caleksa

These pictures were taken 2 years and 2 weeks apart. The first picture I was 3 months post op, 65 lbs down and feeling amazing. The second picture I am 2 years 3 months post op, 142 lbs down and there are no words for how I am feeling now. I am so glad I decided to begin theirs journey and take my life back!

Two year surgery anniversary yesterday, I am also 6 weeks post op for skin removal! Feeling and looking better then I have in 20 years!

I accepted the moment I made the decision to have my bypass (7/1/13) that I would also have a certain amount of plastic surgery after (5/21/15). I began this journey 2 years ago at almost 320 lbs. I got down to 195 and stalled. I held onto that weight and was thrilled for 8 months. I was so much happier and healthier. I was also working towards my skin removal. I knew I needed it, with or without insurance approval I was getting it done. My wonderful surgeon recommended that I not only get a panniculectomy (skin removal from the belly button down) but also an abdominoplasty (belly button up with the muscle repair) and circumferential lower body lift (360 degrees skin and fat removal). It is not uncommon for insurance companies to cover a panniculectomy when you can prove there is a medical need but the rest is very unlikely to unheard of. My doc felt with my situation he could make a good case so we went for it. We documented infection after infection and submitted a ton of photos. They came back with a yes to 2 of the 3 procedures. My surgeons office worked up a quote for my share of the third procedure plus a little light lipo under the chin and bra line. It was a no brainer for me, I had to make it happen. Before my surgery my doctor predicted he would be able to remove 8 lbs at most of extra skin and tissue. When I woke up he informed me it was closer to 15 (14.8lbs). Tonight I am 5 weeks post-op and I would do it again. I have had no major complications however I am still in a fair amount of pain and discomfort, especially at the end of the day. I have had a disappointing libido response but I am hoping that's because I am still healing. I am down to 178 lbs and I love the way I'm looking so far. I feel confident that at 8-12 weeks post op when I am released to really exercise, I will finally reach my goal weight of 165. We are all different and this weight loss effects each of our bodies very differently. I think it's important that you are happy with your own personal choices and who you have become. Christy

I am 1 week shy of the 2 year anniversary of my bypass and I'm gonna say yes to the increased libido. Day of surgery I was 317, I got down to 195 and held for 8 months. I am 41 and way passed the horny teenager stage of life, or so I thought. Those 8 months my sex drive just kept increasing and increasing. My husband, who I have been married to for 17 years, was beginning to struggle to keep up. I felt better physically and emotionally, I was a whole new person and we couldn't be happier. As you can imagine or maybe have experienced, with a 127 lb weight loss comes a whole lot of extra skin. I was very self conscious but my new needs were stronger. As many of us do, I started looking and praying for the day I could see a plastics doc. A very long story goes along with that part of my journey but I sit here tonight 5 weeks post op from a major plastics surgery. I had what they call a circumferential body lift, basically a tummy tuck that covers my entire abdomen, down to my pubic line and 360 degree around. I look like someone cut me in half, pulled all the skin tight and sewed me back up. I also added some light lipo under my bra line and chin. Before surgery my doc predicted he would remove between 5-7 lbs of skin and tissue. When I woke up he informed me it was actually 14.9 lbs. I am not one of those people who has bounced back and feel great. I have had zero complication (thank God) however the pain and discomfort have been off the charts for me. 5 weeks out I still have major swelling along my pubic line and my 2 remaining drain tubes are emptying between 70-90 ml of Fluid, daily, each. I did however wake up this morning weighing 178. With all this swelling and fluid still draining, I think I will get down a few more lbs before I can start exercising again at 8-10 weeks post-op. So circle back to the original topic, my sex drive is now 0. I went from wanting to have sex twice a day for 8 months to 0 desire. Anybody been through this? I hope and I pray my body is too busy healing to be bothered by pesky hormones but everyday that I don't feel "it"I get more and more worried. My husband has been so supportive and understanding, he tells me everyday how amazing this change has been and how hot he finds my new shape (I think that makes it worse). I've got my weekly appointment with my surgeon on Wednesday, I am going to have to break down and ask him, fingers crossed it's all part of the process and I didn't make a big mistake choosing plastics. Christy I've attached a side by side face shot of 1 week before bypass and 1 week ago and a silly selfie I took this morning.

This thread is what I've been searching for, I wish it was still active. So much good information! Is there anybody out there going through the plastics game now? I am 3 weeks post op today. I had a circumferential body lift also with light lipo under my chin and along the bra line. I am also 23 months post op from my ryn-y. I lost 125 lbs and maintained for 6 months before my plastics surgery. For my circumferential body lift I was under for 5 1/2 hours and my surgeon removed 14.5 lbs of excess skin and tissue during the procedure. Unlike most accounts I have read from people, I am really struggling with pain and discomfort. My surgeon assures me it's because I had so much removed and that I am doing fine but I still worry. I have also had pretty serious swelling along the pubic line, if I'm on my feet for more then 3 hours at a time it swells up an unbearable amount. I started off with 3 drains and I am currently down to 2. They are annoying but not painful. So far I am so pleased with what I see, the best decision of my life. Anybody else still taking pain meds regularly at the 3 week post op point? Christy

I am 10 days post-op and have 0 regrets. I had a panni, abdominoplasty, circumferential and a little additional lipo under chin and bra line. Tri-Care covered the panni and abdominoplasty. The original quote for all was a $12,300, my portion was $3,500. My surgeon told us that he removed 15.2 lbs in skin and tissue which he said was one of the most he's ever done. I'm still healing of course but I am so pleased with what I see so far. Everybody is different but for me the pain and discomfort have been the worse I have ever experienced BUT worth it. Admittedly, I am a big baby, I wish I was one of these people who felt great after the first week. My scar line is also very low, right along the pubic area so I have not posted pictures either. Christy

Mary- My surgery is next week, I am excited and nervous at the same time. How is the pain after yours and what did your surgeon give you to manage it?

I received my approval for both the panniculectomy and abdominoplasty. I was feeling very confident they would approve the panniculectomy portion but figured I would have to pay out of pocket for the rest. I am feeling very blessed for the dual approval, I know in today's TriCare would it's highly unusual. Surgery set for 21 May.

Hi! I am also Tricare Prime. When I had my surgery my surgeon charged me $500 for education classes and support that they insisted Tricare would not cover. I did not have any other costs. Honestly, I paid it because I was so grateful for being approved and what they were covering. Of course we PCS'd 6 months later so I never used the post op support that was suppose to be covered with the $500 and they would not refund me any portion when we got short orders. My surgery was 21 months ago and now I am struggling with getting approval for skin removal. The extra fee's I am looking at now are in the thousands not hundreds. Good luck!

I haven't been officially rejected yet, I am assuming. My doctor put the authorization in on Friday. I had the ryn-y 21 months ago and have maintained my 135lb weight loss for the past 6 months. I have the sores, rashes and infections. It's all very well documented by my PCM and now a surgeon. I have heard it's near impossible to get approved right out the gate so I am trying to learn as much as I can from other Tri-Care patience who have had success. We are active Prime but would consider changing to Standard if it would help my cause.

Hi Mary- Any advice on the appeal process with Tri-Care? How did you finally win?

Congrats on your progress! Shopping is amazing now, not a dreaded task! I'm 10 months post-op, 120 lbs down and finally fitting into a size 12. Still have 40lbs to go until I teach my goal but I feel amazing.

What pain medications have you had success with since WLS? I am 10 months post-op, I have lost 120 lbs and still have 42 to go. This week I ended up in the ER with ovarian cysts. Very painful. The ER doc is not real familiar with WLS and gave me pain meds that just aren't working. What have you had the best luck with?

Surgery Date: 7/1/2013 Surgery Weight: 317.5 Current Weight: 213.5 104 lbs gone!

Feeling amazing!