Shocked - but it's not bad

You should absolutely be at goal weight for at least 1 year, if not 2 years, before contemplating plastic surgery. Let them document but please do not rush into plastic surgery. Also make sure if you do decide to move forward you speak to a plastic surgeon who is experienced working on bariatric surgery patients. Our plastic surgery requirements are different than a "regular" person just wanted a TT or boob job. I had a TT and breast lift about 3 years after my DS. The TT was covered by insurance and I only had to pay the surgeon's fee for the lift (done at the same time). Honestly recovery was 100% worse than recovery from my DS (but I'm glad I did it).

Hi Beth,

I am with you about the shock at this being mentioned so early out. My PS was 3 major procedures and yes it's a LOT!. Take your time, research and there is nothing wrong with seeing a couple of PS and get their input on what can be done, how many procedures in one surgery (most take more than one surgery) ask how they would go about removing the skin, what are the expectations, healing time, and degree of scarring. Do this now, but wait at least a year and then go back to them for another consult. Document every rash, or issues the extra skin may be causing. Balance issues, back issues and more. in case your insurance kicks back.

I started the process after a year and my body really changed from the day I reached goal until my first surgery. I worked out and wanted my body fat as low as possible so they could remove as much skin as possible. Keep working out!

When I visited with PSs it was key for me to hear how they would do it, expectations and follow up. There was a BIG difference and helped me decide who to go with.

My suggestion that helped me heal so well - (if you read my blog posts I have been sharing I know infections and not healing) Start bumping up your protein intake at least 6 months before PS. My first surgery I had 8 procedures done, healed so fast and did not need pain meds. My surgeon was shocked.

Congratulations on doing such a great job Beth...this is a marathon for life so take it slow

I am almost four years out from surgery. My body has redistributed my fat and other skin issues. I personally would want to wait to see what happens to your body.

It is a great thing to be able to have plastics. Our bodies do change. My neck when I started losing weight looked different than it does now.

Also getting okay with ourselves emotionally. There are so many emotions after surgery.

It is a big deal having plastics and it is a lot of money to spend. You want to look and feel as good as possible.

Best wishes to you.

Thanks everyone for your responses.

I'm really not in a rush to get plastic surgery done. An accelerated process would be 6-9 months from now and that would only be based on having insurance coverage that expired in 2019. And even if everything falls into place insurance wise, I would probably not do it in the next 6-9 months but I would have to at least consider it. My insurance could expire at the end of this year and then I wouldn't do it, it would just be to soon. The most likely scenario is that it won't even cover plastics of any sort so my timeline would be more like the next 1-2 years and that would be contingent on me figuring some way to come up with the $, another unlikely scenario. After that timeframe, it's unlikely my life cir****tances will allow me to take the time to do the surgeries. Given all that, plastic surgery is more of a dream not a likely reality.

Despite all that I am excited that my bariatric practice thinks I'm ready for it. And I am ready to start the research process. It took my 2 years to research and decide on a bariatric team and 9 months from consult to surgery (the practice was ready for me to do it after about 4 months but I wasn't) so I'm thinking it's not to soon to start this process. And maybe in my research I'll come up with a way to pay for the surgeries.

I understand that you want to get what you can while you still have insurance & am glad that you'll wait. Of course do as much research as you can, but part of me thinks that the reason your bariatric team is so excited to start doing ps is because they want to make money & get it as soon as possible while you're still insured because that's guaranteed money. I'm usually more skeptical of anyone who's looking to put anyone back on the table so soon. It just feels like you're being treated as 1 more $$ to put on the assembly line.

Please be careful.

Perhaps and I have thought of this myself, though I'm not convinced this is the reason. But whatever there motive might be, I won't be doing the surgery with my bariatric practice as I know they are abdominal surgeons and not plastic surgeons. Additionally, I'm unlikely to go with their associated hospital as they do not have the reputation or certifications in plastics that I would deem essential.

DON'T DO IT YET

You still have weight to lose, which means new loose skin will emerge. Imagine going through skin removal only to look like you need it again in another six months! A good plastic surgeon will recommend you wait until your weight stabilizes for a good six months.

There is no harm in getting a free consult, but IMO do not make a commitment without a second opinion, even if the surgery is offered the next day for free. Even if you love the surgeon.

Get the surgeon's opinion and then go from there. I do suggest getting an opinion in one of the specialists in post weight loss plastic surgery. I started exploring PS a year after my RNY surgery and had my first PSurg 16 months.

People say to wait years but it really depends on the condition of your skin, heredity, age, how long you were heavy, etc. And what you want done. For skin that affects mobility, it looks better to get it off sooner rather than later.

The recovery process if longer than for the WLS (I had phase 2 one week ago, so I am post op my second procedure). But At 59, I was not going to wait one more day than I had to get rid of my batwings.

If you are trying to look like 20 year old in a bikini, then you are prob in store for series of operations, and it will take awhile to define the plan. Just from what you write, it is not clear you are ready. I had months to get used to my new appearance and I recognized myself in a mirror. I could not wait until get those batwings gone.