Looking for your opinion - thanks!

I am meeting with my surgeon about an umbilical hernia in a couple of weeks, and he had mentioned before my RNY in 11/09 that when we did the hernia would be a good time for any plastics I might want.

200+ lost pounds later, my plastics wish list is a little long...thighs, tummy, upper arms, and boobs.  My poor boobs are completely gone, just long strips of flesh.

I also just received insurance approval for my varicose veins, which will entail 3 days of procedures because of the varying procedures necessary.

So here are my questions...do I bother doing the veins before everything else? I do have numbness and the dr would like to get at them soon.  And is it feasable to do the plastics all together?  I know it's going to be a painful recovery.  And I know my doctor will advise me one way or the other.  None of this will happen if my insurance doesn't commit to it, so this is a little premature but this is the stuff that keeps rolling around in my head.

Thanks for your advice!  I really appreciate it!

Amy

Here's my 2 cents worth: I would advise you to get mutliple procedures done at one time. It saves you a little money and it's only one recovery but it's rough the first two weeks. I did my tummy tuck and arms the first time, The next time was a hyster and my breast. Next month I'm having my love handles and back fat removed. Good luck to you with the insurance I'm a self pay for all of mines.

I would get the veins done now unless doing so would predispose you to blood clost with later surgeries.  I have no idea about this. 

How many procedures can be done at once depends on the length of each procedure. Tthat depends on the patient and the work involved. My breast lift and babk lift took over nine hours!  No way he could have added arms.

Insurance doesn't usually pay for arms or thighs.  My insurance paid nothing.  Good luck, Loris

 Hi Amy. I am an Amy as well(lost about the same amount of weight as you.) I went for a consultation for plastic surgery and the dr. to told me I needed to get the vein work done first before he wouldeven do plastic surgery- wanted to make sure there was good blood flow, etc for adequate healing. I had my vein work done as an all in one procedure under general sedation. I really would like to start the plastic portion sometime soon. Hope this helps and best of luck.
Amy H

Thanks you guys for the advice!  My doc is pretty confident that insurance will cover, I have a pre-existing skin condition that excess skin will exascerbate, so cross your fingers for me.

My thought process had me doing veins first, for the reasons Amy mentioned, and then doing plastics once the legs are healed.  I would love to do the plastics all at once and get it over with, I guess I'll see what he advises.  Hope he really can get it covered by insurance, otherwise it's a lifetime of my bits n pieces waving in the breeze....

Best,
Amy