I am nowhere near goal. But, I have needed reconstructive abdominal surgery for over 25 years. Gaining weight made the problems worse. Losing weight made the sagging and intrigo worse.

I thought there would be some resistance, but there was none. The doctor said #1--that the pannus hangs low enough and #2--that the intertrigo just reinforces the decision that it is medically necessary. And did I want May or June? He also says that he may do SOME abdominoplasty work to make the upper and lower parts of my abdomen look like they go together.

I asked why so many doctors want the patient at goal. He said that they don't want their work messed up. But that in my case, if I manage to lose the NEXT 80 pounds I need to lose, I can have the area "tweaked," because it probably WILL drop a little with that much weight loss. He DID push about what my goal weight is. But I told him that if it stopped right here, I could live with it, and that at age 57, I don't want to take the chance of getting to goal a few years from now, with a huge hanging pannus and then having him tell me I'm too old for PS.

I'm not sure whether I'm excited or scared or (more likely) both. It would be LOVELY to get rid of this rash. It would be LOVELY to have my waist measure LESS THAN my hips. (Every pair of pants I own hangs on my butt and thighs, but I need them that big to fit my waist.) It would be LOVELY to be able to "bring your knee up to your chest" when the Pilates chick says to do that. Right now, my thigh cannot get to my abdomen because of the pannus.

I have had a another plastic surgeon tell me I should do it. Not sure how many "second opinions" I'm going for, since I want this and I think he can do it and it would be at no cost to me.

Hmmmmm....

OH MY...You are all cracking me up!

Great pics by the way...eesh...I would say I'm about a grade 1 maybe 2...but man my hips have been killing me lately...now I realize it may be from the weight loss and my big...not exactly talented...pannus...LOL...

I'm going to check my summary plan description right now to see if it is covered...

My company flew us to San Diego for our Christmas party, since that's where our home office is. So I was placing all the voices I knew to faces. I asked someone "which one is Sandy." Sandy was my pregnant phone buddy, and I was dying to meet her in person. So I was pointed to the short-haired-blonde in the red sweater. So I walked up to her and said, "so, exactly when is baby due?" That bitch said, "I'm not pregnant!" Ouch. I said, "Sandy, it's me, Lisa." She said, "I'm not Sandy." Sandy was a couple feet away - they both had short blonde hair wearing red. Good rule - never, ever ask about pregnancy till they tell you first!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!