amithistrose

It's not cosmetic... Did you even READ my post? My TT and LBL have been approved to be "covered" as well.... But they don't cover the surgeons going rate.

I was so happy when I found out insurance approved my body lift ad a medical procedure (not cosmetic). See, I suffer from skin rashes, boils and irritation. Both in the folds in my stomach and also under my butt cheeks. I have the scars to prove them. After submitting all my records they approved me.... GREAT NEWS! I cried tears of joy when I got approved.

But that's where it ended.
Every surgeon requires cash payment up front, no big deal. But what is a big deal is the MINIMAL about insurance pays for this procedure. The cash price of $22,000 (some places as low as $19,000) is expensive. Insurance only allows around $3,000 for the entire procedure! IT'S A JOKE. Deductible and max out of pockets, essentially, don't matter because you pay cash up front and only get reimbursement what insurance pays.

I have medical insurance.
This is a medical issue.
Why am I paying still $19,000 out of pocket?

Broken hearted.

I didn't use her, but I just wanted to say that she has an excellent reputation among bariatric patients.

Hello world! I am getting ready to schedule my trip from Alaska to Mexico to get a lower body lift. They want close to $40,000 to do this up here, so obviously, that isn't happening. Really looking at Dr. Carmina Cardenas. Does anyone have any experience, good or bad, with her and the facility? How long did you end up staying there? Any complications? Thank you in advance.

I have thought about in the long term postponing but I don't want to get surgery and wear compression garments in the summer so early spring would be best. I really don't want to go another summer wearing 3/4 length sleeves to hide my arms. I am also thinking that if I don't have as much loose skin and fat on my arms then if my body changes a bit or if I gain a few pounds it could actually be better ie fill in my saggy boobs or wrinkly butt. That may just be wishful thinking and it would go straight to my feet or something bizarre.

My bariatric office didn't care because I exceeded their weight loss expectations by a lotttt; they said I would only get to 165 at best. The plastic surgeon also had no opinion. He said I can do it whenever I feel I am ready. My weight has been between 129 and 133 for 6-ish weeks now and my dietitian said if I lose more weight, I need to gain it back so if I go lower post-plastics, it won't really impact the plastics because I'm supposed to gain it back. If that made sense. I am one year post-op today.
If I wanted insurance to pay for my Tummy Tuck, I would have to be 18 months post-op. I don't think they'd approve it anyway since I don't have rashes or anything so I'm just paying myself now.
I'm so ready for this. I had a breast reduction in 2017 and I am SO GLAD I did because my boobs would be SO DROOPY after all this weight loss (they were a 48H and taken down to a 46D.... and are now a 36B). So even if I lose (or gain) a little more weight... I doubt it will have any real impact on my skin.

I have my arm lift in less than 3 weeks. I'm going to come up with some badass story about my scars. Scars don't bother me at all (better than saggy skin and stretch marks, imo), but I'm still going to tell people I escaped prison through barbed wire.

That is a very helpful post. I will have an arm lift, next year. It is a tough decision to make.

I am veryyyyyyyyyyyy Happy - If you check out my profile - activity - I have put pictures on previous replies (I will try to link them here but they might not show)
Yes I have scars - LOTS of scars.
But - To be honest almost ten years on of Op1 next year - The emotional scars I had before were ten times worse than a few pale scars that I never think about much any more. I feel thatthe scars from the surgeries are part of the journey to find me.... Under the skin I was in there - The skin made me feel like an alien. After all the weight loss I was still an alien - Just a different type of one. I am not 100% because I have larger lower legs than I would like..... But - I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much happier than I have been in so long.
I am very grateful to my surgeon (I am in UK) and he gave me a gift that is worth more than money - It is an amazing gift - The surgeon even said to me that I had changed from the person whom he met at that first consultation. I am different - I can wear clothes that do not have to have extra space to hide in.
I guess it is all about whether you can accept the scars - Which are a trade off for getting rid of the skin.
Before -

After 1 -

After 2 -

After 3 -

I can't remember where I put the latest one on my computer - LOL
Found this one - My scars are not so good as I could not massage as well as you might be able to as I have Dystonia in one hand so I cannot use the fingers etc - And if I did it again now I would wear the compression garments for longer - 12 weeks in all!
Sounds a long tme but it supports the skin during the healing and the scars I have whre I wore micropore tape and compression garments for 3mths are much finer and better than the first Ops scars....
This was a few years from the Op and now I am at 9.5yrs from the Op. But you would have to be looking to see them now and the doctors try to hide them behind the arm.

I hope that helps a little.

For those who have had brachioplasty (arm lift), are you happy with the results? Do you mind sharing photos? My biggest concern is the long scar that inevitably comes from it. Thanks.

Do what makes you feel fierce, strong and happy.
I had my lapband placed when I was 54.
Next Tuesday I'm getting a Tummy Tuck. I just turned 60.
Is that too late? Who cares? I want to live the rest of my life in a body that makes me feel good and healthy. I cannot wait to have a flat, toned tummy.

You are never too old to want to look and feel confident. Go for it! ❤️

I'm turning 47 later this year and have set up 3 consults in the coming weeks to weigh my plastics options. I've lost about 95 lbs and my arms are looking saggy. I want them to look as good as I feel
You are never too old!

DO IT, DO IT, DO IT, DO IT.

I was almost 48, when I had my sleeve. Lost all in about 9 months. Had a TT/Panni a year later & have maintained ever since.
Age is only a number. Now, I'm 54 and am happier, more confident, energetic & feel better than I did when I was younger........and obese!

I was 55 when I had my VSG. I'm now 57. I've lost about 150 and am a nationally ranked athlete in my sport. I haven't had plastics yet, but I have met with a surgeon and am planning to have a panni with Tummy Tuck (which my insurance will cover) and breast reduction/lift (the reduction will be covered as well). I'd love to have my arms done, but I'm a bit scared of the recovery time on it and the impact on my sport. I'm trying to figure out when to do stuff because having it done will require some time off work and I still have one kid in college and one on the way there.

@Panda333
hey youngun😉
i was turning 58 years OLD when i had my sleeve.
62, when i had a face lift, and boob job!!
plastics go for it!! what's wrong with being a sex symbol??
you will look great, and you are not vain!!!
its never too late for ANYTHING - i plan on parachuting this summer!! (NSV)
now i stand proud/tall at 65 years YOUNG☺️
good luck with pending WLS
kathy

It is never too old to be healthy, active and happy. I was 62 when i had VSG last November. My mentality of being too old changed very quickly as i started to loose weight. I'm 63 now and wear size 8 destructed jeans! And i feel GOOD!

I am 49 and in my opinion age is just a number. If you want to nip and tuck after your surgery go right ahead. I am considering plastic for my stomach if I end up with a lot of excess skin. Don't apologize because you want to improve on your appearance. You are as young as you feel.

Hi everyone, I'm still preop and aged 48, I'm being optimistic that I will lose the weight and am interested in having an arm lift, breast lift, and anything else I need lifted, lol. I've seen people say why bother over age 40 you are too old no need at that ;point in your life. Yes, I will be 49 and pushing 50 and I'm not trying to be a sex symbol but I it's something I want. Am I being vain? I know my younger years are behind me.

I had an extended arm lift Dec 16. My Dr gave me my compression garment so I'm not sure exactly which one it is but it looks like the one linked below. Has hooks in the front and the back. It's a good design. I've just struggled with it, but I think I would have had issues with any style. The point of the garment is compression and I just don't like all that tightness. Good luck with your surgery!

I had this one. I liked it although because of some issues I had with my incisions (e.g., suture spitting), I couldn't wear it as much as I'd planned to

https://www.leonisa.com/en/products/post-surgical-arm-compression-vest-with-posture-corrector/?ColorSelectionId=12946

I also received a Tummy Tuck with Lipo suction to my flanks (love handles) on Dec. 11, 2019. I'm doing well. The first week was rough. So much pain! In the past, had four c-sections and by the third day I was off all pain meds. --Not with this surgery! However, I'm very satisfied with the results and feel after losing 80 pounds that this was very needed.

I got a Tummy Tuck with muscle repair and liposuction on December 11th. The surgical staff at the VA were awesome. Some of the staff remembered me from my gallbladder surgery (probably helps that there are not that many woman). I let them decide what was best for my belly button. They ended up doing a hybrid of part of my cord and added a little to it (they removed my outie when I had my gallbladder surgery). My stomach is definitely flat and everything looks good. Can’t really tell about the thighs yet because I still have some swelling, but I can fit in my jeans, so not to bad.

Lessons learned- my surgery was same day and I slept an hour past my pain meds after returning home. Significantly pain that first night! Got easier each day. I did have to call the second or third day to get a lesser pain reliever because the morphine based one was knocking me out. They gave me tramadol at my request and it worked great. I didn’t need all of them, but was glad to have a little more given the climate of opioid prescribing now days. I got on the treadmill, but the rubbing of the compression garment hurt, so I am trying to move but not do to much at once. Also, don’t sneeze or cough! Well, the last one can’t be helped, but it does still hurt when that happens.

Glad I bought compression garments for my legs. The surgeon ordered mine through the VA. The prosthetic department (same department that provides my knee braces which I am able to use less and less after weight loss) called me and said I could come pick them up. Waited 2 hrs to be fitted and then told they didn’t have my size. They ordered them and they arrived at my house yesterday. They told me I would be receiving 2 pair, but there are 8 pairs of mid thigh compression socks/hose in the box. I will return them to the VA after the holidays. My husband wanted me to complain about the wait and whatnot, but my thinking is what other health plan actually provides you with free compression garments. Also, they take patients in order of arrival time and a lot of the people waiting are missing limbs (the younger ones break my heart a little, but seeing them walk in on titanium is pretty cool).

Best part of the follow up was that the Doctor seemed genuinely interested in whether or not I was happy with the results. I go back on the 30th for another follow up.

I hope they are able to help more weight loss patients because the studies that have been done show that the patients that pursue plastic surgery keep more weight off at the 10 year mark. I did learn that the VA would have covered my weight loss surgery as well, but the Doctor in the women’s clinic lied to me and said the VA did not cover weight loss surgery. I switched to my husbands doctor due to communication issues with the women’s clinic and inability to get a simple bladder infection treated. My first visit to that clinic was a bit traumatic as well. Patient came out crying loudly and her friend was threatening to call the media, not sure what her issue was, but I believe she was in pain and not getting the help/drugs she needed. I like the Doctor and team I am assigned to now, but just learned he retired. My husband has seen the Nurse Practitioner he was replaced with and said it went well.

So, like any health plan there is good and bad, but I believe most people there genuinely want to help patients.

Thanks for all the advice!

I will post some before and after pics after my next follow up.

Yeah, my surgeon told me to massage the sites I have currently when I shower. I use calendula ointment once a day and scar cream once a day, as well. I am not really pressed about the appearance of these scars... but I do want to minimize the ones that will be on my arms since they will be fairly visible. The ones I have currently are covered by my bra.