40yrs Old (Anyone Use Dr. Jacobs in NYC?)

[Noseguard]

I am new to this board and am very excited and scared.  My story quickly.  I am 40 and with a severe case of G.  Have had it my whole adult life, started in 8th grade and never gotten better.

No sorry stories though, just looking forward with great anticipation.  However, my first consultation did not go well.  THe doctor showed me before and afters of his work, and many were with concave results.  I felt he does the surgery, but was not proficient at it. 

My next appointment is with Dr. Elliot Jacobs in NYC.  He is a former G sufferer and seems to specialize in the proceedure.  I am PRAYING he is the answer to my problem.

Has anyone used him?  OR can you recommend another NYC surgeon?

[snycs10]

I just had my surgery with Dr. Jacobs:

I'm only 10 days post op, but I'm very happy. Apparently my case was a bit tougher than normal because I had quite a bit of breast tissue on my right side, but It looks great!! He's a really nice guy and his staff is very helpful. I guess he was a bit expensive in comparison to others (mine was 8K) , but I'm very happy with my results so I don't mind spending the money. He does about 8 of these a week so his experience surpasses anyone else I consulted with, plus for me since I live in the city his office is right on 75th and Park and he does his procesdure right there in his surgical suite. I'm going back for another follow up visit next week and I'm getting a copy of my pre-op pics so I'll post my before and afters as soon as I have them. My girlfriend says that I look like a totally different person and she can't wait for me to only wear one t-shirt at a time

[Noseguard]

snycs10,

THANKS for replying. 

Glad to hear you are happy.  Also thanks for the commentary on your size and difficulty.  Sounds like we have some similarities, I have it in both sides, but worse in my right too.

As for the cost not so sure that is unreasonable for this area at all.  I had a consult in NJ and the quote was $7,700, so your $8k is money well spent.

My consult is week after next, it sounds like he is the man for the job.

Congrats on your success.  And forget the one t-shit, take them all off.

 

[snycs10]

HAHA...Hell yeah. I'm going on a cruise in 3 weeks and plan on showing off my new beach bod. Dr. Jacobs is the man for the job. He took out quite a bit of breast tissue on both my left and right side and also did a nipple reduction for me (mine stuck out a bit even before my gyne). He normally doesn't require follow up visits, but since he had to use drainage tubes on me post-op (which he says he only has to do about 1-2 times a year) I've been back to him for a few follow up visits to make sure everything is healing well which it is. I was a bit more sore/pain than I was expecting but I guess that has to do with the baseball size tissue he removed from me. Overall I'm very happy with my results and I know I just need to be patient and wait for my Final results in several months.

[milesed1]

I'm almost 4 weeks post-op ( about your age too) with Dr. Jacobs and have nothing but positive things to say about him and his entire staff. I did lots of research and chose him by his extensive experience, board certification and comfort level with everyone I had contact with there. Mine was $7000 plus travel, etc. It was worth every penny knowing that I was in good hands. I think some others are cheaper because he's in NYC and all costs are more there.

[Noseguard]

milesed1,

Thanks for your reply too.   That is two for two with Jacobs.  I am looking forward to my consult. 

You said you were close to my age, if you don't mind me asking, was your case mild, average, or on the more severe side?

I only ask because mine is pretty bad and was curious about his approach to the more difficult cases.

Thanks

[milesed1]

I live far from NYC so had to do the e-mail initial consult, sending him high quality pics and my medical history. He considered it "moderate". I'll try tp post pics of it pre-op and post-op once I get some taken by my wife so you can compare. When we met, he explained that he'd start with a type of lipo-like instrument he designed and procede with gland excision if needed ( I didn't need it). If you watch the video at his website from his Discovery Health appearance linked here- http://www.gynecomastiasurgery.com/media.asp
you'll understand how he judges by what is left after lipo. A lot of people here are adamant that lipo only isn't enough, but I think they are wrong in some cases. Whatever you decide, try to lose any needed weight, get yourself into decent cardio shape and start lifting weights a little. The cardio will help you bounce back quicker and the weights will help you fill out (with muscle) the slightly deflated balloon appearance you'll have to some degree since some amount of tissue will be missing (but the skin that was sort of stretched by the gyne will remain). It may also give you some more time to plan it all out and save up needed $$. In severe cases, skin may also need to be removed = large scarring. Let me know if there's anything else I can help with.
Oh yeah, I used www.vrbo.com to find a place to rent for the week I was there. You'll get a much larger place than a similarly priced hotel room.

[headheldhigh01]

no disrespect for jacobs, who has experience, but you could probably save a grand or two just by going up to boston or down to va/dc.  new york is not for the poor 

[snycs10]

I'm 26 years old and I had a more than moderate case. Dr. Jacobs said my case "was a real challenge". He said he removed about a baseball size amount of breast tissue from right side and since it was solid, he wasn't able to remove it via lipo and had to do an excision, which I'm actually glad he did becaus eI know this way he removed it all. I'm 12 days post op and the results are a drastic change to what I was like before. I still have some swelling and scar tissue has begun to develop around where my drainage tubes were, but the new look of my chest is profound. It also is still a bit tender and I do have some pain as the nerves begin to regenerate but overall I'd say that Dr. Jacobs has done a wonderful job.

[Noseguard]

Thanks to all of you guys for your input it REALLY is helpful.

Sounds like i have a chest closer to yours snycs10, but the age of milesed1.  Though the first doctor I met said I had 6cm of tissue to extract from one side and 5cm from the other, siginifcat but I dont think baseball size.

Also thanks for all the advice on cost and temporary residence however, I live only about 50 miles from NYC and though I am by no means rich I don't mind spending the extrat 1-2K for Jacobs if I feel comfortable with him.

I like what I see of him on the links to media that he has done that are on his website, and from what you all have said.  Of course my consult will be the final determining factor, but he sounds like the right guy for the job.

I also appreciate the heath tips.  I have been working out very hard for about 4 months now both cardio and weights.   I feel good and will continue to lose weight and build muscle up unitl my operation sometime in April or early May.

One last question for you both who used Jacobs.  How did you like that he did the proceedure on site and not in a hospital?  This makes him unique from many other plastic surgeons.

Thanks.

[snycs10]

He has an operating room right in his office and for me someone who really doesn't like hospitals I was a lot more at ease there. You meet the anestheologist on the day of the surgery and he is a very nice guy and explains to you how he's going to knock you out. It's known as twilight sleep. He inserts an IV in your hand and then gives you some valuim to relax. They put some music on in the room and before you know it you're out. You wake up in the operating as they're putting the comperssion vest on you. I was in the office about 11am and was out by 2pm. Also, as far as you knowing how much breast tissue they'll have to remove I don't believe it's something they'll know for sure until they actually try and remove it. Prior to my surgery Dr. Jacobs considered me an average case but after removing my gyne he said that I actually had quite a bit more tissue than he had originally thought. I needed about a full 8 days before I was able to go back to work, so I would plan on taking a week off of work plus the weekend (and no lifiting anything heavy for at least 3 weeks). Dr. Jacobs normally doesn't require follow up visits but since my case was different I've been back to him twice and I'm going again next week and then again a month from now.

[Noseguard]

What kind of work do you do?

Will I  be able to back to a desk job sooner than 8 days?

[snycs10]

I work a desk job as well, but occasionlly have to lift a box or two during the day. I had my surgery on a Tuesday, but I needed drainage tubes which weren't removed until Friday morning. I suppose I could have been back to work sooner had I not needed the tubes, but I can't see going back to work if the tubes are still in you.

[milesed1]

Many PS's now perform a variety of procrdures in the office. The room is set up just like any hospital's OR. The doc, anesthesiologist and nurse are all present the whole time. I had an outpatient colonoscopy and it's the same type anesthesia and room set-up. I was completely comfortable with everything. Actually, I preferred it to inpatient surgery. You have complete privacy. Dr. Jacobs maintains privileges at a few hospitals in the area too. You could ask about having it done there, but you'll gain nothing IMO but more expenses.

As you saw in the videos, he's a very personable doc who is also very straight forward about everything. He did a great job of answering all my questions before and after, giving realistic explanations of what can (and cannot) give you from the procedure.

I had no direct contact with any of the other docs that people on this board have used, so I can't compare them. I've just had my share of contacts with all types of other docs and have to say that Dr. Jacobs is top notch in all areas.

[jayhawkmd]

Hi all,
I've been reading this whole thread and appreciate everyone's comments. I am a 25 y/o who, after years of hiding/not dealing with G, am now in the middle of consultation with Dr. Jacobs. I have two questions if anyone has the time:
1) There are several other G specialists---how many do you think is appropriate to consult before choosing one? I"ll be honest that I've spoken on the phone with Dr. Jacobs and I feel totally comfortable, but just don't know if I need to be looking at other surgeons as well.
2) I have a pretty hectic schedule and unfortunately, as a graduate student I don't get much say in things. I am scheduled to take two major exams, one of which I need to travel by plane for, within 4 and 6 weeks of my proposed surgery date. I wonder if thats a feasible/realistic expectation to be able to post-operatively study for and then travel and take these exams after the procedure.

Any help is much appreciated!