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Plastic Surgery Terms for Weight Loss Patients



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I picked this up at my band surgeon's office yesterday. Thought I'd share:

Plastic Surgery - Surgery performed by a Plastic Surgeon to modify and change the appearance of an individual. The emphasis is on the change of one's appearance and no actual plastic is used for most of the operations.

Brachioplasty - This operation is performed to improve the appearance of one's upper arms. Excess arm skin is removed after weight loss. This operation is usually performed after all the weight loss has been obtained and is done under general anesthesia on an out-patient basis. This procedure is considered cosmetic in nature and is not covered by insurance plans.

Mastopexy - This operation is performed to improve the appearance of the breasts. This is an operation that lifts the breasts, changes the size and location of the nipple and aureola, and gives a firmer and more youthful breast. This operation is performed after weight loss has been obtained and is done under general anesthesia on an out-patient basis. This procedure is considered cosmetic in nature and is not covered by insurance plans.

Breast Reduction - This operation is performed to reduce the size and weight of one's breasts and to improve the shape of the breasts as well. In this operation there is a reduction both of breast tissue and skin of the breasts. This operation is performed under general anesthesia on an out-patient basis. This procedure is covered by many insurance plans but does have a minimum amount of breast tissue that must be removed. For this reason, one may have this operation performed before all of the weight loss to assure qualification for insurance coverage. Consult a plastic surgeon about this operation if needed soon after weight loss surgery.

Abdominoplasty - This operation, also referred to as a tummy tuck, is performed to remove excess skin and fat from one's abdomen. This operation is performed under general anesthesia on an out-patient basis. This operation is considered cosmetic in nature and is not covered by insurance companies. This operation would be considered after your weight loss is complete.

Panniculectomy - This operation is performed to remove the excess skin one has on their abdomen that hangs over one's pubis after significant weight loss. This is a medically indicated operation to improve the health of the skin on the abdomen that is frequently infected under the skin. This operation is performed under general anesthesia on an out-patient basis in most circumstances. This is a medically indicated operation and is covered by most insurance plans. This operation would be considered after your weight loss is complete.

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Wow. Thanks. I thought I would need a Tummy Tuck but I am pretty sure that after the weight loss, I would need the pann...... (the last one). I already have a lot of skin that hangs down over that area as a result of my pregnancies. Have hopes that insurance may cover it.

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I'm having my surgery on April 29th and quite honestly I can hardly wait until I have the problem of excess skin....right now I fill it out to the max! It's so helpful to read these posts and see what I have to consider down the road.

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Hi Folks. If anyone approaches the point when a panniculectomy (apron) is going to be done, please be sure to contact local burn centers to possibly donate! I have worked with WLS patients for several years and hear that is a need. Sometimes if insurance won't pay, I have heard that burn centers might help or advise.

Thanks,

SanDiegoSue

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I'm having my surgery on April 29th and quite honestly I can hardly wait until I have the problem of excess skin....right now I fill it out to the max! It's so helpful to read these posts and see what I have to consider down the road.

Beckyin Texas would you mind telling me who is doing your band? My daughter & I are very seriously considering this surgery. We have an appointment with a Doctor here in Dallas for 1st consultation. The 1st consultation is set for 5/7/05 and I'm wondering how long the process is to actually getting the surgery done. Any advice would be most welcome.

Thanks,

Dixie

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since I've had 3 c-sections, my Tummy Tuck will be covered by my insurance company as a "scar revision" due to adhesions. I will only have to pay 250.00. now I just need to hurry up and lose this weight!

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Hey

Does anyone know what they call it when you get your inner thighs done? Mine are awful and wrinkly. If I stretch out the skin they look ok. I'd love to have that done. But someone told me that you can end up being permanently stretched open in the vagina from this op which doesn't sound too good.

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i talk whit my surgeron about the cosmetic procedures but the doctor tell me that if i like to do estetic procedures he should to do after 2 years after lapband. bacause your body need to be adjusted and need to change your form of life. do excercise, but if after you think is necesary ask your surgeron my Dr can help you if you have cuestions i send i friend of my and he aswer by email free i think is imortant to have diferents opinions of profetionals before stetic procedures

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Today, 06:47 PM

lucartwlucy user_offline.gif vbmenu_register("postmenu_131891", true);

Registered User

Join Date: Oct 2005

Age: 46

Posts: 16

i talk whit my surgeron about the cosmetic procedures but the doctor tell me that if i like to do estetic procedures he should to do after 2 years after lapband. bacause your body need to be adjusted and need to change your form of life. do excercise, but if after you think is necesary ask your surgeron my Dr can help you if you have cuestions i send i friend of my and he aswer by email free i think is imortant to have diferents opinions of profetionals before stetic procedures

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Has anyone heard of a body lift? I have heard that they can lift everything at once including your tummy and thighs. Just curious if this is true or not. If so. I would love to look into this after I have met my goal of weight loss. Thank's, Jen

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Yes, I have heard of this and in fact Dr. Mary Shinn in Houston is suppose to be one of the best plastic surgeons in this area.

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I would be really curious as to how much something like this would cost. It seems like a major surgery. If any body has any idea as to how much and how long you would be down from this I would love any info. Thanks.:)

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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