Question:
What questions should I ask when I see a plastic surgeon?

I don't know the differences between abdominoplasty, panniculectomy, lower body lift, and circumferential lift. My "Miss Muffy" needs to be fixed (when I wear a thong, it looks like I put it on backwards due to all of the extra skin!) I don't think I will be losing much more weight but I still lose about 1 pound per month. I've lost 131 so far and am almost 18 months post RNY. My stomach, inner thighs, arms, and breasts all need work, but I can deal with just getting my stomach done. I'm having back problems and rashes from the hanging skin. Anyone have a LBL covered by insurance? Thanks for your advice and have a great day!    — Yolanda J. (posted on March 30, 2004)

March 31, 2004
I had the full extended abdominoplasty portion of my LBL covered. I paid for the lateral thigh lift portion. Let the surgeon recommend what he feels is needed as far as an abdominoplasty vs panniculectomy. Whether you go for the LBL is somewhat more of a cosmetic decision. For me the main reason for doing it all is that I had huge saddlebags and knew that once the gut was gone I would never find pants that would fit the gut and still fit the thighs. As it is the thighs are still an issue until I get the inner thighplasty done to remove the rest of the skin/fat.
   — zoedogcbr

April 3, 2004
Hi Yolanda. My approach is to get the patient photos on the computer and go point-by-point over each problem area. Then I show them former patients with the same issues and what they looked like, matching skin texture, age, overall body type, etc. That way I know what you WANT, and you know what can be DONE plus what it looks like. When Patient Expectation = Surgeon Delivery, everybody is happy. By the way way, "Ms. Muffy" should be lifted as part of even a limited abdominoplasty along with the fronts of the legs.
   — DrL