197 pounds lost, starting to look into body contouring..

Hello!  I'm new to this part of OH, but I am wondering if I can get some advice on "where to start" with this part of the journey? With summer quickly approaching, and sleeves disappearing, I'm feeling very stressed about my arms and my legs. I have skin that hangs on my legs at my thighs, and it sags pretty much the whole way down my legs. Shorts just aren't long enough to cover.

Any help would be appreciated.
Melissa

Hi Melissa!  I'm from Ohio too!

I found my plastic surgeon through the find a doctor link here.  The one I'm using is Dr. Leedy in Mayfield Heights.

I went in with an idea of what I wanted done, and some basic questions.  Once we talked for a bit of time, he had me change into the standard  string bikini type panties and robe.  He came in with his nurse.  He pulled and lifted the skin to show me what he would do in relationship to what I wanted.  It really gave me and my husband a clear view of what I could look like after recovery.

His personality was very warm and professional from the beginning; you really get the sense that he enjoys what he does in all aspects.  I have his office manager's email so when I have questions, I send her the list and she gets back with me with his answers.  His office staff is also very caring as well. 

What I'm having done and when I'm scheduled is in my siggy.

Edited to add - not sure when you reached your goal weight, but if you could wait at least 6 months at least for your surgery that would be ideal (IMHO).  When I first met with Dr. Leedy I was already 6 months at goal and scheduled surgery 6 months out.  To prevent me from scheduling sooner, I registered for the Cleveland Marathon (half marathon part).

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Thanks Lisa!  Did he help you with the insurance part? Is your insurance going to cover any of it?

My goal weight is 150 and I'm currently at 180. I don't think I will be able to reach my goal until my skin is dealt with. The doctor that works with my surgeon thinks I have probably 25-30 pounds of skin, so if that's true, I would be very close to my goal.  My weight has been stable for about 3 months now.

Awesome on the half marathon! I want to do something like that, but my husband doesn't really want me to run because of how hard it is on your knees. He's having both of his replaced this summer through the VA. So he's very protective of mine!

It would be cool to meet up sometime, if you would be interested. I'm in Euclid.

You could very well be "at goal" now but like your doctor says - it's the skin.  That was my situation as well. 

He filed the information with insurance and my insurance rejected it.  The letter back from insurance specifically said that there is no doubt I need it, but that the policy is written that excludes it - with the exception of reconstructive following cancer, etc.  But he did take care of all of that.

You're husband is smart.  Both of my knees are shot too.  Severe (bone on bone osteo arthritis in both) since I was a teen.  All of my doctors up until this ortho basically just kept saying to lose weight - didn't really do any testing.  Last Feb my right knee, which has always been the worse one, finally gave out.  My PCP sent me for an MRI and called the next day to tell me that my ACL was completely torn, meniscus torn and bone fragments.  So off to an ortho.  At this point I was already signed up for the 10K that was part of the Cleveland Marathon - at the first appt he ends it with "when do you want to schedule surgery?"  I told him not until after the 10K.  He was surprised that I could run but I told him no, I just walk really fast.  So as long as I didn't run, he was fine with me doing the race.

In September, well after the race, I went ahead with the knee surgery.  He cleaned it out, replaced the ACL and fixed the meniscus.  He had told me that after the age of 50, I can expect to have bilateral knee replacements.  Woohoo - old age sucks! 


Sure I'd love to meet up!  I'm in Parma, but I got my passport for the East Side.    (Originally I'm from Pittsburgh and the East side, West side thing was one of my first lessons in the nuances of Cleveland)

Hi Melissa, I'm in a similar position to you dealing with too much hanging skin. I'm sticking with capris and cropped pants along with 3/4 sleeves tops.

Lisa, why are you having a thoracoplasty (surgical removal of part of the ribs to cause the collapse of a diseased lung)?

That's what he has on the itemized list that he gave me.  I wasn't sure what it was and googled it too, found the same definition. 

Edited to add:  I Googled it again and found that there are multiple meanings (first time in medical terminology have I found that to be the case).  This site (http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/thoracoplasty) has an alternate definition that applies to what he's doing.

It's actually the skin on the sides under my arms that he's removing.