Has anybody had Abdominoplasty???

[BigDan]

Ive been here for about a year now and never posted.
Ive lost a total of 140lbs and have kept it off for exactly 1 year.

Problem im young 25yo and I look good with a shirt on but off is a whole nother story. Ive waited for all of this loose skin of mine to "shrink up" but it has not. I looked better with my shirt off when I was 350lbs. Its actually offends people.

I cant afford to pay for the surgury by myself and im pretty sure insurance wont cover it since its not a health problem. Has anyone looked into haveing it paied for it you donate your skin to burn victums?

Thanks

[BD231]

Your skin is damaged so it would be of no use to burn victims (I've looked into it).

I currently am in the same situation as you and outside of Surgical Financing all I can say is start stackin chips ma'man. Save save save.

There's going to be ugly scaring from what I'm told as well but I guess that's the price we pay man :(.

[LadyBelle]

How's your credit? Many surgury centers and doctors have finance companies they work with.

[krs10ne]

You need to get with your Dr. Skin like that, that "folds" over, assuming thats what you have can cause skin infections. You might be able to get it covered that way. I know thats what I am going to have to do as well. At least go talk to your Dr, it cant hurt.

[BigDan]

There's no way I can save up, I just bought a home and im barley getting by right now. As far as my stomach folding over.... Yeah it folds but not as much as thoes people who have lost 300lbs. Visualy I can conceal small items, casette tape or a pack of cigerettes under there. Now I hear that they will cover the cost if its a hygine problem. What's that??? Like the skin is discolored and bumpy, and sometimes I have blood blisters, boils under there but not lately, mainly when I was bigger.

How much does the surgury typically cost???

I will never be able to look normal again :(

[Moonwalker]

Hey, i know exactly how you feel. Im 22, last year i lost about 200 pounds.. and no my upper body wasnt pretty. I had an abdominoplasty, the total cost was about $6k. I was really happy with the results.. hell it changed my life. For the first time ever, i had confidence and i felt great. It has been over a year now, and since the surgery i have lost 30 more pounds even though i havent been trying. I weighed 190 the morning of surgery, now i weigh 158. Im on maintainence now and not gaining any weight, but i can tell that fat is collecting in my stomach area. Its poking out more and im getting new stretch marks. Im starting to get really upset about it because there is nothing i can do about it. I exercise, i only eat about 1800-2000 cals (50 carbs) a day and it keeps getting bigger. If youve ever seen how someone looks when they gain the weight back after an abdominoplasty, it looks really weird. Your stomach where the fat is it down where your waist is, so basically it looks really fd up. I think before long im going to have to get liposuction to avoid looking that way. I was completely 100% happy with the surgery up until this started happening. So i cant really suggest the surgery to anyone after this shit started happening to me. It still looks better than it did before the surgery, but i dont know how long it will be until it looks unacceptable.

[Nancy LC]

Hmmm... you're pretty young still. You might want to give it more time. Maybe invest in some calipers and check once a quarter and see if the amount of lose skin is shrinking. If so, then you know you just need to invest in patients. If not, then you might need to invest in surgery. :p

[BD231]

Don't worry about the bulge moonwalker. When you get this procedure done the fat stores from higher up on your torso are pulled down and like all fat stores tend to fill out a bit.

All you need is liposuction to remove those large left over fat cells and you'll look just fine.

[BigDan]

Wow only $6K, I was thinking about $20K+

Sorry to hear about you after effects, but I could live with that. I dont wish to be 158lbs though. I still like being a large guy. Im 6'1" and I looked sick at 199lbs so I gained 10lbs back. HAHA they will probably take that 10lbs off when they start cutting anyways.

How was your recovery?

[relliott1]

BigDan, if you get rashes etc. under the skin folds, insurance should cover the procedure to remove it. I had a breast reduction 2 years ago, my primary complaint aside from back pain was horrible heat rash and other skin irritations. My health insurance covered the procedure 100% due to the skin problems, as well as some supplementary liposuction to give the end result a more natural look. I definitely suggest speaking with a knowledgeable plastic surgeon - most of them have a lot of experience working with insurance companies and know what most companies will and will not cover.

[Meg_S]

This isn't a replacement for the surgery you want.. but if it ends up not being possible, over time you can do a lot for your skin by "brushing" and massaging it. Use a natural stiff bristle brush and begin in the shower (because at first it will be too sensitive to do dry, which is what you ultimately want) and scrub your skin in circles. You can also massage cream onto it after your showers or when necessary. This has done a lot for the tightness and look of my own skin - although over time, having healthier skin may ruin your chances for insurance to cover a surgical proceedure. For you women out there who have lost weight, this can also be helpful for breast skin! Obviously it cannot do the kinds of changes that surgery and implants can, but I am in the massage therapy field and see what kinds of changes manual self care techniques can work on skin and muscles (and scars). Fish oils, healthy foods, vitamins and water are also all part of a good skin care regime :)

[ItsTheWooo]

Ive been here for about a year now and never posted.
Ive lost a total of 140lbs and have kept it off for exactly 1 year.

Problem im young 25yo and I look good with a shirt on but off is a whole nother story. Ive waited for all of this loose skin of mine to "shrink up" but it has not. I looked better with my shirt off when I was 350lbs. Its actually offends people.

I cant afford to pay for the surgury by myself and im pretty sure insurance wont cover it since its not a health problem. Has anyone looked into haveing it paied for it you donate your skin to burn victums?

Thanks
I sympathize... believe me. I've lost 160 pounds and my skin is so nasty.

Guys are lucky, since most of the loose skin is contained to the belly... so even though you tend to have it really bad there, at least it's one area. I was so lower bottom heavy that my whole lower body is really loose. My upper arms are unsightly as well. I need a lower body lift (combination of tummy tuck, butt lift, and exterior thigh lift), + inner thigh lift, + arm lift, + boob lift. The skin is just ravaged everywhere. These surgeries together would cost thousands and thousands.

My cousin told me that the new york presbyterian hospital pays for surgery if you donate skin... however I"ve not looked into it because I'm like 99% sure it's a rumor with no basis in fact.

Like BD231 said, it leaves some pretty serious scars. If you're just getting the tummy tuck then it's relatively small, but if you want to go for the whole lower body lift (you probably won't need it since you're a guy and like i said guys tend to gain weight mostly in the stomach only) the scars are much more intense. You may need an arm lift too, which leaves 2 major scars. Plus I've heard that the healing is very intensive. THe thigh lift is actually really painful because when you sit you are pulling on the wounds. Your skin will feel stretched too tight for awhile afterward until you adjust.

There are pros and cons to getting the surgery, but if you have the extensive lax skin that most of us who were morbidly obese have, it's really the only option. It's more reconstructive than cosmetic for us.

[ItsTheWooo]

You need to get with your Dr. Skin like that, that "folds" over, assuming thats what you have can cause skin infections. You might be able to get it covered that way. I know thats what I am going to have to do as well. At least go talk to your Dr, it cant hurt.

The places where my skin droop the most are areas where it's hard for this to cause an infection (arms, thighs). On my stomach, the laxity is relatively minor. Just my luck.

Do you know if discomfort is a valid reason to get insurance to cover it? When I sit or lie down I am often uncomfortable because the skin sometimes folds over... it's hard to explain but my loose skin does make me very physically uncomfortable. Plus there is the emotional aspect to putting in so much effort losing weight only to still have a physically unsightly body, but I doubt they care about my emotional hurts.

[ItsTheWooo]

BigDan, if you get rashes etc. under the skin folds, insurance should cover the procedure to remove it. I had a breast reduction 2 years ago, my primary complaint aside from back pain was horrible heat rash and other skin irritations. My health insurance covered the procedure 100% due to the skin problems, as well as some supplementary liposuction to give the end result a more natural look. I definitely suggest speaking with a knowledgeable plastic surgeon - most of them have a lot of experience working with insurance companies and know what most companies will and will not cover.
Do you know how much a consultation with a plastic surgeon costs? I am young and broke so I'm really strapped for cash right now :/.

[relliott1]

Woo, my consultation for my BR was free, although that may be because I then went ahead and booked the surgery and so the cost was absorbed. Call around to different plastic surgeons and see what sort of quotes you are given - most will then add that fee to the total cost if you end up doing the surgery. Insurance may also cover a consult.

As to your other question, pain or discomfort may very well be a reason for insurance to cover it. Between back pain and rashes, my insurance was satisfied it was medically necessary. They never even questioned the procedure. My doctor indicated that a lot of people have procedures done and covered when there is only pain involved. I think a lot of it depends on your insurance company.

[black57]

I have been thinking about this post all day and I think that there has got to be something that can be done. I feel that you should discuss this with your doctor and insurance company. You have already saved the insurance company money because you have improved your health. You saved them diabetic meds, heart meds and numerous other treatments thanks to your weightloss. This is called preventive medicine and at one time ins companies paid for that because it saved them money. Healthy weightloss saves insurance companies billions. Discuss this with them and see if there is something that they are willing to do.

Black57

[Moonwalker]

Wow only $6K, I was thinking about $20K+

Sorry to hear about you after effects, but I could live with that. I dont wish to be 158lbs though. I still like being a large guy. Im 6'1" and I looked sick at 199lbs so I gained 10lbs back. HAHA they will probably take that 10lbs off when they start cutting anyways.

How was your recovery?

No, only the Hollywood/Miami super rich celebrity area doctors charge that LOL. - Recovery was kinda rough, a lot worse than i was expecting.. but definitely worth it. The best advise i can offer is that after the surgery you better have a recliner to sleep on, because you wont be laying down flat for a long long time... it was about 8 months until i could completely lay down on my back without feeling any muscle pain or tightness.

[krs10ne]

The places where my skin droop the most are areas where it's hard for this to cause an infection (arms, thighs). On my stomach, the laxity is relatively minor. Just my luck.

Do you know if discomfort is a valid reason to get insurance to cover it? When I sit or lie down I am often uncomfortable because the skin sometimes folds over... it's hard to explain but my loose skin does make me very physically uncomfortable. Plus there is the emotional aspect to putting in so much effort losing weight only to still have a physically unsightly body, but I doubt they care about my emotional hurts.


Wooo, I am sorry I missed this, I havent read all the responses afterwards, I was so busy I couldnt get back to the computer. I highly reccomend anyone who needs this surgery and is uncomfortable, at least talk to your doctor. I know two people that have lost a significant amount of weight in just the last 2 years, that have had a tummy tuck because of this. Of course they had weight loss surgery to begin with, but, they got it all covered. It cant hurt to at least go through the process, a little time might save you alot of money.

This stuff kills me, some insurances encourage people to lose weight, but when it comes to stuff like this they resist paying.

[caligrrl]

Woo, the surgeon won't even consider doing surgery until your weight has been stable for a year, because the skin can improve so much during that time. So they would talk to you, but tell you to come back in a year, so it would be a waste of money. But, around here they charge between 100-300 USD for a consultation, which you can apply towards any surgery you eventually have.

[DWRolfe]

Excellent thread, people. Thanks for this information...

[BigDan]

HEHE not too bad for my 1st post ever :)