Im worried about what seems like a need for tummy tuck!

Okay..so I have been going through many of your stories...Particularly intrigued by those my age(21) and around the 300-370lb range....It seems like every single woman has went and gotten tummy tucks or similar surgeries...I am worried about this for myself, when that time comes where the weight is off but the skin is the same... I am pretty much barely getting by with money..The only reason I am able to get this surgery almost completely free, is because of the kick-ass coverage my insurance gives! How am i supposed to pay for plastic surgery when I find going to school or something like that more reasonable for going into debt for???!!  Its depressing me a little bit..Like..would I rather be fat, but filling my skin? Or small, but with sagging skin because I cant pay for the skin to be removed?  Any words of comfort? Or advice?? Also, I have been working out every day while on this liquid diet until my surgery on the 20th..I plan to, once Im cleared to work out again after surgery to do the gym I go to, pilates AND yoga..I want to be as toned as possible..Hoping that a need for a tummy tuck will be...slim..to none! lol Is that an impossible thing?? Please! reply! -Anne

Check your insurance policy or call the insurance company and ask if they cover it?  I say that because my insurance is covering me for plastic surgery for excess skin once I'm at my goal weight.  They cover it since their is a risk of infection with the overlapping of excess skin.  They require a dermatologist to approve it as well, but I don't forsee any problems when I finish everything out.

 Thomas

Hey Anne, I started at 293 (though I estimate my highest somewhere around 320+ - I couldn't weigh myself for a while because my scale only when up to 300 so I'm not totally sure) and am now around 130 give or take.  I had surgery when I was 19 (am now 21).   I have excess skin.  I probably always will.  Let me tell you, it is SO much easier to get around with that 160 pounds gone and when I started this journey it was to get my mobility back as much as anything else.  It is also SO much easier to find clothes (that I look good in) with that 160 pounds gone, even if I do have excess skin.  I used to have diabetes, now I don't.  I used to be almost physically unable to climb more than 1-2 flights of stairs.  I used to have to shop only at stores like Fashio Bug and Lane Bryant.  None of that is true anymore because of my WLS.   So do I have excess skin?  Yeah.  But in the big picture the extra skin is NOTHING compared with all I've gained.  Also, with time, my skin has snapped back some.  It still hangs and if it were a perfect world I could get insurance to pay to chop it off, but it is nothing compared to how much better my life is now.  Keep up with the exercise, take your vitamins, drink enough water and eat enough protien and that will help your skin stay healthy - it won't gurantee that you avoid excess skin, but having toned muscles under the skin will make it look a lot better. One day, when I'm done having babies, I might pursue getting my excess skin on my abdomen and thighs removed - one day.  But if that never happens I am perfectly content.  Please do not let a fear of extra skin stop you from pursuing WLS.  I promise you that saggy skin is much better than 100+ extra pounds!  Saggy skin doesn't contribute to diabets, heart disease and sleep apnea - 100+ extra pounds DOES.  You will be in my thoughts as your surgery date approaches!

Thank you soo much Amy. That helped :-)

First... let me be honest - being overweight for a long period of time damages our stomach muscles... no matter how much you exercise/tone/do ab work... it will only get so good, the rest can only be achieved thru PS. Not to be a downer - but its nice to have realtistic expectations. I started at 288lbs at my heaviest... by surgery 252... now I am 149 and have a huge disgusting hangy belly that is fatty and wrinkly all at the same time... yum :-)  I would LOVE to have PS tomorrow but financially its just not going to happen. I have started to save and will keep saving and hopefully in the next few years can have the PS. Yes its expensive, but IMO its worth it - I am young and never experienced a 'normal' body... I always hated my arms and stomach the most so thats what I was PS on... I can live with the saggy thighs and deflated breasts... but the stomach and arms must go.  I suggest just saving what you can, even if insurance covers some they wont cover all... yeah its hard to save but the more you do now the better off you will be later. If you decide you dont need/want PS then hey you have $$ saved up you can spend on a shopping spree or post-WLS make over :-) 

Too true. I think now and then I hope for the things that just dont add up in my situation lol  I guess we all do at some point. I only really care about more mobility and better energy and happiness in general with life!  I guess the rest comes in time eh? Thanks for your comments :-)

Hey Anne, Well I am on the road to a Tummy tuck in 59 days...yikes. I also has surgery at 390lbs. But my TT is being covered by insurance. I have so much extra skin it does not actually qualify as cosmetic it is reconstructive. I have gone from a size 30/32W pant to a size 10, and thats tucking all that skin in. I have no hips I have come to know that, lol But the stipulation with reconstructive in most insurances is you have to be atleast 18 months post-op and weigh loss has been held steady. So most wont even consider it till 2 years out. I do not know exactly what hoops have to be jumped through for just that to be done. I was getting ready for that, and found out the same day I had a hernia, so no questions asked its approved. The skin has to be removed to ensure the hernia will heal correctly. So I got lucky in a way. But if you have any questions feel free to message me, I have no problem talking about anything