Question:
Can anyone tell me about getting excess skin removed

Hi, I am almost 11 months post-op and have lost 194lbs, I still have about 60lbs to go before I need the skin removal surgery but I am wanting to hear from anyone that has had it done already and how much weight you lose as a result of the surgery and if a plastic surgeon does the surgery or a regular surgeon does it and if anyone has had medicare as their only insurance for the surgery, medicare paid for my RnY so I am hoping that they will pay for skin removal also. Any information would be much appreciated. Thanks -Joy-    — Joy S. (posted on February 5, 2002)

February 5, 2002
My surgeon billed my Tummy Tuck as reconstructive after the RNY and my insurance company paid for every dime. The Tummy Tuck was one of the easiest surgeries that I have ever had. I could have gone home within a few hours after surgery. I was up and walking around with very little pain. It was nothing compared to the RNY. I went home the next morning and was in the mall on day 3 after the surgery. I just bought a really good, tall, soft girdle and I wore it all the time except to shower and to sleep. The worst part about the Tummy Tuck was that I had drains for 3 weeks and stitches for almost 5. I thought I was going to have them forever. It made the most incredible difference in my appearance. My surgeon removed over 18 pounds of fat and skin. The people that dropped me off at the hospital were in shock when they picked me up the next morning. I was a size 16 on the day of the tummy tuck because of the huge roll. I went immediately to a size 10 and within 6 weeks was very easily in a size 8. The scar is still not to pretty but I have a completely flat tummy for the first time in my life. It made the most incredible different in my appearance. I am very happy with it. I hope this helps.
   — DeeDubbs