So I had my plastics consult today

So the appointment was incredibly long. Discussion Topics: Belt Lipectomy and what to do about my hooters. The office was clean, but everything was form not function - the pretty couches weren't comfortable. . .infact my Tailbone hurts from sitting in one uncomfortable chair after another. We initially got shown to a room, and were served by a woman with incredibly large lips filled with some kind of injectible plumper. She was kind and answered initial questions. We watched a video on an abdominoplasty and on a breast lift. Then it was time to get nekkid, and be presented to on the hooter implants. Francesca's face went pale when at first we were told that they were constructed out of silicone. It helped once we understood that its solid silicone, and not the liquid gel that has been linked with problems. She had one in her hands and I found myself playing with it both absentmindedly and anxiously as she presented her information to me. We grilled her with questions for a long time, then it was time for the Dr. I was wearing a robe, a gown, my undies, and a pair of care bear socks. He was very much like you'd think a plastic surgeon would be. He had floppy hair, impeccable clothing, and as my baby later informed him, a bad shine on his expensive shoes (I love my girl!) He was very honest with me. The long and short of it: 1. Belt lifts don't get covered. . .never ever. They're not going to even try. But they will work on getting the panniculectomy covered. I would be responsible for the remaining costs of the belt lift, and I would pay this gladly because this would take care of the majority of my problems - the smell, the chronic infections, the interference with my exercise endevours. 2. The dog ears I have on my ribcage won't be fixed with the belt lift. They will be something for a later procedure to address, and we're not sure exactly how we will attack them until we see what the belt lift accomplishes. 3. The pubis is something that may or may not be fully corrected by the belt lift. If it needs revised, that is something that will have to be figured out 3-6 months following the belt lift once we know how my body heals. 4. The hooters are actually a bit of good news - I don't need a lift separate from an augmentation. This makes the procedure cheaper, and much easier with regards to healing and less likely to involve a loss in sensation. 5. - and I don't know how to feel about this one - I've got enough money to cover this - all of this. . .but only if I use my entire nest egg. Francesca has been incredible, and wonderfully supportive. She brought me flowers at work, and has been helping me process my very complicated feelings about this whole thing. The way she sees it, knowing I have the money, and knowing how badly I want it puts me in a situation much like her regarding the bungee jump she recently chose to do. Once she realized that she could do it, and understood how badly she wanted to do it it put the responsibility to do it in her court. . .making the psychic stress of taking the literal plunge off the bridge just a matter of mustering up the courage. I made her promise to be there with me through the belt lift - no matter what happens. She said that she'll be there. I love her for that. The belt lift will have 4 drains, and I'll have a foley catheter for like 2-3 days. I'll be on muscle relaxers and pain meds for weeks. I'll not be allowed to do anything more strenuous than go pee for 2 weeks. I'll be wearing a compression body outfit for at least 1 week following the procedure - and NO SHOWER for that week either. I know logically I shouldn't be disappointed in any way, but I had a pipedream that I was going to be able to get it all in one swoop - but that's not how life works. It will be multiple procedures, and multiple healings. Its an investement in time and in pain to give myself a healthy body. I've reserved the date December 19th pending insurance approval. The entire procedure needs to be paid for 2 weeks prior. And I'll need to work out the details with my financial planner. . .OGOD. . .I know I should feel incredibly grateful that I have a resource that could pay for it, but all I feel about that is terrified that I would be using it all up for this. On the other hand, I'm young, and I'm working on becoming a Dr. I'll be able to save for retirement well some day soon in the near future. I'll need to crunch on all this info for the next few weeks - insurance approval or rejection usually takes 3. . .so I've got time on my side. I have no idea what I'm going to decide - but I'm fairly certain I'm going to go for the belt lift at least. The rest of it is all kind of hazy. For now, I'm going to go on my run, and enjoy 3 miles of sunshine and tension release. Then my Abnormal Psychology final. Then, dinner with my girl and our running buddy. Thanks for reading. I'll keep you posted. ~Lara Lap RNY 4-1-04 -212 lbs - @goal

Sounds incredibly brave. I don't know if I'll every do it. Congratulations on making the first step. Dianne

Lara - Good news! Good luck in whatever you choose! Could they possibly give you a "deal" for having more than one procedure? -Beth

Wow - Lara. That is a lot to absorb for one day. I admire you a lot for even thinking about so much surgery, so much pain. Fortunately, you are young which will certainly speed up your recovery process. You are very lucky that you have the options that you do. Keep us posted on your thought processes. I've noticed that as I approached goal the excess skin is more apparent than on the way down. I think that having some body fat fluffed it up in some way and now I can really see it. Whether I'll do anything about it is another question for another day. Enjoy your evening. Ruth