Recent Surgery - to be surgeries

Hello all - it has been over 10 years since my original surgery.  I have fought with issues with my skin off and on for about 9 of those years.  However, in process had 2 kids, weight bounced around some - but never extreme.  My weight has been pretty stable the last few years but I started developing skin fold issues again --- then they found a major hernia and a small other one - so I had a component separation with removal of excess abdominal skin - same as having tummy tuck because they move the abs around to cover hernia site(s) and skin gone - insurance paid it all - I paid 0.00!  I had decided prior to this to finally start exploring surgery for my arms and breast (possibly thights) because they are just so hard on my self esteem. 

So the plastic evaluation I had happened to occur after the above mentioned surgery. I had one opinion and it was 19,000 for just breasts and arms - they don't submit for insurance coverage. I went to another place for a second opinion and made sure they are in network.  The second plastic surgeon told me flat out - insurance wont pay for your arms, legs, or breast.  I argued my issue and told them flat out all of the embarrassing things that happen - chaffing at gym, leg fatigue, rashes, in-grown hairs, self esteem, urine on thighs - you all know the issues.  They were very resistive to submit - but the surgeon did tell the office staff to try.  I got the call today from the office that the insurance approved it.  So, that means my cost will be nothing again.  I am so thankful - but I am scared to death.  Probably because with the first surgery I had - I did have a complication (seroma requiring a new drain) - but all said and done I only took 8 days off work to recover.  The plastic surgeon was flabbergasted at my recovery and progress when he saw me - but I am still scared - and just have to keep telling myself this is one step in handling something that needs done - not because I care what my thighs look like to others....but my nerves are high.  This isn't really a want - its a need and even the insurance company agrees.

I am hopeful that I am doing things the right way - using good Dr's and taking care of me (which I am and have with rest and taking it super easy) but I also worry what my thighs look like - some pictures out there is like you can hardly tell anything happened.  Dear lord - if I go through all that my damn thighs better not look like nothing happened.  LOL

Pictures or encouragement welcomed for sure...After this the fight is on for my arms. Shame of it is that my employer is changing our insurance plans so I cannot battle with this carrier.  (Actually both time was not a battle - requested it, got referrals, sent pictures and documentation -  and was approved).  I see this as step 2 of 4 required surgeries.  This to me is success for WL patients - as we battle to just feel like 'normal' people in our own bodies.

Thanks all!

Jenn

Wow good for you for getting insurance coverage.... I assume you are younger so your skin is probably in better shape, than some (like me-58) so tell them to pull those thighs tight...LOL. It is a hard surgery because you can't not move your legs...so as my surgeon said it is a balance of tight and not so tight you end up compromising them....The difference in mine is 90% better- would I like 100% of course...just not sure I want to go through a revision. My Doc doesn't charge his fee to revise, but I'd still have to pay anesthesia and OR. I tried to convince him to do it in the office but he wouldn't go for it...LOL

I found the arms/breasts recovery the easiest. I did buy some silicone scar tape on Amazon that I used in a few places to prevent irritation of either the bra they give you against the suture line or the arm and side boob suture lines brushing against each other... this one

It really was all about feeling 'normal'... I feel like the body I was always meant to have. I would never have felt I achieved my goal if I didn't get the skin removed. I would have still thought that skin was 'fat'- when it wasn't.....

I guess part of my frustration is that Dr says he won't combine any of the surgeries.  He states he feels that arm surgery isn't really good with Breast surgery due to chances of contamination from arm pit glands ... blah... blah. I just want it all over with.  I guess the thighs scare me bad because I see so many bad outcomes. He told me I have excess skin the whole way down to my knee so to decide how big of a scar I want (I don't want an upside down drumstick - so doesn't feel like a choice). - I am 40 so my skin is not great either - obese most of my life - did lots of skin stretching. I am still heavy but not far from where my lowest was - so my body will never be perfect but I just want to feel normal. And of course opposes operating on arms and legs at same time.  Just want it all accomplished and done - keep trying to pace myself through it all- especially if I can get them covered. Anyways - thanks for your insight.  I am hoping to feel more normal by summer. 

If the doc won't do arms and legs (not surprising) and won't do arms and breasts... which IS surprising.... then why not at least do breasts and legs.   Those shouldn't interfere with each other at all.  People combine breasts and other surgeries all the time.

Yeah - I wish.  Really just gotta keep perspective I guess.  Really so thankful to have my tummy tuck & thighplasty covered. Gotta be thankful.. just a few more steps then what I wanted.  He said he feels a thing with groin / arm pits unsanitary if done with something else.

There are many reasons why they will and won't do things together...the only one who wanted to do it all separately for me,  was the Doc who might have been covered under my insurance... but they made it seems like the insurance would cover so little (every insurance is different) I decided it wasn't worth making my decision on.

Not wanting to do breasts and arms together is very unusual... and many doc don't want to do thighs with anything else because it is a hard recovery. Glad I had strong arms for that one.... Tummy Tuck since it is covered by insurance may or may not include muscle tightening... you should ask, because you might still want it and have to pay a little extra for it.

Insurance coverage or mnt, make sure you are comfortable with your Doc and his experience and testimonials etc.... If the insurance approved him, they would approve another Doc also....

Yes - when I had my tummy done they rearranged my muscles under - due to hernia repairs - that is how I got the surgery covered, so I have a nice ab line now from my middle down 1/2 way... I have got to do the rest on my own I guess. LOL  Yes - I hear thighs are hard recovery so I am planning to take it super easy.  I have to say that my component separation with Panniculectomy was not an easy surgery for sure.  It was literally being cut from beyond one hip to beyond the next, drains coming out of my groin, an incision really high up due to needing to get adhesions off my stomach and liver.  Crazy!  I recovered well - took about 9 days off work total since I have a non physical job.  Thanks - for the support!

Thighs have been rough recovery wise but I am super happy with the outcome.  My incisions run from my groin area to my knees but they are healing really smooth and thin.  I am thankful I got it done. Best wishes to you!

~E

Do you have before and after pictures of your legs - I am hoping that there is a noticeable difference - I see some pictures where it was like nothing was done.  Yes-  from what we discussed my incision has the potential to go to my knee.  They were not sure how far I wanted to go - I am like take all the excess skin you can so I don't have any weird parts flopping around.  He told me some patients are very against having visible scars so they want the surgery to stop at a shorts line.  Hell no - the point is to remove the problems but also to get a close to normal appearance with it - I don't want 4 -6 inches of area where there is still extra just seemingly hanging out there.  But in the end I trust their judgment when they are in there pulling and cutting. *ugh*.  The incision was described to me (as I am remember a few months ago) as almost a triangle with the line extending down as far as the excess skin does on the thigh, widest part at groin so the tops can be pulled together with tension but not to tight they wont heal.  Thank you  for the support - I am hopeful that I will have positive outcomes.