My surgery was done Feb. 24, 2006-my weight on that morning was 190. Medicare and Tricare for Life have paid for my surgery. (I paid upfront $3500 to get the surgery and promised to pay the whole cost $20,000 in the event neither paid.) This got me the surgery in any case and it was a risk I took.

My weight is carried in the stomach area, my legs and arms were rather slim, My stomach is slimming down, my tummy was droopy before surgery and it continues to do so. However the volume is much less and I can (while laying down) press the flesh down toward my nether regions and can picture the outcome of a paneculectomy. (sp) The droop is not getting lower because the mass is smaller. Yes, it did/does hide the nether regions but with the loss of weight I feel it may lift a bit but not enough to eliminate the droop to anyone's satisfaction.

I had/have sleep apnea and my CPAP is set at 16 which is high so may have helped in the decision making of to pay or not to pay by Med/Tricare

I also have high cholesterol and high blood pressure and difficulty in movement as most of us do. The stomach is a very bad area to carry weight because of the apple shaped syndrome of diseases. I had my gall bladder removed in 1982 and the scar is huge and did not interfere with the lapband surgery. It may however cause a problem with PS. We will see. My neck has slimmed down, my dowagers hump is lessening (for those of the older set). I am so very happy with lapband and wish I had the surgical option many years ago. It is noticeable to my family and friends that it is working. I promise to get the pics up soon. The post menopausal age group needs to see some results on droopiness in real time. My beginning BMI was 38.6 when I first went to a seminar to see if I was able to qualify. My problem I believe is that hospitals don't want to do Medicare because it doesn't pay enough. So my surgery date seemed like it would never be promised. Just like a carrot! Get the surgery any way you can!