melyssafaye

I am scheduled for a upper and lower abdominal surgery in September. My insurance will cover most of it. I used a bariatric center at a university hospital. The head of plastic surgery there wrote the leading textbook on body contour after weight loss. He mostly teaches, but works a couple days a month at the bariatric clinic.

This matters because my insurance will cover skin removal for medical reasons like rashes and so on, but it has to be done by a bariatric center of excellence and billed by the bariatric group, not a plastic surgeon (since that would be considered cosmetic).

Knowing all that, the plastic surgeon works through the bariatric clinic and they are well versed in getting approval.

I went to my primary care about rashes and asked for a referral. Then saw a dermatologist and made an appointment with the surgeon. They took pictures and submitted a package. It was approved within 48 hours.

The only catch is the my insurance won't cover some things like support garments and belly button. I'll pay out of pocket for those things. It's been about 16 months since my VSG and we have been putting aside all the money we are saving on groceries and prescription co-pays for all the medications I no longer have to take.

I'm very fortunate to have this covered and even more blessed to be in a financial situation where I can make this a priority. It's not easy, but I've been obese my entire life. I'm 43 now and I have worked so hard to get this far. I just want to be able to like the way my body looks naked for once in my life. My kids are grown and now it's about me. :-)

I am scheduled for a upper and lower abdominal surgery in September. My insurance will cover most of it. I used a bariatric center at a university hospital. The head of plastic surgery there wrote the leading textbook on body contour after weight loss. He mostly teaches, but works a couple days a month at the bariatric clinic.

This matters because my insurance will cover skin removal for medical reasons like rashes and so on, but it has to be done by a bariatric center of excellence and billed by the bariatric group, not a plastic surgeon (since that would be considered cosmetic).

Knowing all that, the plastic surgeon works through the bariatric clinic and they are well versed in getting approval.

I went to my primary care about rashes and asked for a referral. Then saw a dermatologist and made an appointment with the surgeon. They took pictures and submitted a package. It was approved within 48 hours.

The only catch is the my insurance won't cover some things like support garments and belly button. I'll pay out of pocket for those things. It's been about 16 months since my VSG and we have been putting aside all the money we are saving on groceries and prescription co-pays for all the medications I no longer have to take.

I'm very fortunate to have this covered and even more blessed to be in a financial situation where I can make this a priority. It's not easy, but I've been obese my entire life. I'm 43 now and I have worked so hard to get this far. I just want to be able to like the way my body looks naked for once in my life. My kids are grown and now it's about me. :-)

I am scheduled for a upper and lower abdominal surgery in September. My insurance will cover most of it. I used a bariatric center at a university hospital. The head of plastic surgery there wrote the leading textbook on body contour after weight loss. He mostly teaches, but works a couple days a month at the bariatric clinic.

This matters because my insurance will cover skin removal for medical reasons like rashes and so on, but it has to be done by a bariatric center of excellence and billed by the bariatric group, not a plastic surgeon (since that would be considered cosmetic).

Knowing all that, the plastic surgeon works through the bariatric clinic and they are well versed in getting approval.

I went to my primary care about rashes and asked for a referral. Then saw a dermatologist and made an appointment with the surgeon. They took pictures and submitted a package. It was approved within 48 hours.

The only catch is the my insurance won't cover some things like support garments and belly button. I'll pay out of pocket for those things. It's been about 16 months since my VSG and we have been putting aside all the money we are saving on groceries and prescription co-pays for all the medications I no longer have to take.

I'm very fortunate to have this covered and even more blessed to be in a financial situation where I can make this a priority. It's not easy, but I've been obese my entire life. I'm 43 now and I have worked so hard to get this far. I just want to be able to like the way my body looks naked for once in my life. My kids are grown and now it's about me. :-)

I am scheduled for a upper and lower abdominal surgery in September. My insurance will cover most of it. I used a bariatric center at a university hospital. The head of plastic surgery there wrote the leading textbook on body contour after weight loss. He mostly teaches, but works a couple days a month at the bariatric clinic.

This matters because my insurance will cover skin removal for medical reasons like rashes and so on, but it has to be done by a bariatric center of excellence and billed by the bariatric group, not a plastic surgeon (since that would be considered cosmetic).

Knowing all that, the plastic surgeon works through the bariatric clinic and they are well versed in getting approval.

I went to my primary care about rashes and asked for a referral. Then saw a dermatologist and made an appointment with the surgeon. They took pictures and submitted a package. It was approved within 48 hours.

The only catch is the my insurance won't cover some things like support garments and belly button. I'll pay out of pocket for those things. It's been about 16 months since my VSG and we have been putting aside all the money we are saving on groceries and prescription co-pays for all the medications I no longer have to take.

I'm very fortunate to have this covered and even more blessed to be in a financial situation where I can make this a priority. It's not easy, but I've been obese my entire life. I'm 43 now and I have worked so hard to get this far. I just want to be able to like the way my body looks naked for once in my life. My kids are grown and now it's about me. :-)

I am scheduled for a upper and lower abdominal surgery in September. My insurance will cover most of it. I used a bariatric center at a university hospital. The head of plastic surgery there wrote the leading textbook on body contour after weight loss. He mostly teaches, but works a couple days a month at the bariatric clinic.

This matters because my insurance will cover skin removal for medical reasons like rashes and so on, but it has to be done by a bariatric center of excellence and billed by the bariatric group, not a plastic surgeon (since that would be considered cosmetic).

Knowing all that, the plastic surgeon works through the bariatric clinic and they are well versed in getting approval.

I went to my primary care about rashes and asked for a referral. Then saw a dermatologist and made an appointment with the surgeon. They took pictures and submitted a package. It was approved within 48 hours.

The only catch is the my insurance won't cover some things like support garments and belly button. I'll pay out of pocket for those things. It's been about 16 months since my VSG and we have been putting aside all the money we are saving on groceries and prescription co-pays for all the medications I no longer have to take.

I'm very fortunate to have this covered and even more blessed to be in a financial situation where I can make this a priority. It's not easy, but I've been obese my entire life. I'm 43 now and I have worked so hard to get this far. I just want to be able to like the way my body looks naked for once in my life. My kids are grown and now it's about me. :-)

I am scheduled for a upper and lower abdominal surgery in September. My insurance will cover most of it. I used a bariatric center at a university hospital. The head of plastic surgery there wrote the leading textbook on body contour after weight loss. He mostly teaches, but works a couple days a month at the bariatric clinic.

This matters because my insurance will cover skin removal for medical reasons like rashes and so on, but it has to be done by a bariatric center of excellence and billed by the bariatric group, not a plastic surgeon (since that would be considered cosmetic).

Knowing all that, the plastic surgeon works through the bariatric clinic and they are well versed in getting approval.

I went to my primary care about rashes and asked for a referral. Then saw a dermatologist and made an appointment with the surgeon. They took pictures and submitted a package. It was approved within 48 hours.

The only catch is the my insurance won't cover some things like support garments and belly button. I'll pay out of pocket for those things. It's been about 16 months since my VSG and we have been putting aside all the money we are saving on groceries and prescription co-pays for all the medications I no longer have to take.

I'm very fortunate to have this covered and even more blessed to be in a financial situation where I can make this a priority. It's not easy, but I've been obese my entire life. I'm 43 now and I have worked so hard to get this far. I just want to be able to like the way my body looks naked for once in my life. My kids are grown and now it's about me. :-)

I don't know how to answer that but congratulations on the success!

I think everyone is different so this is something that you'll have to figure out for yourself. I was 220 pre-surgery and I've been steady at 125 for the last year. I had the RNY. My friend had the sleeve 1 week after me and she's consistently been 20 pounds heavier than me but we are now both maintaining for the last 10 months or so. I think that if you want to lose more, you have have to really start working out...I wouldn't necessarily eat less than you are now especially if you're comfortable with your diet. You're right...food has always been everything to us so I would stay where you are in the food area if you're good with it. Remember, this is just a tool to help get where we want to be.
Good luck and be proud of everything you've done now!

I suspect that it is a long stall leading into maintenance. Maintenance happens when your average daily intake equals your expenditure through living and activities. It can sneak up on some if their weight loss diet is calorically similar to their maintenance metabolism, while others will have to increase their intake to stop losing and drive themselves into maintenance.
The tricky thing here is that typically, our overall metabolism declines as we lose weight - it doesn't take as many calories to move us around all day long when we are 100, 200 or whatever pounds lighter than when we started, so our loss rate on average tends to decline over time. A diet and calorie level that worked for us well at the beginning may not be enough to get us through to the end, particularly if we increase our consumption as we progress (some can get away with that while others can't.) If you are bouncing around the same weight for the past couple of months, this indicates that your intake isn't far off from your overall metabolism - you may have a few pounds more that you can squeeze out of there, but 30 lb is very unlikely unless you significantly reduce your intake. A drop of 500 calories from where one is stable should yield a loss rate of pound per week (or 4-5 lb per month). That should give you an idea of the size of your challenge here.
There is nothing magical about a liquid diet for weight loss, other than most of the products used are very low calorie so you are dropping your calories a fair bit for a few days. One can do the same thing with a basic meat and vegetable diet - just cut the calories to the same level as the liquid program - and you will probably be more satisfied and tolerant of it. There are a number of liquid "reset" and "pouch test" diets out there that are based upon the idea that when we first had surgery we were (usually) on a liquid diet and lost like crazy for 2-3 weeks, therefore if we go back to a liquid diet we will lose like crazy again. Reality check here - those of us who never did a liquid diet also lost like crazy right after surgery, because it wasn't that liquid diet that stimulated that loss in the first place, but the dramatic drop in caloric consumption.

Before and After! 75lbs lost!
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Thanks for this. My surgery date was 3/31/16. So I'm a March sleeved as well. My SW:265 CW: 165.
So I'm down 100lbs and thrilled, but the past two months I've only lost 2lbs. I've been so worried that maybe I've hit maintenance. I've passed my surgeon's goal of 70% excess weight, but I really, really want to hit 100%.
I felt that complaining about it was ungrateful and my friends think I'm humble bragging. I'm sticking with the plan and trying to be patient.
I have a consultation for plastics in a few weeks and I wonder if maybe that would help.
Keep up the good work!
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9 months post op, and I have been the same weight for the past 2 months.
Today I finally lost 2.2 Ib (1 kg) ..... I am so close to goal ..... and it is so, so very slow for me now.
I am eating still same size portions, 1/2 cup, but I really concentrate on Proteins and more Water. I even eat very little fruit, especially rock melon that I love.
I thought this happened to me because I was lower BMI to start with ......
However, my March buddies also noticed that the weight loss has really slowed down, for most of us.
At least, I lost the 2.2 Ib, took me 2 months ... but it is still happening at a snail's pace.
I have better NSVs, so I am still shrinking, even though the scales are not budging much .....
Good luck with those last few pounds!
You have done so well! Congratulations!
Great topic, thank you @@JupiterinVirgo

Before and after! The best decision I ever take of my life.
Stats. 325 pounds Feb/16 Now 165 pounds Dec/16
Blessings.
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Thank you all for taking the time to reply. My surgery is now scheduled for December 13--the same day she had her own surgery a few years ago. After more talking she's decided I have indeed thought this through. She's now supportive. And now we have the same sleeveaversary!!!!!
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I barely fart at all now, seriously, it's been days...and now , thanks to your post I think I know where all my farts went...sorry.

@@Malin i had UHC and found out ahead that i didn't meet the requirements. No co-morbids..... i was 5'2" and 220-223ish .... So i gained 10lbs to make sure i did.... and i did. almost 7 years later... im a fabulous 125-130ish lbs

QUICK! Somebody get me a marie calendar's coconut cream pie and a fork!

@@Malin Not telling you what to do..... but i gained 10lbs to be at a 40 bmi.... and would do it again. gain 10 to lose 100.... hell yess
You have to leave your mom out of this situation.... she is not you. You have to make your own choices... Every surgery is different and you may not experience what she is

They are legit. One thing to know, if they send you stuff and for whatever reason your insurance doesn't pay, they won't bill you.
Yes, they try to get you to use their scar cream and Vitamins and it feels like a scam/hard sell. But, if your insurance won't pay, they won't send. So, you won't ever be on the hook because they sent stuff and afterwards it wasn't covered and end up getting a bill.
My insurance didn't cover the shakes. They sent me a first shipment because there was confusion between the insurance and insure nutrition. They apologized and won't be able to send more, however I was not billed for what they sent.
They are easy to work with and not a scam. It just feels a little odd because they are pushy about getting a prescription for the cream and Vitamins. They do all the work, they just want you to take them.
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I had the DS on 6/22/16 and just wanted to share my progress. I started the preop diet on 6/8/16, so here is my pic 20 weeks later! If anyone is considering the DS or any other surgery, I hope this inspires, since others progress pictures really helped me stay motivated.

First thing, you're not losing weight because you are in the 3 week stall that we all had and is completely normal, not because of what you may or may not be eating. Honestly, it really doesn't matter what you're eating the first several months post op....the sheer calorie deficit is more than enough to make you lose weight almost automatically. Hope that makes you feel a bit better.
That being said, you need Protein to heal and keep your muscle you're going to be losing with the weight. It also keeps you full and satisfied. If you are eating simple carbs and sugar, it's going to cause cravings. Try to JUST eat Protein right now. If the dinners you're fixing involve a soft protein, nibble on that and nothing else. Keep dinners simple. What's wrong with a meat or fish with a veggie and let the rest of the family have the starch and you skip it? That's how I've cooked since surgery. Making spaghetti? You eat the meat and sauce and the family gets the Pasta. pizza? Eat the toppings. Tacos? Have the ground beef, cheese refried Beans and no tortilla.
See? Keep it simple and it will be easier for you to stick to your plan. Protein is the key! Eat as much of that as you want through out the day!

I was stalled for 6-7 weeks. Almost did my head in!
I followed advice re mainly Protein meals. Have been doing it for a week, and today my scales finally moved!
Finally lost a pound! Hooray!
I also got Bowel Clear (has many herbs), and this relieved my Constipation due to very high Protein food.
Many of us who were sleeved 8 months ago have noticed that the honeymoon period is over, and that weight loss can stall for longer times at this stage.
At least it it still going down, but at a much slower pace.

I think that it helps to re-frame the discussion, keeping in mind the obesity is a disease, not a moral failing.
People are at different stages of the disease. Some people won't be helped by surgery. They will still be eating crap a few weeks after and will find ways to eat around their surgery. It happens. While others will be successful.
Personally, (and I have no medical experience) I found the pre-op helpful but I think three months would have been just as helpful, rather than 6 months.
I jumped through all the hoops, was a good patient for six months and had the sleeve. Post-op, I've gone to my follow ups and had great support from my team.
I was one of those people who swore that I was just gen tic ally cursed and didn't have a food issue. I have two sister who are thin, but I have always been overweight. I maintained my same overweightness for 20 odd years. I fluctuated 15lbs a few times, but always stayed mostly the same. I didn't think wls would help but wanted to make the change badly. Of course, after surgery I see that I did in fact have some bad habits.
It's been 8 months or so. I'm down 100lbs. I've lost 80% of my excess weight and met my surgeon's goal. I'm still working toward my personal goal.
For me, surgery has been a life changer. For others, unfortunately, it may not be enough help. We are all at different stages but we're all battling the same disease.
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I sort of hate the tone of many of these replies.
So, if surgery 1 didn't work for a person, they need to just be unhealthy because that's what they deserve? I'm not sure about that one. At least they keep trying. JMO.
Not referring to the OP btw.
I'm not a revision patient, but really if things were different I would absolutely explore all options.
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Today
I
Hit
My
Goal
Weight.
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