Hernias, Excess Skin and weight loss??

Hi ladies, Have any of you "losers" (and I mean this with the utmost respect and affection!) had to have plastic surgery for excess skin? I have about 80 lbs. to lose - and although I am tall (5'8) and relatively young (41) I fear having all the excess skin and having to have another surgery. Also, I'm a bit confused about the hernia issue. I read that it is common to develop or "find" a hernia after so much weight lost? Have any of you found this to be true? Thanks again for any advice. You all seem so knowledgeable. Miss Emm

Hi Miss M! Most of us that have loss a lot of weight very quickly have some loose skin issues. So much depends on your initial size, how you carry weight, how much you have yo-yo'd in weight, your age and skin elasticity, how much exercise you do and your body structure. Of course, if you're under 35, you naturally have more elasticity in your skin. After that, you naturally start to lose some as the years to by. I'm down 140 and yeah I do have skin issues. But guess what? Before the surgery I had FAT ISSUES, ok? And if you want to compare the two, I MUCH rather have some loose skin than the double chin, grandmother arms, back fat rolls, two stomachs, and thighs that rubbed together enough to start a forest fire! Feel me? Regarding the hernias. That's a weight in the stomach issue. Those who are heavy in the belly and have open surgeries are more inclined to develop incisional hernias due to the weight of the belly fat on that incision post-surgery. It doesn't happen all the time - but like I said, they are more inclined (compared to those who have laparoscopic surgery) to develop incisional hernias. The advantage of that is that you are more likely to have health insurance approve a tummy tuck in conjunction with a hernia repair so it becomes a 2-for-1 deal. Hope that answers some of your questions and all the best to you along your journey.

Renee, You are too funny - I totally hear you! I'd much rather have loose skin that fat rolls. I swear I even have fat feet now.... As for "forest fire thighs" - well, let's just say that I can totally relate. I HATE my thighs. Even when I was "normal" sized, I had what my hubby calls "rice & beans" butt and thighs. Funny, I used to think of that as a compliment. Those were the days! Now I definitely have my post-wls plastic surgery piggy bank at the ready. I warned him that I'm on my way to going back to my old "hot latin mama" look. He said he was glad to hear me talk this way - as long as he's paying for it, he might as well get to enjoy it! Have you considered plastic surgery? Who did your WLS? I live in the "boonies" now, but still have all my doc's in the City. How long did you have to wait from the time you interviewed your surgeon until the actual operation? Thanks for making me laugh! Miss Emm

Miss Emm - you go 'head with your bad self and get your hot latin mama look back. That's right. Work it, girl. It's your time to "do you" so make sure you do it right. I have considered at least a tummy tuck because if I'm lucky and try hard, I just may be able to get insurance to pay for it. If not, well, we'll just see what happens. Out of all the loose skin, I think a tummy tuck would have the most dramatic effect on my looks because I had ass for weeks pre-op and I still got ass for days now. I ain't mad at that though, because ass is a sister's trademark. But the thighs get on my nerves. They're weird because they don't look big when I stand up, but when I sit down, the spread like butter, girl. But hell, it's STILL MUCH BETTER than barely being able to walk a couple of blocks at 387 pounds. Anyway, you can read my profile if you have about a day and a half to spare but Dr. Alfons Pomp at NY Presbyterian hospital did my lap RNY. I went thru and turned down 2 surgeons before I got to him and he just did it for me. I was very well prepared so I only had to wait about a month for the initial consultation, it took me another 2 weeks to get all my test results to him, and then I got to pick my surgery date because I wanted it during a certain week in August and got it. The experience was great with him and his staff.

Renee, I just have to tell you that I was sitting here laughing at your response to Miss Emm. I was laughing so hard that I had to read it to my husband. LOL I am preop, (surgery wont be for about 6 months), but I already know that Im going to have tons of loose skin. I am 345ish and Im 42 years old. There is NO WAY my skin is going to go back to where it came from. LOL Oh yea. Im also only 5'4"!! I will be having plastic surgery afterwards because I deserve it! I dont care if I have to pick up bottles and cans off the street to pay for it either!! Have a great day and btw Renee, you look spectacular. Laurie

Thanks so much Laurie for the compliments and hey, you gotta be able to laugh at yourself sometime too, right?

Renee.... you look AWESOME!!!! You havem't been around much and I did NOT recognize the new and fabulous you!! I am quite impressed with your success! Keep up the great work! God Bless Jalonda 371/254/160?

Hey Jalonda! How are you? Well I checked your profile so I know you are doing well! Thanks so much for the compliment and you are doing great and looking great as well. Keep working it girl!!! Much success to you always.

I hate to bust anyone's bubble, but just because you have a hernia doesn't mean insurance will cover a tummy tuck. I had 2 incisional hernia and 1 umbilical hernia repaired along with a full abdominoplasty with muscle tightening on 2/7/05. The insurance covered the surgeon who did the hernias and the hospital for the hernias, but I had to pay the plastic surgeon ($6,500) and the portion of the hospital bill ($2,000) that they said was attributed to the plastic surgery. Unless you can show that you have back problems, rashes and that the plastic surgery is "medically necessary", some insurance companies won't cover it, even if you have hernias. -- Joanne

No bubble busted. Never should it be assumed that a hernia will AUTOMATICALLY result in an insurance paying for a tummy tuck. I don't believe I said that and certainly did mean to imply it so let me clear this up. In some cases, however, if you have incisional hernias, a hanging panni which causes considerable strain on the herniated area, and other health problems directly related to the panni (hanging belly) that are deemed medically detrimental, the LIKELIHOOD or your chances of getting insurance to pay for the tummy tuck portion of the total repair to the area are GREATER (not GUARANTEED, but greater) than your chances of getting any insurance to just pay for a tummy tuck with no presence of a hernia. My point is that in some cases the presence of the hernia and the benefit of having the extra fat and skin removed which reduces the chance that the hernia will rupture or develop again MAY increase the chances that an insurance company will agree paying for the whole thing at once - rather than risk that the panni will cause a patient to develop another hernia, thereby taxing the insurance company even FURTHER for another operation down the road. Also, there are some who manage to get insurance to pay for a tummy tuck who do not have hernias because of other health problems. Some insurance will consider it if the tummy tuck significantly reduces or eliminates other medical problems like if the panni is big enough to impede how you walk, if it significantly affects your sexual function, if you develop continued rashes and deterioration of the skin underneath, etc. It is definitely a case by case thing and greatly depends on your insurance carrier and the type of plan you have. Just wanted to make this clearer for those *****ad this.