriorate).

>

> From my personal experience in dealing with women I have

explanted,

> I would estimate that 95% of them say it is the best thing they

have

> ever done (This calls to mind the old joke about the two happiest

> days in a boat owner's life: the day he buys it and the day he

sells

> it ).

>

> Explantation surgery is typically day surgery and is done under

> general anesthesia with an M.D. anesthesiologist at a major

hospital

> where I practice . Regardless of whether the implants were placed

> above or below the muscle, the silicone can be

> removed, although under-the-muscle placement is much harder.

> Patients go

> home the same day with a chest wrap and a drain tube, which is not

> sewn in.

>

> The drain is gently removed the next day. Patients are then asked

to

> wear a sports bra. On the third day, they can shower. Pain is not

> usually a factor as most pain was experienced with implantation,

the

> reason being when tissue is stretched, it hurts (putting the

> implants in). When implants are removed, pain is often minimal, if

> not non-existent.

>

> Most women report that their back pain and shoulder pain

immediately

> disappear, as the adherence of the capsule to the ribs or pectoral

> muscle is typically responsible for this pain.

>

> As for sutures, since self-dissolving sutures are the sutures of

> choice, most oftentimes, the sutures dissolve and there is nothing

> to remove.

>

> A personal note to finish with:

>

> As a plastic surgeon who has been around throughout the entire

> course of the breast implant era and witnessed, firsthand, the

down

> side of this ever-increasingly popular elective surgery, from the

> perspective of hindsight of which I now view breast implants, I

> think that future generations will look back on this time in

history

> and say " what did doctors do to women? And what did women do to

> themselves in the name of self esteem? " BOTH are equally guilty. I

> can also attest to the fact that, after 10 years, almost all women

> with implants have alteration in shape, size, contour or feel.

>

> Lastly, I find myself asking why is this operation pushed so hard

by

> the doctors (could it be the money?) and the media? As a plastic

> surgeon who performs any number of various cosmetic procedures, I

> can state unequivocally that there is NO other operation with a

list

> of complications like that for augmentation, which continues to be

> done despite the GUARANTEE of such complications, and that needs

to

> be redone every 10 years!

>

>

> >

> > When I went to Melmed he told me he always tries to remove the

> entire capsule. If there is a danger to the body he takes out as

> much as he can, but especially with women who are symptomatic he

> removes all of it. My caps were analyzed afterwards and were

> complete. Every capsule is different-- some are tissue thin,

others

> thick; some adhere to the chest wall and need to be scraped off,

> which is a delicate and difficult procedure.

> >

> > I don't know why you would have gotten the impression he doesn't

> believe implants make you ill-- he testified in an FDA hearing

that

> they do. But I think he also believes that when a woman gets sick

> with implants, it is because the body is responding to having a

> foreign object implanted-- thus the " splinter " analogy. The fact

is

> that some women have implants for years with no problems, while

> others get them. It is still a mystery why some women get sick and

> others do not.

> >

> > When I went in for a consult, Melmed gave a list of symptoms and

> asked me how many of them I had, and I had almost all of them! He

> said I was typical of women who get sick with implants. he told me

> that most of my symptoms would go away over time, but the muscle

> aches would be the slowest and he has been right.

> >

> > Re: sagging: Melmed told me he would know once he saw me whether

I

> needed a lift, and he decided I did. I was a saggy A before

> implants, and I am a perky B now-- lifted, post-implant. Go

figure.

> To me the scars are minimal.

> >

> > Yeah, he may have been laying a bit of the hard sell on you. It

> may be because he is a bit egotistical and thinks he is the best

at

> what he does-- typical PS mentality. But he's a good guy.

> >

> > Try and find his post on Explantation.com on removing capsules.

> It'll enlighten you on his views.

> >

> > I would still try and get some numbers for patients that your

> current PS has performed caps on, and call them.

> >

> > Good luck figuring it all out. Let me know if I can help in any

> way.

> >

> > Bindi

> >

> >

> > Talked to Dr. Melmed/more confused what

> to do!

> >

> >

> > Just when I think I have it all figured it out...I need your

> help!

> >

> > so I had a phone consult w/ Dr. Melmed to go over what the ps I

> was

> > going to go to for explant is suggesting. I LOVE Dr. Melmed, he

> is

> > darling, but he was really just telling me how he does the

> explant and

> > how I could come there etc. I mean, I contacted him just for his

> take

> > on this and was going to pay for a phone consultation. I was

> just

> > surprised it was about me going there, as that really wasn't an

> > option, so he didn't refer to the organized questions I sent

> him. I

> > LOVED talking to him and what he said, don't get me wrong, I

> just had

> > to hurry and get a few questions in there regarding how I was

> going to

> > get it done HERE.

> >

> > A couple of things I would love you Melmedians' opinions on

> > please!

> >

> > 1) He said the breasts WILL sag after the implants are removed.

> SO

> > confused! i thought that was not the case all the time and the

> skin

> > healed back. And he does a lift right then and there to

> everyone? My

> > ps was saying she doesn't do a lift til she sees if you even

> need one

> > after you heal. and she doubts I would!

> >

> > If I don't get a lift is it for sure I will sag? Has anyone here

> NOT

> > gotten a lift and been ok? I was an A.

> >

> > 2) I love his technique of not using stiches, but some of your

> own

> > blood to make the tissue stick. I've heard of this, and it

> sounds

> > very cool.

> >

> > 3) I wasn't totally clear about the capsulectomy thing with him:

> I

> > said 'so do you recommend getting all of the scar tissue out'

> and he

> > said 'we want to clean you out so your breast is virginal again "

> but

> > he didn't use words like capsulectomy or capsulotomy.

> >

> > 3) Yes, if I had the money I WOULD go to him in a heartbeat, but

> the

> > reality is this: I have a ps here who says she'll do it how I

> want

> > it. No, I don't adore her, and I wouldn't follow her advice

> about not

> > wearing a bra, for example, but she does have some good things

> to

> > recommend her.

> >

> > 4) Let's just pretend that if I now I consider FLYING to Texas,

> I

> > figure I then might as well explore DRIVNG to OHIO to dr. Feng -

> (I'm

> > in Chicago) But that office never got back to me on the two msgs

> I

> > left, so I let it go.

> >

> > I know people say you 'can't put a price on health' etc, but if

> she is

> > a good surgeon, does it matter that she doesn't agree with me? I

> am

> > not looking for idealism here, but reality - I do not have job

> > security right now, and I may be without one around the

> holidays, so I

> > have MUCH to consider. We are talking about thousands of dollars

> > difference, and traveling, which deeply stresses me out. This

> not $$ I

> > even HAVE. If I had it in savings, I would spend it.

> >

> > The only other thing is, I left word two weeks ago with my ps

> that I

> > DIDN'T want deflation prior to explant and just confirmed

> a " Retalk "

> > appointment would still be that same day. I never heard back,

> and

> > they never put my $300 deposit thru to hold the OR date. It may

> be

> > just a fluke...but that was 2 wks ago. I didn't call to see WHY

> they

> > didn't take my money yet, because I knew I would be talking to

> Dr.

> > Melmed. It occured to me she didn't like that I refused

> deflation,

> > but that seems preposterous.

> >

> > oh geez, I can't even remember the last time I had this kind of

> stress

> > eating away at me.

> >

> > Sorry, I babble, but this is my first step in 'meditating on it'.

> >

> > I guess I just wanted to talk to him, pay him for his time, but

> not be

> > sold on doing it there. sigh.

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

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>