Question:
Please ..has anyone chickened out of a tummy tuck at the last minute?

I was scheduled for surgery at 6:45am this am and I cancelled. I am not sure what the problem is? I can think of a hundred reasons to cancel. But only 1 to have it...vanity. Is that worth the chances of something going wrong?? Is there anyone else out there who did this??    — Tina F. (posted on January 15, 2001)

January 15, 2001
Tina, I had about the same stats as you. I did do the Tummy Tuck and hernia repair. I had several complications from my RNY, but none for the TT&HR. I only wish he would have taken off more skin. I went back to my WLS to do it, instead of a Plastic Surgeon. My scar looks better from the TT than the RNY. I will never be able to wear anything that shows my stomach, but I wouldn't want to anyway!!! I wasn't nervous for the TT at all. The attending Dr. was holding my hand when I dozed off!!! I was thinking," I'm not scared, I wonder if she is!" It is a personal decision. That skin belong to you, if you want to keep it, or get rid of it, is your right. The hernia is another thing. As long as it doesn't cause any problems you'll be alright. Good Luck, and God Bless You --
   — CohenHeart

January 15, 2001
Dear Tina: I had a abdomonoplasty two weeks ago, as well as a neck lift, and a brachioplasty and breast reduction 6 weeks ago. I will also be having a lower body lift and thigh lift in the near future, and while I both look forward to and dread each surgery, I never considered cancelling any of them. The reason they are covered by insurance is because for us, previously morbidly obese people, who have lost immense amounts of weight, they are reconstructive surgeries to enable us to look NORMAL. Obviously this is on a varying compendium depending on the age and amount of weight lost of each individual. If the surgery you are considering is just a minor "tuck" that is a "vanity" procedure and not eligible for reconstructive coverage, only you can determine whether the risk, pain and inconvenience is worthwhile. I would suggest going over your potential and reality based risks with your plastic surgeon. But are you perhaps minimizing or trivializing your personal need for reconstructive surgery? This can be akin to people who like to minimize the need for WLS by calling it the "easy way out." Only you can evaluate your specific need for future surgeries (with the help of a good plastic surgeon), but just like everything else about the process we are going through, the name of the game is change, and that always includes wrapping your brain around a new way of thinking -- no more easy than the massive weight loss we have made during the last year or two. Don't give up thinking about it! Jill Sokol, lap BPD/DS, Dr. Gagner 10/99, 360/196; bmi 51/27; More than half-way through MUCH NEEDED reconstructive full body lift
   — Jill L.