Update re: plastics appointment
I met with Dr. Armand Lucas at the Cleveland Clinic for about 45 minutes. He looked at how much excess skin I have around my middle and on my arms. Thankfully, he took my word for just how saggy the girls are... He recommends that I start out with two sets of procedures.
First, a full abdominplasty. This will involve an incision from outside hip to outside hip. He'll remove the excess skin and pull skin down from the top, and up from the bottom to an incision that should run along my bikini-line (not that I even plan to put this body in a bikini!!!). He will also tighten my abdominal muscles, as they have separated because I carried so much weight up front for so long. He'll also make sure I still have a bellybutton when it's all done!!! He will not go all the way around at this time; he says if he can go far enough around my flanks, I may not need to have my back-side done. He also said he gets much better results in the long-run if he does front and back in two separate procedures, and I trust his expertise on that issue. This surgery will take around 4-5 hours and I'll probably spend one night in the hospital. I'll have drains and a compression garment when I come home, and most folks are usually out for 3-4 weeks.
Second, a breast lift and brachioplasty. This is a much simpler procedure than the abdominoplasty, but will still take 3-4 hours because it'll involve both breasts and both arms. Breast lift involves a keyhole incision around the nipple, and the removal of a pie-shaped piece of skin from the underside of each breast. Then the remaining skin is "wrapped" around the breast tissue and the nipple is repositioned. I will not have implants placed during this surgery, but I can choose to have them added later if I want more fullness in my breasts. Arms are pretty straightforward - removal of skin from elbow to armpit, with the incision line place so it should not be visible front the front when my arms are at my side.
The most fun of the entire appointment was getting pictures taken for submission to my insurance company. If you're ever looking for an out-of-body experience, try getting completely naked in front a stranger armed with a camera....
Dr. Lucas said they will submit the application for both procedures to my insurance today or tomorrow, along with a set of the aforementioned pictures. He said it usually takes 2-3 weeks to get a response from the insurance company. Once his office has approval for the covered portions of the procedures, I'll find out what the additional expenses will be for the work that's not covered by insurance. They will not schedule dates until they have insurance approval, but it sounds like they could probably schedule me w/in 2-4 weeks of getting insurance approval. He thinks we'll be able to get both sets of procedures done in 2008, so I can get as much covered by insurance as possible.
I'm nervous and excited, and appreciate your continued support in the next phase of my journey!!!!
Kellie
Wow! Super excited for you (and a bit envious as well!).
Regarding the girls, in my case, I kind of like being less endowed now that I'm thinner, but I'm sure I'd have to have something done other than just lifting 'em back into place. I wouldn't want to be any chestier, though. Big boobs run in my family, and I always dreamed of being flat chested. My late brother used to joke about how his sisters were "dairy princesses" and I used to laugh how all three of the women he married (not all at once!) were flat as boards. I guess he didn't need to be a breast man after growing up with four sisters! LOL!
As for posing nude, in my case, my belly hangs over my lower junk and my girls are so droopy it really isn't erotic at all. Eye bleach might be a more appropriate response! I'd walk naked down the street if it meant I could get everything lifted back where it belongs!
Did you inquire about a thigh lift at all?
Did the doctor address the possibility of lymphedema after having the arms done? It's one thing that sticks in my mind because you hear about so many women getting lymphedema after having breast cancer surgery. Perhaps in plastic surgery, they don't cut as deep?
I think it's so exciting that you have this opportunity! Woo!
Kix
I'm excited and nervous, mostly because it's happening so fast and I usually like more time to contemplate and prepare. But since insurance coverage for these procedures will end on 12/31/2008, off I go.
I was a DDD before WLS, now I pour the girls in a D cup and they don't fill it all the way up. I can't even hazard a guess what cup size I'll be after the breast lift, so I'm just going to wait and see. He said adding implants at some point in the future is a pretty simply procedure, so it's still an option even though I won't do it with the lift. He did not mention the risk of lymphedema w/ the brachioplasty, but I will do some research on that.
My belly almost covers my saggy girl bits - it'll be strange when that's no longer true. Plus, as a side bonus for the abdominoplasty, Ms. Kittie will get a lift as well!!!
I did not discuss thigh lift, as that will not be covered by insurance at all and I'm busy trying to figure out where I'm going to pull the money to cover my share of the expenses for these two surgeries on such short notice.... I do intend to have a thigh lift at some point, but that will definitely be in 2009 or after.
Kellie
I have lymphedma in my legs and the plastic surgeon told me that it will not effect it when I am ready for my thighs to be done. I was more concerned with the tummy tuck and hernia repair. One of the reasons I had a panni so early out was I need to have both knees replaced and with the panni hanging the chances of an infection setting in and attacking the new knees is a lot greater than the risk of the removal. I agree with you that they probably don't cut as deep as they would in cancer surgery.
I didn't ask for the pictures back, but I did ask them to mail me a set for my records! I will also do my own pre-op, post-surgery, and post-op pictures to share with my OH peeps so you can see what's possible!
Kellie
i'm scheduled to have my thighs done a week from today. i didn't have any problems with the incisions on the abdomen, but after doing some reading on the plastics board, the thighs are scaring me a bit...i'm sure hoping they don't open up. it's a huge piece of skin that he's planning to take out of each leg -- approx 18 inches long and 10 inches wide at top, tapering down to 6 near the knee, then to a point right below knee. i'm hoping for the best.
I didn't even talk to him about thighs yet - I figure I'll worry about that after I've fully recovered from the abdominoplasty and the breast lift/brachioplasty procedures. My thighs definitely need to be done though, so that is on the horizon for me. I hope your upcoming surgery goes well - any chance you'll be willing to share pictures???
Kellie
