For us over 50's Plastic Surgery? after WLS?

Hi All,

I had lap-band surgery 18 months ago and have lost 70 lbs. I hope to lose another 55 pounds. I have had slow weight loss, which doesn't bother me. I work out 5 days a week, doing Zumba, the treadmill and free weights. I have a bit of saggy lose skin on the upper arms and upper thighs, but well defined muscles too.

My question is after your WLS, did you have plastic surgery, or just let it be? I am 56 years old and really don't care to wear a bikini, but the apron, and upper legs are rather bothersome. I haven't gotten any rashes or infections, but sometimes the lose skin flapping when I run is disconcerting!

Diana

Diana,

It sounds like you have done very well with weight loss and exercise.

Plastic surgery seems to be a personal choice if not a medical choice.

I had RNY almost 22 months ago,down 207 pounds, and have decided to live with the sags, bags and wrinkles. The thought of more surgery makes me remember trying to recover from the last two emergency surgeries... Not for me. 

Several others on the OFF board have had or are contemplating plastics. They can give you more positive information.

You live in the same city as my older daughter. We will be there next week. It is a beautiful area but a really long drive from home. (430 miles).

Annette

hi annette.im from savona ny about  50 miles away from you . nice to talk to someone closer. i have my rny 2nd of sept. nervous and anxious.

Darlene,
Feeling nervous and anxious happens to all of us. We go through extensive testing to be approved, we ask a gazillion questions of others, and the mind seems to go into overdrive.

I can recall suddenly feeling calm, confident and relaxed. The day of surgery my OR time kept getting delayed due to other surgical emergencies. All of a sudden I panicked again and cried to my husband to take me home. The poor man had a look of horror on his face. Luckily, right that moment the anesthesiologist came into the room and gave me drugs!

Next thing I knew, I was in my room thinking they didn't do WLS. Within 30 minutes I was up and walking the halls of the hospital.

I am glad Tom didn't take me home. It feels like it was 100 years ago but I still remember the anxiety.

I wish you well. Keep us posted.
Annette

Annette, did you have the open RNY or the lap?

Hi Annette,

Thanks so much for your reply! It's really a small world. I was in the Itacha area 5 years ago, visiting Cornell where my father went to school. I'm originally from LI. Fredericksburg is a beautiful historic town and well worth the trip, aside from being able to visit your daughter. Mine is out in Dayton OH and I'll be doing the 560 mile drive soon too! Also going up to the Binghampton NY trek next month and the Pittsburgh PA one in October. Always love going north in the ealy fall.

Diana

Diana,

What's happening in Binghamton?

Small world indeed. Both of my daughters are Cornell grads and my X was raised in Bellerose, LI.

Annette

Hi Diana, WOW!  You've done amazing work with your tool! This is rather long, though am revealing my unique situation in full support for your interest in plastic surgery.  I'm two years out, RNY. lost  110 lbs to goal, maintained just over a year.  Have a little saggy upper arms, which I can live with.  Also have MS, and last winter had increased loss of balance and falling.  Subsequently, my neurologist observed all angles of my walking, and said the very saggy thighs contain liquid fat, which shifts with walking and offsets my core balance.  She recommended , and insurance approved, double thigh lift and mini-panni surgery now scheduled for October 20.  I am 52, am on Medicare due to disability, and gratefully, both WLS and the upcoming one was/is 100%covered. Were it not covered, I wouldn't be able to afford  it, so am blessed being able to have it. My plastic surgeon only accepts WLS clients who have maintained goal weight for one year. (other PS surgeons would likely have different parameters).  FYI:  I'd worked at an HMO, which  in 2001, offered all employees WLS at will.  I'd attended a WLS support group for eight months, and was scheduled for RNY Dec. 14, 201.  However, awoke that Dec. 2, with horrendous vision, subsequently sent to ER, where they admitted me and  that Dec. 5th was diagnosed with the MS.  I chose to cancel RNY at that time.  FYI:   don't know if l would have, but in that support group, much mention had been made regarding obtaining insurance and medical necessity--some would actually overuse Neet or Nair hair removal to force rashes, as some actually attained insurance approval via that route.    Sorry this is so long, though chose to share the full picture of my particular situation.  I sincerely wish you the best turnout for yourself, and fully support your decision. Take care, Patti   

Hi again Annette and Patti,

My great uncle used to have a newspaper store and soda fountain on the main street in Bellrose right in front of the railroad tracks. Seven of my cousins graduated from Bellrose schools. I was raised in Mineola and Bay Shore.

Patti, I never heard of liquid fat., WOW! I really am hoping to NOT have plastic surgery, so I was interested to hear what allot of people have done. The only surgery I have ever had in my life was the lap-band surgery. 

I'll let you know how it goes once I get closer to goal.

Thanks again!

Diana

Hi Diana,
Yesterday I had a plastic surgery consult at an OH conference in CA. It was an interesting process and I'm glad that I got the information on what I would likely need and what it would cost if I decided to have anything done. I'm only 9 months out so I need to get to goal and maintain it for a good long while before I would have plastics. It is all very expensive and usually not covered by insurance. In my case my breasts would be covered because I had breast cancer last year. I don't know- I would like to have my body reshaped for sure, but the pain and recovery (and the money) make me hesitate. I still may do it in a year. I'm leaning that way.
Julia