Flab*Flab*Flab

Well, I had my surgery 09/30/03 and I have lost 112lbs...I have flab on my flab....it's not pretty...just wondering if anyone out there has had their flab removed yet and if you got it covered under your insurance if your insurance paid for your bypass. Mine did but not sure how it will go with the flab bypass...ha ha... I am 36lbs shy of my original goal but now I think that might be too much to loose...I may be happy with just another 15-20 lbs...which is a miracle. I'm very excited!! Wish I could see what my body would look like with the weight I am now but without the sagging skin everywhere...guess it's time for a initial appt with the tummy tuck doctor to see what he thinks... Take care, Kathy

1st of all, congrats on the fabulous weight loss. That is great. I had my surgery 9/10/03 & am now -140 (finally). I also have the abundance of flab*flab*flab w/flab on top of flab too. I must admit I look really great "in clothes" but "in the raw" is a totally different story. I think I must be carrying around 25-30 pounds of just pure ole flab myself & therefore would be at goal if it weren't for the extra flab. Not sure if my insurance will cover plastics either but sure going to try. Even if they won't the surgery is still a blessing to me & I will be content sitting at 160 (hopefully) w/all my flab for the rest of my life. Again, congrats, great job & keep up the great work. Joyetta

I SOOOO hear you!!! this excess skin is horrible... in clothes, yeah, I look fantastic but in the raw like you said.... (shudder) My stomache looks like a charpee. It has been very awkward for me particularly on the dating front.... particularly when the smoochathons are a tad more than just smooches. I'm so embarassed it sucks.... but again, I probably wouldn't even be on a date if not for this surgery. the flabby skin does bring a whole new set of issues.... I hope insurance will cover mine as well... cuz I don't think I'll be getting one otherwise. height: 5'11" was: 350, am: 202 down 148 lbs. 28 to go....

was so glad to read your comment about your date where the smoochathons are a tad more than just smooches...this just happened to me two weeks ago and yes it was awkward. in addition, i made the mistake of putting on a bathing suit and we went out to the pool. You see I forget that not everyone knows how i used to look compared to what i look like now - great in clothes but...while he didn't faint or otherwise seem to notice and the rest of the day continued as before, I never heard from him again after having what i thought was a wonderful two dates. I WON'T MAKE THAT MISTAKE AGAIN - HE WILL HAVE TO FALL IN LOVE W/ME BEFORE MY THUNDEROUS FLABBY THIGHS ARE IN VIEW.

Carol, your story - and your lesson for the future - is hilarious, though I know it can't have been easy! I'm right there with all of you on the flab and skin front. My belly, my back, my boobs...all are afflicted! Oh, and I've complained before about my arms, which I'm trying to learn to come to terms with (since, well, I don't think I could ever get them fixed with plastic surgery). My bra size has gone from a 42D to a 36B. Sadly, I still have the skin of a 42D. I just don't have the boobs to fill all of it out! And two days ago, I ended up doing a cardio kickboxing class at my gym with a sports bra that covers my tummy and provides great support for the skin there (which moves painfully during even low-impact exercise) but is no longer helping out up top. Now, I think I might have to resort to using two sports bras simultaneously for high-impact workouts! I'm actually going to be wearing a swimsuit almost nonstop beginning Saturday. I'll be going to a beach in Delaware with five of my best buds from college. We do an annual reunion, and they've all seen me go through highs and lows in the weight arena, but of course, they've never seen me anything like I am now. I send them pics and we're all close, so they know what to expect, but it will still be the first time for most of them seeing me in person at a normal weight. One of the girls (who is moderately overweight herself) told me last night that when she was out shopping for swimwear with her mom, her mother commented: "Jen is going to look so great in swimsuits at the beach!" Time for a reality check, I told my friend. Yes, I look GREAT in clothing. But with swimsuits, all my flabby skin is definitely on display -- even after my pursuit of the most conservative, low-cut swimsuits made this season to cover as much of the problem areas up as possible. We'll see if I can restrain myself from constantly tugging at the bottom of my swimsuits so they'll cover my sagging skin!

Hi, From what I have been told is that we have to weight until we are 2yrs out before they will consider plastic surgery. Plus most insurance companies don't cover it unless it is proven to be medically necessary

Oh I sooooo hear and agree with all of you. I have been lifting weights to try to tone and walking, riding a stationary bike, doing an eliptical machine and water arobics 2 x per week just to try to shape and tone. OH MY GOD!!! If I could stay dressed 24/7 I would be ok. God Bless my husband who thinks I am beautiful (even at my heaviest). Without his support I don't know what I would do. It is actually funny because when I am in the pool...the way the skin on my thighs moves....UUUGGGHHHH! My arms look like bat wings. I have not been fortunate enough to loose from my cup size. I did go from a 48 DDD to a 36 DDD so I have lost across the back but NOTHING from the cup size. I have been a DDD since 10th grade so my doctor thinks that the only cure for that would be breast reduction. BUT I sooo agree with all of you about the skin we are in. I have about another 60 lbs that I would like to loose to get to goal weight...makes me wonder how much more skin I will have by the time I hit goal. Good luck to all of us!!! Susie

Well I have lost about 148 lbs so far and I called a plastic surgeon and they set up a consult for Sept. 16th, I think it all depends on what they say. I hope to god I don't have to wait 2 years........I look like the freeking blob!