Vanilla sky

Sherry, no my insurance did not pay for mine my husbands company quit carrying that as an option. I can tell you that when they did they wanted evidence that you needed one meaning documentation. #1 Start going to your doctor for every rash that you have. #2 ask for prescription cream instead of just using an over the counter one insurance will be able to see the script. #3 take photographs of any rash or irritated ares #4 Ask your doctor for a recommendation of a tummy tuck the Dr. will need to write a small letter and will know what to do #5 Make sure that you get a board certified plastic surgeon that deals with insurance they will also send a letter to your insurance #6 get started now most insurance companies want 3 to 6 months worth of documentation. You can call and ask your insurance if it's an option in your policy and what they need from you to get it approved. If they don't cover a full tummy tuck ask if they will cover the skin removal and you would just pay for the muscle tightening . If your insurance covers tummy tucks meeting certain conditions and they deny you, you can always appeal. FYI insurance company differ so make sure you check with them I could only answer with what my insurance wanted when the company had it as an option. Good luck I hope I have helped some.

highland, my surgeon says recovery can take 6-8 weeks I was very active and fit before the surgery and I'm only 2 weeks out from my tummy tuck and I believe it will take every bit of that time. FYI it can take up to a year for all the swelling to be gone but even so with the swelling my tummy ROCKS!!

You look great!

You look great! I need to post my before and after pictures too. I am only 2 weeks post op but like you, recovery has been much easier then I had thought it would be.

I am so glad your surgery went well! What do you think of your new tummy? I just love mine lol!

How is it lying if you just say thank you to someone who says you look like you have lost weight?

There was a show about Heart Attack Grill I watched it was very interesting. If you weigh over 300 pounds you get to eat free there everyday! They have a scale right up front that they weigh you on and everything. Sad thing is there were two friends who go there everyday for the free food it's a shame.

I prefer to be close to the lower end of the BMI scale. I used to think that there was no way that at 128 pounds I would look healthy and that the BMI scale doesn't fit everybody so I thought that being on the lower end of the overweight category would be fine with me. But when I really thought about why I was settling I realized that I was using "the BMI chart doesn't fit everyone" as an excuse to stay fat. Think about it years ago obesity wasn't all over the place and everyone was happy with the BMI chart clothes were smaller then. Now todays size 6 was yesterdays size 8. So I decided I wasn't going to settle and I went all the way. People tell me a lot that I'm so skinny and that I need to eat something but the funny thing is they are all overweight. Please understand that this is my opinion only that I apply to myself. The most important thing is that YOU are happy with your body and weight no matter what it is. I am only 34 and yes, I did get the deflated look in my face but that was fixed with Botox and fillers and I would take wrinkles over moon face any day.

Way to go congratulations!

Wow thanks guys for the congrats! Betheboo, I found when I was tight and working out I wasn't loosing the weight that I did when I started eating at least 1350 calories hang in there just keep doing what you know you have to do.

Sigh...... It does get better with time we have been overweight for most of our lives and so the tape has been set in our heads to play constant criticism on everything about our bodies. You need to change the tape you play in your head. It takes time but for everything negative you say about yourself you need to say something positive to reset it know what I mean? Just because a bad thought crosses our mind does not mean we have to sit there and entertain it catch yourself and immediately replace it with something good and it doesn't have to be about your physical appearance.

Tip #1 stay ahead of the pain set an alarm clock to go off when your next dose is and take the meds even if you feel good for the first 3 days. #2 buy baby wipes to wash yourself with for those days when showering is to hard #3 buy large unscented maxi pads to cover your incisions with they are more comfortable then gauze and it provides a cushion between them and your binder. #4 Allow others to take care of you! Its hard to do but do it your worth it. #5 drink lots of water, it take fluids in to push fluids out #6 take lots of photos and measurements before surgery #7 come to terms that this is a big surgery and it will take time to heal (I'm still working on this) #8 DO NOT WEIGH YOURSELF FOR 3 WEEKS after the surgery Hope some of these help :-)

I really feel for you and your situation I get it I've been there. I honestly think you should wait. I almost had my tummy tuck when I was 40 pounds heavier then I am now and I am soooo glad I waited ( I just had mine last Monday). I remember the doctor telling me that in most cases if there is a loss of 30 pounds or more you will have loose skin issues. An option would be to just have the apron skin removed, loose the rest of the weight then have the full tummy tuck but thats a lot of surgery and you need to look at the risks. I would advise you to invest in a pair of really good bike capris and prepare yourself for the surgery to come. You have done so well and I just know you will loose those last 80 pounds in no time! You will get there soon I promise. I hope I have helped a bit.

First off congrats on your weight loss! I had to loose 200 pounds and that left me with a lot of jiggling. i really got into running and my low point was when my I pod died durning my run and I could hear this slapping sound when I realized it was my apron slapping I was so embarrassed. I felt so powerful during my run and then that brought me down I went home and cried. So my husband decided that I have come to far and worked to hard to have that feeling taken from me that he rewarded me with a tummy tuck and I'm soooo glad I did it! If plastic surgery isn't for you they sell some wonderful compression garments on line or in any athletic store. But what ever you do don't stop doing what you love and makes you feel good rumba is such a fun way to loose weight.

You are spot on in your post! I had a plateau that lasted 5 months and durning that time I only lost 2 oz. But I knew that going back to my old ways would not make me loose weight so I kept doing what was right I went to the gym 6 days a week and I tracked all my food and BAM I lost 30 pounds in 3 months which put me bellow my goal weight I started at 328 pounds and I now weigh 129. I am glad I went through that plateau because its where I learned that this is what I have to do for the rest of my life it's a lifestyle change. Please don't get discouraged during plateaus use them as a time to get your head right!

For me my goal was to get to the lower end of my BMI. I was willing to give up whatever it took food and drink wise to get there and I did! I workout all the time now and I love it but I didn't at first but again it was what I had to do. So after all my hard work and sacrifices I made to get there my husband rewarded me with a tummy tuck that I had on Monday! IT WAS SO WORTH FIGHTING FOR TO GET HERE.

I got my band 2 1/2 years ago I am 5ft 7in and I weighed in at 328 pounds I was a size 26/28 and growing. I am now 129 pounds and wear a size 4 and possibly a 2 now that I had the tummy tuck. For me is was about the apron and rashes too but I also wanted the outside to reflect what the inside was like. The pain is completely controlled by pain medication and gets better everyday just make sure you stay ahead of the pain by setting an alarm clock that goes off when your next does is due. I do not work but I can see how people who do would want to take 2 weeks off but 12 days is pretty close would you be able to work maybe just a half day for 2 days to ease back into it? You won't be in pain but you will be tired. I came home the same day and I'm so glad I did I have a hard time getting rest in hospitals. My Lap Band surgeon was the one who changed my port, he teamed up with my plastic surgeon to do it. I highly recommend switching to a low profile port I can't even see mine now. I would be happy to post some pics this weekend and it's a good idea that you take a bunch of before pictures and your measurements you will want them later.

That movie changed the way my family and I eat forever! I think the best thing you can do for yourself if you haven't yet is to quit eating fast food. As you saw in the film it's not even food. My rule is if it flies in the sky, walks on land, swims in the water, or grows in the ground eat it! Btw you are already doing a great job keep it up. On a side note I have kept my surgery private and I worried about what other people were going to say when they saw the way I ate and most people never noticed.

I agree with the above post also try pumpkin puree with cinnamon or applesauce with cinnamon. By switching to plain you will save yourself a lot of unwanted sugars.

I would think that you have not effected the results of your tummy tuck. We gain weight all over and not just in one area. Also our skin stretched out because we were obese for years not just a little under a year. Don't worry about it you will look great!

I just had my tummy tuck 4 days ago and I had my lap band surgeon come in and switch me to a low profile port. Like you mine stuck out like a golf ball under the skin and even if the low profile port goes down by half thats good enough for me. As of right now there is only a little bit of swelling there and I can't see it. I am so excited for you!

I am 4 days post op from having my tummy tuck with a switch to a low profile port and a week prior I felt the same way you do. I have got to tell you this is one of the best decisions I have ever made! There is a website called tuckthattummy and there is a lot of information on there to help you get ready for surgery and what to do after surgery. Have your spouse or person who is taking care of you read it too so they know what to expect. I am so excited for you and please feel free to ask me any questions. As far as the anxiety of loosing your job possibly goes you cannot worry about something that has not happened yet you will only make yourself feel worse. Do what you said and give that to God I will say a prayer for you now

I always workout first thing in the morning but only after I have my cup of coffee.

Try splitting up your workout half in the morning and the other half in the afternoon-evening. When I was at a standstill weight wise I worked out 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the afternoon and then bam! I dropped 30 pounds in 3 months

Congrats! keep it up