Question:
how soon can i have a TT, i will be leaving my job in Feb

i currently weight about 230 pounds, 29 year old female,had surgery on 7-22-02 RNY, down 73 pounds, my doctor said 160 at 5'4 should be my weight! i really don't wanna pay cobra for 6 plus months, since i will not be working, also what is a hernia, and does everyone need to get their's repaired? i live in FL, or if anyone knows a cheaper insurance company that will pay for TT, i have cigna at this time! thanks in advance, debbie    — debbie S. (posted on November 12, 2002)

November 12, 2002
Hi Debbie. Personally I think it would be worth it to pay cobra for those 6 months. I think getting a TT prematurely would be a waste of time, pain, etc. If you aren't down to your goal weight before the TT and you aren't finished losing either I think it will only take care the problem temporarily. I knew someone who had a TT at 6 months out and then after a few more months she looked like she never had a TT to begin with. Just as much loose skin as before. Why put yourself through that if it isn't going to look like it a few months down the road. I think you should wait. Not to mention, I don't think because you want or need to have a TT does insurance automatically pay for it. You have to submit it for approval just as you did to have surgery. It must be medically necessary. You need documentation of problems caused by this excess skin. That is how I understand it anyway. As far as a hernia is concerned. Many post-op WLS patients develop hernia's but not all. I am assuming that they are hiatal hernia's. Which is when a portion of the stomach just below your esophagus protrudes through the diaphram into the chest cavity. I think if you have a hernia that requires surgery a lot of times a TT can be done at that time as well. I hope that helps. Good luck in your decision.
   — Laurel C.

November 12, 2002
Hey Debbie, my RNY was 2/22/02, 284 lbs antd 5'1. I'm at 220 now and my surgeon told me to loose 40 more lbs and he will to a Scar revision (same thing at TT). I also have to have my gallbladder out due to stones now and also have an incision hernia (where a part of the inside of my muscles from where I was cut has torn open). Anyway, he says that as long as I loose these 40 lbs then he will do all three surgeries at once, insurance loves the idea of saving money since all they have to pay for is one OR room, one hospital stay, one anesthesia. And I get a cheap rate on the TT. If you are close to goal weight or will be within 30 lbs of goal, then have the TT before you leave work. Goodluck.
   — Gwendalyn W.

November 12, 2002
You need to be within 20 pounds of your goal weight before having a tt. Also, I would certainly want to have insurance since you never know what could happen to you. In my state, you would not even qualify for any individual or short term medical policy due to you being a post-op RNY patient.
   — Patty H.

November 12, 2002
I was always told to try to wait until 18 months post-op before having plastic surgery. Our window of opportunity, our window to lose, is approx 18 mo. If you have the tuck done too early you run the risk of having more hang if you lose more, and many gain back a bit before they settle at their end weight. If you have the tuck, then gain weight, I'm told it goes to "other than the tucked area" and that can look strange. So, my advice is to get the cobra and try to put off plastic surgery for as long as possible during your cobra. also at 230 pounds, you may not even qualify for plastics. Insurance companies do not guarantee it. Many have a tough time getting approval. If you can't prove medical necessity....
   — Cindy R.