Hello

Well this has been an eventful week, I made my first post on OH about a week ago and I already have a surgery date.  I attended  seminar followed by an initial consult with Dr Spivak in Houston.  We decided on the RNY and a tentative date of 7-17-07.  My insurance company is not going to be any help and would only pay 50% with a six month dr diet and two precerts.  I decidedto go self pay and have been approved by multiple financial services. Now, I have some concerns about going under the knife and the possible complications of rny.  I am comforted by the fact that DrSpivak has never lost a patient.  I am 31yrs old weighed 467 and have a bmi of 65 is there any chance I wont need plastic surgery, I am very heavily muscled and am shooting for a weight of 260 in approx 18 months. Any advice or help is appreciated.

Hey "Rod" Welcome to The Men’s Board. Sounds like you’re "Fast-tracking it." Congratulations! 65 BMI? If I was a betting man (and I am) I’d plan on wanting a little Plastic Surgery After you hit and maintain a stable goal weight. "Want" being key there. You may not "need" any at all. How much? All depends. Most men carry the preponderance of their weight On the torso, so a Panniculectomy or Tummy Tuck Could be the full extent. I went from a BMI of 50.1 to 23.6 in right at 14 months. I was not / am not "very heavily muscled." Not even mildly Muscled. So you’ve got an advantage there. Plus your age. I had mine at 47 years old. Your skin (just wildly guess-timating) Has more youthful resiliency left in it than my sagging old Bod. I was also a 2 pack a day smoker which also reduces the skins ability to "draw-up" well. What’s your ethnicity? That figures into big time. The more pigment in the skin, the more resilient it tends to be. I had enough Native American in my genes to help out a lot. All this babble to say… It’ll depend. Genetics, health, how long you’ve carried the excess weight, Sun damage, age, etc, etc, etc… Have the greatest on the 17^th! This month will pass before you know it. Hollar if you have any questions or if there are things you’ve wondered about. Bunch of guys here happy to share. Hope you find all of the info, experience and support this bunch has to offer! Best Wishes- Dx

 

Thanx for the info, I figured as much.  Are you anywhere near pontotoc my wife has family there?

Yep, Just up the road. I'm at Ole Miss.... professor job for steady income between free-lance gigs. One of the largest Bariatric "Centers of Excellence" is here in little ole Oxford. Best Wishes- Dx

Hello young man... looks like we are in the same neck of the woods...i;m in Houston.Jersey village too...lots of support in houston, seems like you are running along fast...that happens when you have green money in your pocket... gimme a shout, we can go have coffe or something [email protected] oh.,...47 yo/start 365# now 157 ish Russ

Welcome to the Locker Room and best wishes to you as you speed along in the process.  Regarding the plastic surgery - when one loses as much weight as you're going to, there's a high probability that you may want or require some surgery to tighten some areas up...tummy, butt, thighs, etc.  As Dx said there are a variety of contributing factors.  First thing first though...focus on your weight loss putting a plan in-place that will ensure maximum results.  Once you hit goal and maintain you'll have a much better idea as to the urgency of the plastic surgery. Loose and sagging skin is an acceptable "side effect" of the significant weight loss and health benefits of WLS.  Wear the wrinkles proudly - you will have earned every single one of them!!! By the way...was 38 years old at time of surgery weighing in at 419 pounds with a BMI of 60.  I've managed to minimize the vast majority of my issues with considerable time in the gym.  I do have some minor issues I may address at a later date, but they are not visible clothed and have not caused any issues for me. Again - welcome and best wishes! Cards Fan

Not much advice here, just encouragement. Go for it! Whatever risks surgery poses and whatever the hassles of post-op plastic surgery might be, life after WLS and major weight loss is so much better than before. You are at a prime age (I had RNY at 60) and deserve a chance for a freer life than you have now. Too bad you have to self-pay, but think of all the crap we can waste money on and compare it to the great investment you're making in your health, your life, your future. Get ready for the best trip of your life!