What the heck, I am a failure

I had GB surgery in April of 2003.  I lost around 110 pounds and I am slowly gaining weight back.  I have so much loose skin and I do not think I have lost any weight in my breast.  I want to have plastic surgery, but I am still 85 pounds from "normal weight" for my height.  It was easier to find clothes when I was bigger.  I wear about 4 sizes smaller in pants than I do in shirts, due to all the loose skin around my stomach that I have to cover.  It is pretty hidious.  Not to mention that I have already had hernia repair surgery and now have another hernia.  Somebody tell me all this pain is worth it or will be worth it.  I really want to have breast reduction and lower body lift.  Insurance will pay for the breast, but who wants to have smaller breast and still have nasty loose skin everywhere else.  I can not afford to pay ffor the rest.  Anyone else have this issue or am I the only one?   I feel like what is the purpose of loosing any more weight, it is just going to end up as more loose skin that will never go away.  I am only 29 so that is a depressing thought.  Okay I am done venting... thanks to anybody *****ads or comments back. 

Stacy, I feel your pain. I have extra skin in the middle, I hate it because it is so nasty looking, but I am glad for the other positives that I've gotten from the surgery... Like being about to move and breath better. Looking better even with my stomach.  I weighed 271 when I started the process now I am down to 170 or should I say over this last month I gain 10 pounds so I am up to 180. I am working hard to get back on the schedule that I had before I let myself get lazy, which tells me that maintance is very important. If you are gaining weight back do a self check to see where you have started eating more.  I hope and pray you feel better Sharon

Hey Stacy, I have a friend that needs to do a hernia repair and the surgeon is going to do a lower lift at the same time and he claims he will have the ins pay for it. Also I understand that if the loose skin causes repeated rashes or skin ulcerations the insurance will pay for lower lift, just need to document it with Dr. I will be having my PCP document it once I am post op. Good luck........Marc

My insurance paid for both my TT and BR back in 03.  I had my OB/GYN and my chiropractor write a letter of medical necessity, along with my own letter and between all 3 of them, it worked.  You have to always use the word 'reconstruction' for some reason as I remember it.  However, I know that a friend of mine tried getting a TT after losing so much after surgery and he wouldn't do it until she got close to goal.  The reason is that if you do it too soon, your skin will hang again if you lose a lot after the TT or BL.  So, if I were you, I'd work on getting close to goal first and then getting those letters done from doctors and I bet you will get approved!  Good luck!

I had a breast reduction before I reached goal weight and it was a great thing.  I immediately felt better, could sit up straight (I was a J cup even after losing 200 pounds), and everything was better.  I am triangluar in shape--narrow shoulders to wide hip--so still have size differences between tops and pants.  But it was so worth it.

The truth is no amount of plastic surgery will make all the signs of our obesity go away.  No surgery will give you the "perfect" look that we idealize in our heads.  Part of the process is to come to a reasonable expectation and then deal with the reality.  Do I "love" the way I look? No, but considering where I was, it is a huge improvement.  Are there bits of my body that embarrass me? Yes, but I'm still grateful to have a functioning body--and good clothes!

You might need to have the two sugeries done separately, maybe even years apart, but until we win the lottery, most of us just have to muddle through. 

Good luck,

Sally