TheRealMeIsHere!

Begin by going to your insurance website, search "criteria for panniculectomy" & "criteria for abdominoplasty" and print it for the doc. Then, if you have pain, rashes etc....caused by the skin, go to pain management or another doc, NOT a PS, get a referral from that doc to PS for surgery. Bring the insurance criteria. It can also be helpful to write your own letter to go with the PA request. Mention co-morbidities that are resolved, how exercise is crucial to maintenance and keeping co-morbidities gone, how the skin affects those things. Best of luck!

Don't remember who my insurance company was. I have a lot of painful, orthopedic issues, so began at pain management. On the insurance's site, I searched for 'criteria for a panniculectomy/TT' Took that to pain management who referred me to a plastic surgeon. When he wrote the referral, he touched on the criteria they were looking for. Plastic surgeon took pics & wrote why she saw the necessity. Along with those 2 referrals & pics, I sent a letter detailing how much weight I'd lost, the comorbidities that were now gone, my physical issues and limits to workout options they caused, how exercise is crucial to maintaining and how the hanging skin impeded me further. In a few days? maybe a week? TT/Paniculectomy were covered! Was POSITIVE I was reading it wrong, had to be a mistake. Sent it to my PS & sis, yep, covered!!! DEFINITELY wanted the TT along with the panni, pics online of just panni, showed flat stomach below belly button, then a shelf of stomach above! I'm sure it depends on the doc, but I was THRILLED to get BOTH! best of luck!

Find something FUN that you WANT to do. Favorite music, walking, treadmill, weights, etc.... Zumba is a BLAST! Been to MANY classes, all different people, all there to have a great time. No one judges if you have no coordination! There are many workout videos, maybe there is one that you would enjoy.

As far as walking, within hours of surgery. Driving, depends on your surgeon. I was told once I am on no pain meds & drains removed. PS: drains didn't stop me, kept them pinned under my shirt ?

Mine was a while ago, but I remember it being far easier than I expected! For a while, I wasn't allowed to straighten. Walked hunched & slept sitting up on the couch. Pain was very minimal. was only in the hospital 23 hours post surgery. Wear your compression. Once the drains are out, you can get firm support bodysuits & waist nippers. I wore compression for about 6 months. This was my ONLY shot to get the tummy I've always wanted and was told the longer I wear compression the better the final result. Drains, I was TERRIFIED, as I gross out & pass out VERY easily, & I live alone. They were not bad at all! For showering, create a long loop of gauze. Make tape tabs on the drain tube (cloth tape works well) Then you can pin the tubes to the gauze loop hanging off your neck. Don't expect instant skinny. Some people are lucky & look great immediately. Then there's the other end of the spectrum. I was VERY swollen. Instead of my normal size 0-00, I needed size 4 for a while, then gradually the swelling went down & I am 100% happy with my result! Everyone has a different pain tolerance & experience. All I know is that I was expecting horrible pain, being debilitated and grossed out. I moved slower and hunched but really kept going with my day to day. Best of luck!

Best of luck!! It's an amazing feeling to wear what you want AND have it look good! At first, I bought everything in my size, JUST because it fit, lol!! The months after surgery, you will have swelling. I went from a 0/00 to a 4, for several months. The swelling slowly went away. Don't be discouraged if you need to wear a larger size for a bit. They will give you an abdominal binder, wear it. After drains are removed you can wear a firm support bodysuit or waist nipper. I wore compression for about 6 months. It felt better in the beginning, and this was my only shot so wanted the BEST POSSIBLE result.

Maybe needed more liquid? This is similar to what I used to use when my kids were babies, does a great job chopping/pureeing meats, veggies, etc... https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-1-5-Cup-Mini-Food-Chopper-One-Touch-Pulse-Stainless-Steel-Blade/565452233

thanks @Amanda Dutton LPC! That would be awesome!

Great info, thanks!! Can you tell me where you found it?

It's preferred to eat your protein as much as possible then supplement with shakes. https://eas.com/advantedge-products I like all their AdvantEdge products! The RTD is not thick or chalky. Powders are great for shakes or recipes. Only ones I haven't tied are the high protein RTD & the soy powder. What helps with making shakes with powder is using something like this, adding crushed ice if you like it like a milkshake. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Farberware-10-Piece-Single-Serve-Blender-Set/146468554

Thanks @proudgrammy! Was actually almost 160 lbs lost. Analogy - "recovering" alcoholic. good luck to the alcoholic for not having that first drink. hope/wishes to all of us for not eating that WHOLE pie, cake, bag of chips etc That's what is odd to me, WHY don't I feel those old cravings, the same as an alcoholic would? NOT that I'm complaining, lol!!!

@FluffyChix Looks like you've had much success, too!!

Thanks! Looks like you are doing a terrific job, as well!

Thank you! I just kept paying attention to my body, my weight, how I felt, Dr. check-ups, etc...

Also posted in veteran's forum Through trial & error, I have hit a point where maintenance just feels normal. My eating habits are so ingrained that I'd actually have to TRY to regain. NEVER thought I'd say THAT! My sleeve was 1/23/12 and I was 275. Within 9 months I was at goal, had tt/panni 10/2013. Maintenance was a very thin tight-rope. I was following the plan, high Protein, low fat, almost no carbs. It worked but 1 tiny splurge and I'd be up a pound or so. I hovered around 120-125. Which is great, but it was taking so much vigilance. About a year ago, I noticed that when I ate my favorite ribs from a local BBQ place, my weight dropped. Calories didn't seem to matter?? After noticing this pattern for a bit, I began experimenting with other fatty foods. Olive oil, butter, real cheese, eggs, Mayonnaise, avocados, burgers (sans bun) When I eat these foods, I get full quickly and have no hunger for HOURS! Fat at Breakfast is important for me as then I naturally eat less throughout the day. I eat whatever I want, stop at the 1st sign of full, only eat when PHYSICALLY hungry. I splurge once a month or so (really, that's all I desire as I am very satisfied with my eating) When I DO splurge on pizza, bagel, dessert, etc... I THOROUGHLY enjoy the F#*K out of it! Now, I eat what I want, enjoy what I eat, no cravings, no weighing or measuring, no counting calories & no stress maintenance. My desires to binge eat have been gone for a long time. Surprisingly my cholesterol is NORMAL, I feel great and my weight hovers between 116-117. Now I (FINALLY) can eat to live not live to eat! I'm very happy that I've found what works for me, I would love to understand WHY?

Also posted in surgery success Through trial & error, I have hit a point where maintenance just feels normal. My eating habits are so ingrained that I'd actually have to TRY to regain. NEVER thought I'd say THAT! My sleeve was 1/23/12 and I was 275. Within 9 months I was at goal, had tt/panni 10/2013. Maintenance was a very thin tight-rope. I was following the plan, high protein, low fat, almost no carbs. It worked but 1 tiny splurge and I'd be up a pound or so. I hovered around 120-125. Which is great, but it was taking so much vigilance. About a year ago, I noticed that when I ate my favorite ribs from a local BBQ place, my weight dropped. Calories didn't seem to matter?? After noticing this pattern for a bit, I began experimenting with other fatty foods. Olive oil, butter, real cheese, eggs, mayonnaise, avocados, burgers (sans bun) When I eat these foods, I get full quickly and have no hunger for HOURS! Fat at breakfast is important for me as then I naturally eat less throughout the day. I eat whatever I want, stop at the 1st sign of full, only eat when PHYSICALLY hungry. I splurge once a month or so (really, that's all I desire as I am very satisfied with my eating) When I DO splurge on pizza, bagel, dessert, etc... I THOROUGHLY enjoy the F#*K out of it! Now, I eat what I want, enjoy what I eat, no cravings, no weighing or measuring, no counting calories & no stress maintenance. My desires to binge eat have been gone for a long time. Surprisingly my cholesterol is NORMAL, I feel great and my weight hovers between 116-117. Now I (FINALLY) can eat to live not live to eat! I'm very happy that I've found what works for me, I would love to understand WHY?

Great job looking into getting the ball rolling! Being obese can cause orthopedic issues as it affects posture, joints, etc... Due to many years of obesity, I have severe ankylosing spondylosis in my entire spine and bilateral posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD). These conditions cause varying levels of pain, my cervical spine being the worst & constant pain. The PTTD requires me to wear braces to prevent pain & allow me to do things I couldn't do without braces. As I lost weight, increased my exercise & worked with a physical therapist, I was able to use less supportive braces. I began with custom AFO's (knee height), then SMO's (just over the ankle bone), until now, just UCBL's (a custom orthotic that comes up a smidge higher on my foot than a regular orthotic. I mention this because, you don't want to do any damage. Please see an orthopedic doctor for a full evaluation.

All my life, I felt self conscious. Through the years, I've realized that EVERYONE is self conscious about something, whether it be a certain body part, general appearance, acne, learning something new, etc...... Most people are judging themselves harder than they judge others. I just keep reminding myself of that and, also, that NO ONE is perfect, we are ALL works in progress. It's an empowering feeling!! Plus who cares what some judgmental person thinks of me?! I know where I used to be, the struggles to get here, the vigilance to maintain, I choose to be proud of me now, rather than self-conscious!

@hunneybee81 Are you followed by an orthopedist for the mobility issues? If so, have THAT doc refer you for skin removal, far more effective that the plastic surgeon referring. Possibly a letter from you, as well, stating things like your physical limitations & how exercise & mobility is crucial for maintaining the weight loss & avoiding co-morbidities. If there are any co-morbidities that were resolved by weight loss, mention those, too. With an ortho referral & my letter, my ins. covered 100% of TT/Panni. Most likely, they will not pay for breasts, arms, etc....

Then there’s the cost of plastics. I’m not exactly loaded. I don’t even know where it would end. My stomach, breasts and arms look terrible. That’s a lot of surgery. Insurance may cover some. Mine paid in full, for TT/panni. If you have any rashes, skin causing exercise limitations or pain, etc.... Go on your ins website and look up criteria for panniculectomy. Print & take to any doctors that have records of pain, rashes, etc..... Best of luck!

In a relationship, no one person can love every aspect of another person. There are probably things you don't particularly like about him. would you have him go through major surgery, if he could, to change? It's great that you are looking for ways to improve your marriage. No one should have to go through major surgery to change a single aspect that may be imperfect to someone. Have a good honest heart to heart, if he loves you & feels as you do about bettering the relationship, he needs to do his part and accept ALL of you.

Same as with surgery, high protein, very low carbs, no rice, potatoes, bread, pasta, flour, sugar or cereal, calorie free liquids, small portions, no grazing & a daily exercise routine.

Congrats on your successful, positive lifestyle change!! I would do in order of importance to me. The areas that bother me the most before the areas that I can ignore, camouflage, cover or learn to live with for a bit.

That's really a question for the surgeon as there are so many variables. Meds, size of incision, pain, range of motion and any complications. Most likely at least 2 weeks. Good luck, hope all goes smoothly!

Is is possible that the LBL was done when you still were not at goal?