Plastic Surgeon Needed - Please Respond to Me ASAP.

Hello to all. I had RNY Gastric Bypass 2 years ago. I desperately need a lower body lift (I think is the word). I work for the State of Missouri and have MCHCP (MO Consolidated Insurance). They paid for my bypass at 100% (since it was medically necessary). I am wanting your opinion as to who to go see for plastic surgery. I noticed that some of the doctors that are in my network are: Stefan Craig, Kenneth Corwin, Nathan Charles (or Charles Nathan), etc. These doctors are from the St. Louis area. I have also heard about a Dr. Geeter (Jeeter) from Springfield, MO. I would truly love to hear from any of you that could give me soome insight. Also, one other thing. How can you tell if you have fat or excess skin? I see what appears to be excess skin...but I just don't know. It looks like the "bellys" that are on discovery health that have the body lifts surgeries...but, I am so inexperienced with it and could use others input on the issue. Jeanette Southern MO.

Jeanette... I cannot help you with any of those PS's as I am not familiar with them. My friend, Betty Myers, has a PS that she has used up in the St. Louis area and she has had phenomenal results. You might want to email her and ask her. Also regarding the outcome or your current status (bodywise)... I believe that even scheduling a consult at this point (even if you haven't done a final selection) would be very advantageous so you could get a PS's idea of where your body is at this point. They would be able to tell you what they feel is redundant skin or if you even have much fat left.... Hope that this helps... and good luck with your upcoming PS!!! I know that it must be exciting for you to know that this is just on the horizon. Keep us posted on what you find out!!!! Pixielf~*

Hi Jeanette. I can't help with firsthand knowledge of a body lift, but I and my oldest daughter had breast reductions in 03 with Dr. Robert Young from Chesterfield. He is the head of Ethics and the head of Plastic Surgery at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield. This hospital is where the doctors go when they need a procedure done. Super, excellent hospital and nursing staff. I can't say enough good things about Dr. Young and our 'boob' results. Good luck! ~Diana~

Jeanette, I went to Dr Carl Price in Springfield. I had a circumferencial lower body lift and he did a WONDERFUL job, scars can't be felt, and are just pink. Had that done in May 06. Then in November he did my breast aug. just to fill in the skin I still had. I am very pleased with this as well. My case was the FIRST in their office that was pre-approved by my ins which was BCBS-CA but as it turns out they've barely covered any of it(just some surgeon fees, other ins picked up hosp costs) and I may have come out ahead just paying the cash price to his office as once the hospital billed my insurance it was about 8 times what my cash price would have been and the portion I have to pay out of pocket due to deductable is more than my cash price would have been. It's a mess and I am still working it out. This is partly cause I had 2 insurances and the one that denied originally ended up paying some and well......it's a LONG story. Pre-op only my tummy tuck portion of the lower body lift was approved so I had to pre-pay for the rest of the LBL. I'd be happy to share my before and after pics with you if you want or answer any specific questions you may have. Regarding the skin/fat....nearly all of us gals will have tummy fat attached to the skin and it won't ALL go away. So, Dr Price included lipo with my LBL and in fact he did MORE lipo on my hips when I had the breast aug., and that was considered a revision. I HIGHLY recommend him and his office can give you updated pricing as well. 417-875-3246 is his office number, ask for Sharon for pricing. She'll tell you it's not likely your ins will pay, but you can always TRY like I did. Good luck!! Plastic surgery definitely was for ME and makes me FEEL so much better about how I fit into clothes, etc. I would do it all over in a heartbeat!!! It IS PAINFUL though so be prepared. : ) Are you close enough to come to the Springfield support group?? It's this coming Monday! Weather permitting of course and it's not sounding pretty for us this weekend. Tami