Dr. Toy

Hi Everyone,

I know I'm only half way through my weight loss but my thoughts have been on the panni I will need after I'm done.

I've been told my weight has to stabilize for 6 month before I can get referred but how long after you are referred do you

get in for your first consult? And then after you first consult how long does it usually take to get a surgery date.

I hope to be to my goal weigh by Christmas so I hoping to have the surgery in fall 2014. We are planning a trip in Feb 2015

and I need to be healed by then.

Is this realistic? My goal weight and the WW goal weight are different. 

Any feedback or others personal experiences in this topic would be appreciated.

Thanks

Stephanie

My weight wasn't stabilized but due to being discharged from the clinic my nurse Gina gave me my referral to Dr. Toy. It took about 3 months to see him and have an assessment done. Some people qualify for just a panni removal and other's need extra work done which involves lipo and a fleur de is tummy tuck. If it's just a panni it's covered by AHS the extra work will cost $6500. If there is any other work you want to have done you can discuss it at that same appointment and sometimes Dr Toy can actually do it at the same time. Surgery can take different amounts of time depending on if you are able to slap down the money right away or need to pay it off. Once payed for surgery can be anywhere from 2 weeks and up depending on his schedule.

Right now he isn't taking any new referral and is estimating a time frame of 12 months before doing so again. I don't know if this includes Weight Wise referrals or not. Also when you do reach your goal weight there is a possibility that your body will have changed and you won't need a panni removal. I have met plenty of people through out my time at the clinic who have loss in such a manner that there tummy's are complete flat and they don't even wear a body shaper. Mine you they do have a little loose skin but it doesn't show with clothing on. Sucks for me cause I didn't fall in this category.

Kee.

Thanks Kee,

I'm pretty sure I will need a panni at the very least....4 kids in 5 years didn't help matters. At what time did you get discharged from the WW clinic? I have my 6 month checkup in May. Do I have to go back at a year?

I was discharged at around the 18 month mark. I was told to stop losing at the 180 pound range and when I went back I was in the 160's and they were changing the program so all staff agreed that I didn't need anymore follow up. I however disagree, I feel that the clinic should continue to follow up longer than they did, even if it was just every 9 month to a year for a few years after. They say the sleeve is a new procedure to Canada so that's why I feel they should have more follow up so they can have more statistics on it, although it's been in Europe since the 1970"s. 

I guess I'm lucky that I was able to do the 9 month program and get the surgery done. I've been told the program has changed since I was discharged, hopefully for the better .Also my family Doctor is great and is very knowledgeable on wls so it helps with her keeping an eye on me and monitoring my blood work. I have some lower vitamin level issues.

I'm sure you'll have to go back at a year mark, talk to your nurse about it cause like I've said it's changed since.

i was referred to dr toy in may of last year. i had my first consult in the later part of june. i finally decided to go ahead so i rebooked another appointment to change a few things in september.  i could have had surgery right away due to someone cancelling but it was too quick due to work. the next available was feburary of this this. i'm not totally sure, but i believe they said he only books his surgeries 4 times a year. like i said don't quote me.  this could have taken so long to get in, due to the length of surgery. mine had the operating room booked for 5 1/2 hours. hope this helps

I'll join the other commenter when I say you might not need a panni, regardless of how many kids and such. You will lose a lot of body fat, and all that extra bulk in your pannus will deflate. It's literally like an empty balloon now. I was so self conscious about my panni for a while, but when I was getting down to the last 15-20 pounds, the fat from the panni started to go away. When we say "loose skin" it is just that. Loose skin, paper thin. There's no tissue behind it, and it tucks right into clothes and lays flat. I'll never be able to wear a bikini, but I can fit into normal jeans and everything with no shaper. 

The only place on my body where surgery would be nice would be thighs and underarms to get rid of that loose skin. It's the stuff that shows with certain outfits. The pannus? Not so much. 

Thanks Ladies...you have been a big help.