As many of you know, I often speak at bariatric support groups in New York and New Jersey. One thing that never fails to amaze me, is how many people are surprised at the body changes after bariatric surgery. Many people had no idea that the skin may remain after weight loss and that needing (wanting) plastic surgery is extremely common.

Patients are much more educated now about PS after weight loss - through support groups that sponsor plastic surgeons, through websites like this one, and in speaking with their bariatric surgeons.

There is always room for improvement - especially on the "pre-op" side, so that you know that the weight loss may not always be the end of your journey.

I am interested to hear your thoughts about the way in which you were educated about plastic surgery (or not educated), and whether this occurred before or after your band procedure. This will help me be able to better educate people about this subject.

MAy I ask How Expensive your TT was???

I dont know what other people payed, but I went to Lyon in France to use this guy www.docteur-pascal.com and it cost me about 12,000 euros for a high lateral tension TT ( no drains and special stitching) and a shed load of lipo!

Nina x

I needed a tummy tuck at 321 lbs -- my stomach slapped my thighs when I walked! So there was never any question about whether or not I would need reconstruction after the WLS.

I'm really puzzled by the people who are told to wait one to two years after banding, then others have the surgery before their first year is up....?

Can someone 'splain it to me?

My doctor said it takes 1 to 2 years for your skin to retract and probably won't retract any further after 2 years. I figure people get it done when they're close to goal or right after they've hit goal because they worked so hard to lose weight and they are miserable with all the excess skin. To work so hard at losing the weight and then to look at all that gross skin not to mention the rashes, etc. from loose folds of skin has got to be depressing. And you know what happens when people with eating problems get depressed.... they eat and get fatter.

When my doc looked at my skin, he knew (as did I) that there was no way this skin is gonna retract naturally. I have carried extra weight for a long time, so the skin had been stretched for years, also I carried most of my weight in my stomach so it had the most "loose skin".

I think for people who are young, or who were only overweight for a short period of time, or who had 50 pounds or less to lose, perhaps the skin will retract.

For a lot of us bandsters I think the knife is the only thing that is going to "retract" that extra skin.

Dr. Shulman--

I am planning on having the lap band surgery this year. I have extremely large breasts and always have--it runs in my genes. My insurance will cover breast reduction surgery, but only if I need a minimum amount taken out. I've read before that sometimes people should get breast reduction before they have finished losing the weight so that they will qualify for the insurance to pay for it. My breasts already sag now, so I'm sure when I lose the 100 pounds I plan to lose on the lap band, they will be to the floor! Any suggestions on how soon after the lap band or how far down in my weight loss to check on breast reduction surgery? I don't want to get it too early and then end up losing more breast weight and then being saggy even after PS, but I also don't want to miss the opportunity for my insurance to pay for it! Your help is appreciated!

Thanks!

My surgeon, Dr. Sonny Cavazos at Northeast Baptist here in San Antonio, TX, did say we would likely want plastic surgery once we'd lost our extra weight, and he would be glad to recommend several to us once the time was right. He was very thorough and informative. So far there's nothing that has come up that I think "I wish he'd covered that!"

Do you have any idea how much it costs for the tummy tuck and to have the bat wings removed? Does insurance cover any of this? Just curious how this all works. Thanks and good luck

My surgeon invited a plastic surgeon to speak at one of the support meetings, but it all seemed to apply more to those getting gastric bypass than those of us getting banded. I have no interest in (and no funds for) PS, which is one reason I went with the band. Seeing photos of people and their scars was nothing I wanted to see. I think people should be informed about the possibilities, but I would also like to hear about skin care to help avoid PS. I am using Neutrogena's body oil to help my skin stay moist and Vitamin E cream on my scars. So far, so good.

Cheri, if you go to Ask Dr. Schulman thread, you will see his response to the skin issue.

I have thought a lot about plastic surgery and I don't know if I'll need it but if I do then I have no problems with paying for it.

I'm making my initial consultation to get this done and although I'm a little nervous I am extremely excited tow aht will be the new chapter of my life

I am so worried about needing PS even though I will be having a BL, need one now and I haven't been banded yet.

I need to lose 90-100 pounds and Im getting LapBand over Bypass since I want to lose slower so I can work out while losing. That will help, right?

I need to lose 90-100 pounds and Im getting LapBand over Bypass since I want to lose slower so I can work out while losing. That will help, right?

I've been told (and it's been my experience) that loose skin depends on many factors: your health, age, skin texture, skin health, how heavy you started, how LONG your skin has been stretched, etc etc.

Working out tones the muscle UNDER the skin; it doesn't tighten skin. Skin is an organ and will shrink some on it's own, but depending, you may or may not have loose skin after losing 100 pounds. Thinking that losing "slowly" will impact that is fallacious; think of it this way. Imagine 2 balloons that have had air in them for 2 days. Let the air out of one really fast (symbolizing quick weight loss) let the air out of one really slow. (don't pop either LOL) at the end, they will both be stretched out.

Just eat healthy, take your Vitamins, drink your Water, and do what you need to to keep your own overall health up. Once you've lost, give it a year, and then see what is still "saggy', and how much it bothers you.

I always felt I'd rather have plastic surgery to remove extra skin, than open heart surgery because I'd been so fat I damaged my heart.

Not everyone has extreme skin issues. Don't borrow trouble, just wait and see where YOU land.

Yes..

My Band surgeon informed me that because i had been heavy and obese for so long (most of my life) that he is almost 100% sure that i will want Plastic surgery and need it to remove the excess skin that i will acquire through major weight loss..

He also explained that skin is great at stretching larger but once stretched that it will almost never go back to its original size.

He was very thorough in explaining everything at my initial consult..

The last time i saw him he said in another 15lbs i should start looking into plastic surgeons and that he can refer me to some good ones.:thumbup:

By the way what is the average recovery time before a person could go back to work after a lower body lift

I have developed a rash under the pannus that I never had before I started losing weight. Any suggestions on how to cure this rash?