Plastic Surgery after WLS

I  have a question about plastic surgery after wls and am hoping someone here can help. I have been in the Weight Wise program since August 2012 and I am hoping to get the sleeve done next year (assuming everything continues to go well) but what worries me the most is all the loose skin I will no doubt have after surgery. I know the tummy tuck is covered but I will still have loose skin on my arms, legs, etc. I know the weight loss will help my health but having tons of loose skin everywhere isn't going to help my self esteem.

How much did you pay for the removal of loose skin?

Are there places in Alberta that have payment plans for plastic surgery? 

I am a single mom so paying thousands of dollars all at once is not an option for me.

How do you deal with the loose skin if you can't afford to have it removed? 

We all have loose skin after weight loss but some area's bother people more other as we are not all alike. Until you go through the weigh lose phase it's difficult to know what area's will need to be fixed. For myself it's only my breast which is by choice and my tummy cause it needs to be. Also just to be clear a tummy tuck isn't covered by Alberta Health. A Panniculetomy is covered which is skin removal below the belly button. The clinic uses Dr. Toy and after meeting with him I definitely believe he know's his stuff but of course the more you want done the more costly it is. If I were you I would start saving now.

I know for a Fleur de Lis tummy tuck  which is basically you covering the liposuction and tighten of the muscle and any skin removal above the belly button to the breast line is $6500.00 but they do it the same time as the panni so your hospital stay, meds, o.r time, nurse and anesthetics is all covered, oh and any home care needed. Then if you add addition things the cost will go up. He will pair up some aspects of your surgery such as tummy and breast or tummy and thighs but I'm not sure how much he'll do at one.

Best case is to start saving now because usually plastics want you at a stable weight for 6 month and that could take a while. My weigh didn't stabilize until about the 18 month mark so I really had a long wait time to see Dr. Toy. Body shapers work wonders and mine has become my best friend. Good fitting bra's are a must as well.

Good Luck.

Here is some information from a friend who had plastics with Dr. Toy a couple years ago.  So, keep in mind that costs may have changed.  I should be in the market for plastics in the next year so.

- Panny is paid by AB Health  -  Panny meaning your skin removed from your belly ONLY, what's below the belly button/waist line.

- Abdominoplasty is not covered by AB Health - Abdo.. means your belly, stomach and pulling the sides in/towards the front and liposuction to make it all nice. It will have 2 large cuts/scars ... one vertical from sternum to the pubic area, the other from hip to hip.  He will also do a pubic lift if necessary within this procedure.

Toy said if he does Abdos he only charges a "nominal fee" for that as part is the panny which is covered.  He said it's about $ 6'500 (didn't ask if this is just for my specific case or if this is the "standard"). Recovery time is 4 - 6 weeks

Breast reduction is always completely paid by AB Health and he said really easy to do ... he does about 200/year.  Recovery time about 3 weeks

Upper arm lifts are not paid. It costs about $ 8'000 for both arms ... recovery time about 2 - 3 weeks but the scar will be seen for a few months maybe even a year. In my case it won't be "perfect" as I have a lot of lose skin even overhanging my elbow ... he will do Liposuction in combination with the arm lift. He does not touch lower arm at all.

Outer thigh lift .... costs about $ 12'000 ... Recovery time 4 - 6 weeks.  This procedure can easy be combined with the Abdominoplasty as it has also about the same recovery time. There is a 2 night stay required with this procedure as it is more complicated.  He gives a "deal" if combined meaning in my case it will cost me about $ 10'000 - $ 11'000.

Inner thigh lift ..... never done at the same time as outer thigh lift. Don't know about detailed costs right now as we did not speak in detail about this as it will be something down the road and not of utmost importance.

Lower body lifts - would include butt lift etc. .... he does not do them unless your BMI is well below 35 preferably at 30. He says risks are too high for surgery (heavy bleeding) and proper healing in heavier patient.

Upper back lift .... very complicated procedure, he does it only as a last resource if all other options are explored.

Dr. Toy does not recommend "medical loans" as he says they're ridiculous in interest charges. He suggests using line of credit if possible.

Hope this helps.

Cheers!

- Alex

I just had my plastics with Dr. Toy.  It was $6500 for monsplasty, upper tummy and lipo (panni was covered by AHC).

I'm getting my inner thighs done in the new year for $4000

i first went to see dr toy in july, i had another consult in sept, called in oct to book for surgery. the first available was in feb. yippi...the cost is about 12,500 including gst. he is going to give me a boob reduction, nothing could look worse than they do now....the complete tummy tuck with lipo and an inner thigh  reduction. i think it is going to look way better. i was very worried about the cost compared to how much better it will look, believe it will be worth the price.