Additional surgery

Hello- I was wondering if anyone has made it to goal and had some plastic surgery to get rid of excess skin. If you have, any insight you would like to share? Very much appreciated! Karen

Good Lord our board is dead... I personally have tossed the idea around. But, I just can't see going through something like that. I don't want anymore scars, I have had 3 c-sections, and then lap RNY. I have seen the pain that comes with having a tummy tuck, ( my mom had one done about 3 years ago ) She got rid of her apron that hung, but Geez, I must be getting to be woose, because I almost couldn't deal with the drain I had for 4 days after my surgery, and she had those drains in for over a week maybe two. I am however going to try real hard to get the over hang off. I know it will never be gone, but it is a reminder to me that I have 3 healthy happy children pulled from my belly. I know I probably wasn't much help, but I wanted to reply to your post. It seems our board has collapsed. Best of luck to you in your search, post on the message board for all. Maybe you will get some insight. T...

I am six months out, have lost 115, and have about forty more to go. I really hope that I can make reconstructive surgery a reality for myself. If I had never weighed over 300 pounds, and begun this journey to reclaim my health and the ability to feel good about myself, I know plastic surgery would not be a normal part of my aging process. Financially or otherwise! I told my husband before I had WLS, that if I reached goal and felt strongly about getting plastic surgery - that I didn't want to feel like spending the money was taking college tuition out of my kids mouths. I have never had an expensive hobby or jewelry habit, or anything that has cost something significant over the years, but I really think it is important for me to feel O.K. providing this for myself. As for my skin status, it's getting more squishy every day. If it was just when nekid I could probably live with it. The apron of skin is what is driving me nuts!! It affects everything I COULD wear if only I didn't have the lower stomach thing going on. I don't feel comfortable wearing anything tucked in, and feel the need to still wear long tops to cover. I want to wear short tops! I figure I have so many scars already, I don't care if I have more. To look good in clothes and feel good in the dark (heh heh) is what I'm after. I think I would actually lose a few scars in the process (they get pulled up and cut off). Patty

Patty! First of all....WOW, 115 in 6 months! Good for you! Second, thanks for reminding me that PS could actually get rid of a scar or two! I know how you feel about the "squishies"...just starting to get there myself at only down 54 lbs at just under 3 mos. out. I was reading on a website about the things you should do to get your healthcare provider to cover PS. Document everything and talk to your PCP about your intentions! When I was at my heaviest (443) I would occasionally get a rash or sore spot under the apron. Well, I actually got a sore spot last week...so I pulled out the digital camera and took a picture of it, dated it and noted what weight I was at. Yes, the picture is gross, but it's my hope that documenting this will aid PS approval down the road. PS is not approved if it's cosmetic, but it can be approved if it can be proven to be reconstructive or health related. Heck, a friend of mine has always been size 8...great figure but she decided she needed a tummy tuck because of her C-section 17 years ago (of course, this woman tells me this while we're sitting in a hot tub and she's got a bikini on and I'm thinking WHAT TUMMY?). She got it approved because her C-section scar was uncomfortable under jeans, so it was classified as restorative..go figure! I also watched a Discovery Health show last Sat. night and a woman about my age had her LBL. She had gotten down to a size 8, but was still very pear shaped and in a thong, her butt and legs looked pretty huge. The surgeon could literally fold the skin with his hands! She did look alot better after her surgery....so I have hope for us! Anway....just wanted to say hi and put in my 2 cents! Michele