Scared to death about excess skin!

[malissa 0]

Candice-

Were your procedures covered under insurance, or private pay.

If your willing, can you give a ballpark figure on the cost?

I've been overweight my whole life - my skin isn't going anywhere....

[jms462001 9]

I think I'll wanna do what you did, and take care of more than one area at once. If it's too painful, I'm afraid I won't go back, so I'd better get it as much done at once as possible!

I'm more scared of the 10 days of pain than the skin!!!!!!!

[Candice 1]

I highly recommend you do that...the second day you will ask yourself what in ther world you have done...but you will get past it. On the tenth day you will begin to feel like yourself again. The stomach muscle reconstruction is the worst part because those muscles spasm for many weeks after surgery and it feels like you have done hundreds of situps each day. The arm tuck is diffucult too because the 4 inchs just above the elbow gets really tight so bare with it and you'll get past the recovery stage.

[ThinknHealthy 0]

All this is in line with what I've been thinking. It's been a year since my lap-band surgery and I am still a long way from goal but I have gone ahead and made an appointment next week with a surgeon so that I can just understand the road map. I just want to know what I have to look forward to, at what BMI do I need to be at, etc. Also, I'm want to sort out fact from fiction. I hear so many stories of what others have done that I want to start to see my story. I know of one procedure that I need to have done that I'm hoping I can do very soon. It's probably the only procedure that insurance might pay for. So anyway, I'm glad this is being talked about.

[ThinknHealthy 0]

Candice:

What questions would you suggest that we ask when we visit our plastic surgeon for the first time? Just wondering.

[jms462001 9]

Candice-

Were your procedures covered under insurance, or private pay.

If your willing, can you give a ballpark figure on the cost?

I've been overweight my whole life - my skin isn't going anywhere....

There was a plastic surgeon at my group meeting the other night. He was the guest speaker and was very informative and showed lots of photos. He explained that bariatric patients are more high risk for complications andd normally he prefers to do one procedure at a time. Plus, he feels better results are received that way. he seems to do very good work. Perhaps he is more expensive than some due to his great work, but he said a Tummy Tuck depending on the number of hours needed in surgery would run around 10-12K. The results were amazing even when the patient had quite a bit of fat left that had to be removed along with the excess skin.

[jms462001 9]

Candice:

What questions would you suggest that we ask when we visit our plastic surgeon for the first time? Just wondering.

I guess before you visit, make sure they are board certified! I would ask how many procedures they have done. Get plenty of references. Look at his before and after photo book which should be extensive. Make sure he has had plenty of experience with bariatric patients. Ask what type of screening he does before working on bariatric patients and what tests he requires. Ask how he performs the surgery and what to expect after as far as recovery and follow up with him. Of course price and all that. I'm sure there are dozens of ?'s I'm not thinking of!! I would google and find out what all questions to ask. Keep in mind that bariatric patients have special circumstances to consider which is why it is good to find P Surgeons who are experienced with working on such patients.

[jms462001 9]

Candice-

Were your procedures covered under insurance, or private pay.

If your willing, can you give a ballpark figure on the cost?

I've been overweight my whole life - my skin isn't going anywhere....

Some lucky people with decent insurance get the Tummy Tuck covered if they can show the excess pannus causes health problems with rashes and such. I guess you go to the Dr for treatment and keep documentation of your problems. I couldn't even get the band covered so it would be out of the question!!!!!!

Edited June 18, 2009 by jms462001
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[gingerbug 3]

If it helps, my high weight was 295 and my current weight is 170. I have no issues with excess skin with the exception of my lower abs but that is because I have two kids.

[jms462001 9]

If it helps, my high weight was 295 and my current weight is 170. I have no issues with excess skin with the exception of my lower abs but that is because I have two kids.

Have you been obese most of your life? It helps being so tall as well. I think if I was not 5'9" I would be much worse! However, I have been obese since the age of 12 so it is still an issue, that, plus 3 kids and my age!!!!!!!

[gingerbug 3]

Have you been obese most of your life? It helps being so tall as well. I think if I was not 5'9" I would be much worse! However, I have been obese since the age of 12 so it is still an issue, that, plus 3 kids and my age!!!!!!!

No, I not been overweight all my life but my weight has fluctuated wildly over the last 18 years. Being tall does help, I am 5'11" and carry weight well (so I am told)

[Jachut 487]

I was about 245lb at 5ft 10 and about 145 now, and I think height helps too. I didnt end up with a lot of excess skin BUT my body does show signs of 3 pregnancies and a large weight loss. I would say, probably, that I have the skin of woman a few years older than myself. I am in the kind of shape not many 42 year olds are which makes people think I'm younger, but I have older skin, if that makes sense. I could have younger skin and be fat.

However, my boobs are utterly wrecked, there's major reconstruction needed there. I think that's more to do with breastfeeding and pregnancy and what mother nature originally gave me as much as it is to do with weight loss.

I'm a bit sad about how much older I look in my face. I dont have wrinkles but I've had a dramatic reduction in volume in the cheeks, eyes etc and I do look gaunt and hollow and tired. I look at all those befores and afters for facial fillers, its exactly what I need but I cant see the point of embarking on 20 years of injecting crap into my face on a six monthly basis. I guess overall I look way better than I did and my overall persona is not 40 something, so I am content with that.

[ClaudiaJ 0]

Questions to ask on your plastic surgeon: aside from what jms462001 have said, you can also ask him of his qualifications and/or certifications, his records (successful and repeat operations), and some restrictions for the surgery.

Hi! I know there has been a couple of threads on this topic before. I'm scared to death about having excess skin! I know that might sound bad, but I am!

I lost 70-80 lbs before and didn't have a problem. Right now I'm at 300 lbs and want to get my weight down to about 170. I'm only 23 so I'm hoping age will be on my side!

I called my insurance company and they said they will remove excess skin BUT you have to know the code the surgeon will use to see if that code is covered! Don't you love that!:sad:

I say you're lucky. Some find it hard to let their insurance company cover such surgeries. But there's a big probability that you won't have much excess skin given your age.

[TopTier 0]

I wonder. . . . if one goes in for an umbilical hernia repair, can some of the excess ab skin be removed during that procedure???

[luluc 6]

I'm a bit sad about how much older I look in my face. I dont have wrinkles but I've had a dramatic reduction in volume in the cheeks, eyes etc and I do look gaunt and hollow and tired. I look at all those befores and afters for facial fillers, its exactly what I need but I cant see the point of embarking on 20 years of injecting crap into my face on a six monthly basis. I guess overall I look way better than I did and my overall persona is not 40 something, so I am content with that.

ah jachut - i bit the bullet, and have had 2 botox trips in the last month (both different areas of the eyes - was too scared to to them both the first time).

i turn 40 in a few days and i will say the eyes have been the biggest area of concern lately - reason for a "tweek".

not being overweight but 4yrs and having no kids - my body rebounded nicely & fine after 70lbs gone. i do plan on some Lipo in the fall on my outter thighs & butt, but i think i had issues w/those areas in my 20's & the weight i am now.

i am short - claim 5'1, i would love long lean legs - but that's just not going to happen..... boobs, well mother nature is a rotten person, but nothing a good bra can't hoist (34d's).