650 Pound LOSER!!!

http://tlc.discovery.com/  

Tune in on Sunday at 5 p.m. to the TLC channel. 

Arizona’s very own David Smith (recently spoke at the Chandler Support Group) will be on a documentary of his journey from 650 plus pounds to his present healthy weight!

David’s daily struggles are not unlike our own and though he did not have weight loss surgery; he is an advocate for “getting the weight off" and has been very supportive of many of us who have gone that direction. In fact, David is now a personal trainer and loves working with those of us who are just getting our feet wet with exercise. 

I love the program that Chris (David’s mentor) has developed of a low carb lifestyle. If we followed his plan then we’d all be right on target with our own surgeon’s program!

My very cool boss: Dr. Mehdi K. Mazaheri will be part of this documentary. See his awesome technique as one of the best Plastic Surgeon’s in the U.S. His expertise is specifically with those who have had a successful weight loss! He was a participant in David’s quest to achieve a normal/healthy body! 

You can read some of David’s story on Dr. Mazaheri’s blog: 

www.drmazaheri.blogspot.com  

If you are interested in having a consultation with Dr. Mazaheri after you see his amazing work on the documentary, then just shoot me an email and I’ll extend a complimentary consultation code that you can use any time following your own weight loss! [email protected] 

I don’t have cable so will have to watch this on my laptop the next day through the internet! I look forward to a big dose of inspiration and motivation from David’s shared weight loss experience! 

LOSER’S ROCK!!! 


BTW – the title of the Documentary is “650 pound Virgin"! ??#@%*&!

REMINDER!! 


http://tlc.discovery.com/  

Tune in on Sunday (TODAY) at 5 p.m. to the TLC channel. 

Arizona’s very own David Smith (recently spoke at the Chandler Support Group, recently seen on the Today show, been on Oprah twice, and many others...) will be on a documentary of his journey from 650 plus pounds to his present healthy weight!

David’s daily struggles are not unlike our own and though he did not have weight loss surgery; he is an advocate for “getting the weight off" and has been very supportive of many of us who have gone that direction. In fact, David is now a personal trainer and loves working with those of us who are just getting our feet wet with exercise. 

I love the program that Chris (David’s mentor) has developed of a low carb lifestyle. If we followed his plan then we’d all be right on target with our own surgeon’s program!

My very cool boss: Dr. Mehdi K. Mazaheri will be part of this documentary. See his awesome technique as one of the best Plastic Surgeon’s in the U.S. His expertise is specifically with those who have had a successful weight loss! He was a participant in David’s quest to achieve a normal/healthy body! 

You can read some of David’s story on Dr. Mazaheri’s blog: 

www.drmazaheri.blogspot.com  

If you are interested in having a consultation with Dr. Mazaheri after you see his amazing work on the documentary, then just shoot me an email and I’ll extend a complimentary consultation code that you can use any time following your own weight loss! [email protected] 

I don’t have cable so will have to watch this on my laptop the next day through the internet! I look forward to a big dose of inspiration and motivation from David’s shared weight loss experience! 

LOSER’S ROCK!!! 


BTW – the title of the Documentary is “650 pound Virgin"! ??#@%*&!

David was awesome! I can not imagine losing that much weight on my own. He had a great support group though!

I think I would like your free consulation code for your plastic surgeon boss- even tho I am looking for a revision to DS, since I lost 100 pounds on my VBG from 25 years ago, the sagging panneculum (I think that is the name for it) sags so bad it is causing back aches and muscle strains. I havent reported it to my primary Dr yet as I just figured out it was the cause. Do you think insurance might cover such a thing?? I dont know if I can put it off before getting a DS as it's becoming so bothersome. I might consult with someone soon after I see my doctor. Let me know your thoughts & your code. Thanks

Hi ZuZu,
I had a panilectomy  in 2006 after losing 130 pds. with my RNY in 2005. The plastic surgeon removed 8 lbs. of skin and yes my Insurance paid for the procedure. I had to have documentation from my PCP of my visits, infections and discomforts due to an over sized panni and to request to the insurance that it was medically nesessary for removal. All went well and 100% coverage by insurance.

Good Luck
Diane

Hi there Zuzu! (would love to know the "rest of the story about that creative name")

The standard for insurance coverage with Plastic Surgery is determining whether something is medically necessary or not.  Various documentation can be considered by your insurance company, i.e. rashes, infections (skin breakdown), open wounds, etc.  PCP's, dermatologists, other specialists may provide the recommendation and chart notes for submittance.  Red Flags often go up if it is submitted by plastic surgeon's since "cosmetic" surgery is NOT covered.

The standard for plastic surgeon's across the U.S., is to pay upfront for the procedures and then the patient will get any and ALL reimbursement from the insurance company.  The panniculectamy is almost always the ONLY thing that will be covered "if" anything is covered at all!  (an of course hernias) The insurance companies have cracked down on that coverage as well so rare is the approval these days!  I hate to discourage that direction but I've had so many friends get their hopes up....just to go through great disappointment when the denials come through.

Please question any surgeon who says that it can be covered.  Ask for all of the "out of pocket" expenses (in-network, out of network?  At a surgery center or in a hospital?  Recovery at home or a couple of nights in a hospital?)  So many friends have thought they were getting their procedure completely covered; only to receive enormous bills following.  There isn't any guess work with Dr. Mazaheri.  It's one price.  You pay upfront.  When you get the reimbursement, it's yours.  Easy....no guess work & no killer bills afterwards; in fact NO bills afterwards!  Medical loans makes it doable for almost everyone.

Reconstructive plastic surgery for our bodies is BIG stuff!  It is an investment!!  It will certainly outlast most investments and has the potential to give us an edge in our careers, our social lives and our well being!  It's definitely a "happy" investment that wins hands down dollar per dollar of an investment in a car or boat or whatever! 

Give me a call and we can chat, K?!!!  I'd be happy to set something up for you with Dr. Mazaheri!!! 

I'm not really working today...but am "on" tomorrow!  480-814-7466

Hi , before I go forward I realize that my reply has nothing to do with this post. but here I am on Sunday and I am very disappointed with myself and very depressed.

you see, I had a lap band in june of 2007 and I initially lost 45 lbs and have had two fills with a total of 8.5 in my 14 band. I have gained all but 6 lbs back and I am wondering if there is any hope for me...

I know that the Gastric people have a honeymoon phase and I am just wondering with a band if i have lost the opportunity to lose my weight ?

I am to emberassed to go back to my doctor since I basically have not lost any weight in 2 years.

I do have some restriction. but I have found out that this whole eating situation is totally mental and I have got some major hangups if i cannot lose weight after having WLS.

HELP .. ANY WORDS WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED....

Ahhhh!  I understand your pain!  I had Rny and had bunches of regain....felt like I was the only person in the world who haid failed at WLS!!!  Fortunately, I researched oodles and found out that there are many reasons for a failed surgery.  Medical, mechanical and metabollic are all possibilities. 

You are the only one that knows whether you're following your band rules or not BUT...if you haven't been to your doc in 2 years then you most definitely need some tests runn or at least an adjustment (fill)!  Bands don't really have a window of losing opporunity that shuts....since that is the sellingi point of the band:  continued possibilities for tweaking or adjustments!!!  But, if your body gets used to "soft calories"...or you are a nibbler...or your body has adjusted to lower  calorie intake...or the band has issues....then losing can definitely be effected!

Consider opinions/ tests with another Bariatric program?  Consider revising to another procedure!  Perhaps you need malabsorption and not just restriciton?

Hop on over to the Revision forum, the Dudenal Switch forum OR join us at a Revision/ Highly Malabsorptive support group this coming Thursday at 6 pm at Tempe St Luke's. 

Revision is not a 4 letter word, right?!!!  LOL!  We all believe in 2nd chances so consider having a "do over" with something more aggressive.

I'd recommend a DS (duodenal switch) or an ERny (Extended Roux n Y) for the best long term results!

I LOVE my ERny!!!! 

Don't feel defeated!  Your fix may be a simple one and it's definitely not necessarily your fault!  Give yourself a break sweetie pie!