mrgrta

I had a pretty easy time with Aetna covering my lap band, however, a tummy tuck is not so easy. They only cover a panniculectomy, not a tummy tuck and even with that, you have to have documentation of rashes, treatment, etc. Your pannus also has to hang to a certain level below your pubis. I just gave up and decided to pay out of pocket.

Lellow, sorry you are having to deal with all the drainage. I met with my ps today and he said that seromas are actually not that uncommon for this type of surgery. If that is the worst thing that happens, I could deal with it. A small price to pay for having a flat tummy I guess. Hope you are doing well. Keep us updated. Cathy

Hi. First of all, congratulations on your weight loss. I am having a similiar procedure (circumferential tt, with the vertical incision and liposuction). My quote was for $10,500 and that includes everything. I won't be staying in the hospital though, going home the same day. That price also includes the compression garment and pain pump. I had another quote from a dr who wanted to do a breast lift at the same time and the price wasn't that much more, however, I felt this was too much surgery for one day, so I opted for just the tummy tuck. I have seen prices for what you are describing anywhere from $7500-15,000. Hope that helps a little.

What color is the drainage? It almost sounds like a seroma. I had the same thing happen to me after I had my spleen removed several years ago.

Wonderful news Juli. I can't imagine 18 pounds of skin. Once your swelling goes down, I'll bet you will be at or close to your goal weight. Congratulations. You have worked so hard for this!! Cathy

Lellow, you look AMAZING!!! I am having the same procedure done in a couple of weeks and I got so excited when I saw your pictures. I hope I look as good as you. Thanks so much for sharing. I have enjoyed reading your thread. Cathy

Good to hear from you Juli. Get lots of rest. I hope you are feeling better. Post the details of the surgery when you are feeling up to it. I'm curious!!!

Have you already had your lap band surgery? If not, it may take you at least two years to reach your goal weight. I personally would not invest the money in a tummy tuck if I knew I was going to have kids. My TT is costing me $10,500 and it is not something I want to pay for ever again. My abdominal muscles were stretched so bad after my last pregnancy that I have a 4 inch gap in the center of my abdomen. You may not ruin your results with your pregnancies, but why risk it? Just my two cents.

I am having my surgery on April 30th. I am having a 360 degree tummy tuck, fleur de lis, liposuction, hernia repair, muscle repair, and port revision. Surgery will be around 6 hours and my PS is sending me home the same day. I'll have a 45 minute drive home and then another 45 minute drive back the following afternoon to check the incisions. I'm a little worried about going home so soon, but he says most people do really well and are able to go home the same day. I hope this is the case. Congrats on your surgery. It sounds like you are doing really well. I will be anxious to see your pictures when you are able to post them. Take care and get lots of rest. Cathy

Congrats on your upcoming surgery. I like to visit www.makemeheal.com. This website is full of information and it has been very helpful to me. My surgery is scheduled for April 30th.

Juli, I am sitting here at work at 1:30am thinking about you and praying that your surgery goes well. Please let us know how you are doing when you are feeling up to it. I'm so excited for you!!! Cathy

I'm sending good vibes your way! You'll do great. This will be the icing on the cake after your fantastic weight loss. Will you have someone else at home to help you out after surgery? I can't wait to hear how your surgery goes. Mine will be April 30th. Cathy

Juli, I'm getting so excited for you! I think I would have died if my doctor said the word "tiny". You must be thrilled. Me, I'm getting excited, but nervous more than anything. Keep us updated. Cathy

Wow! Your time is almost here. I am getting nervous and excited for you. I can't wait to see your results. Cathy

An anchor tt is where they make the traditional bikini line incision along with an incision that runs from your breastbone down to your pubic bone. It looks like an inverted T or "anchor". It is supposed to help pull the skin not only from top to bottom, but from side to side and helps people with upper abdominal skin as well as lower.

I am debating on whether or not to get an unfill too. Does a port revision mean that the Fluid will be drained from the band automatically? If that's the case, I'm not sure I want a low profile port, but I will still need the port moved as it is sitting next to my belly button and the hernia that is going to be repaired. As for the unfill, I don't wear my band tight either, but I have problems every single month that I have my period. The band gets super tight and I can't eat anything but liquids or I'll PB. I certainly don't want problems after the tummy tuck, but I like my restriction where it is now (except for TOM). Cathy

Juli and Lellow, I'll be keeping tabs on both of you as well as it sounds like we are all having similiar surgeries. I am scheduled for April 30th for tummy tuck with 360 degree cut, vertical incision, liposuction, hernia repair and port revision. I wanted to have the surgery at the end of March or 1st of April, but trying to schedule the plastic surgeon and general surgeon together was difficult. My surgery is supposed to be around 5 1/2-6 hours. I am going home the same day and following up with my plastic surgeon the following day. I am going to be optimistic and try to get back to work after having 3 weeks off, but we'll see how that goes. I am not at my goal weight either, but this timing is right for me. I don't know if I'll post pics or not either. I am extremely modest!! It kills me every time I have to stand naked in front of the plastic surgeon! Cathy

LauraP- I will definitely be posting my experience on here. I plan to post some before pictures when I get a chance. I too am trying to lost another 10 pounds before my surgery date. I am exercising like crazy. nip50- My cost for the surgery is $10,500. That includes the 360 decree cut, the fleur-de-lis, and lipo, with muscle repair. That also includes anesthesia, hospital, and pain pump. It doesn't include pain meds or compression garment. The hernia repair and port revision will be covered by my insurance company. Hope that helps.

I am having the fleur-de-lis cut too. My surgery is scheduled for April 30th. I'm having a 360 degree cut across the bottom and then the vertical incision from my breastbone down to my pubic area. I'm also having a hernia repair and having my port switched to a low profile port. Estimated surgery time is a little over 5 hours.

Hi. My port is located exactly where yours is. I am having a tummy tuck in April with a hernia repair. Luckily, the surgeon who is repairing the hernia is also a lap band dr and he is going to move my port up higher near my sternum is also going to switch it to a low profile port. My plastic surgeon would not have been comfortable switching the ports out.

Great video!! I wish I lived in the New York area.

I am just wondering if most of you were at goal or pretty close to it before having your plastic surgeries. I am approximately 30 pounds away from my goal. I desperately need a tummy tuck. I have had 3 plastic surgery consults and really want to have the surgery late February or early March because I want to be healed in time for summer. (My kids and I spend a lot of time in the pool). If I don't have it done by then, I would have to wait until September to do it when the kids are back in school. I have been told that I have about 12-15 pounds of loose skin that will be removed with lipo and surgery. That would put me about 15 pounds from my goal. I really want to get it scheduled, but part of me feels like I should lose another 15 pounds first. If some of you could share your thoughts and/or where your weight was when you had your surgeries, that would be great. Cathy

I'm in the same situation as you are. I have to buy pants that are several sizes bigger to accomodate my hanging belly. Then they are too big in the legs and butt. If I don't buy longer tops to hide the belly then I look like I'm 7 months pregnant. It is very frustrating to say the least. I'm working on a tummy tuck late Feb/early March. I can't wait to lose this extra skin. Cathy

Hi. I am just now getting started into plastic surgery consults. I have seen one ps who recommended a circumferential tummy tuck with lipo and a breast lift. Has anyone had these procedures done at the same time? I am most concerned about caring for two kids afterwards. I have 2 boys ages 3 and 6. My husband can help for about 4-5 days, but then has to go back to work. Can anyone tell me how long it took to get back to "normal". I'm excited and scared at the same time. Cathy

Deanna, I'm sorry to hear about your husband. Mine was not very supportive of me either. I too have 2 small children at home. My mom drove me to the hospital and I had to stay overnight because the surgery took over 3 hours and ended late in the evening. When I was released the next morning, I had to go home and take care of kids because my husband had to go to work. Yes, I was a little sore, but it really was not as bad as I thought is was going to be. In fact, my doctor really encouraged me to go home and NOT be inactive. So taking care of the kids actually helped me to not just crawl in bed and sleep it off. My youngest son was still in diapers and I just set up a changing station on the floor because I was not allowed to lift him. I used to hear the same comments from my husband about not having enough willpower to eat smaller portions on my own. I decided I was having the surgery no matter what he thought. It has been 10 months and I've lost 65 lbs. I'm about 20 pounds from goal and already planning to have a tummy tuck and breast lift when I get to goal. I know these surgeries won't be as easy as Lap Band and I'm prepared to hire a nannny for a few weeks if I have to. My husband can't stop commenting on how great I look and how wonderful I'm doing with exercising, etc. I'm so glad that I didn't let his lack of encouragement and help stop me from doing this wonderful thing for myself. I would go ahead with the surgery. Just think how much easier it will be to find a great supportive guy after you lose your weight if you decide that you no longer want to be married. Just my 2 cents.