Meintraining

I am scheduled to have surgery in Nov. and I'm confused and feeling a bit conflicted. My insurance has agreed to cover the pani. I am paying the extra for the abdominoplasty and an upper thigh lift. The doctor tells me there will be a scar running down the center of my stomach in addition to the one that goes around the waist. I see a lot of pics here but I don't see anyone with a scar down the front of their stomach vertically. I'm not sure I want a scar that you can see like that. Also, I work out and I'm not sure I really need the muscles tightened. I would love some feedback on this. Thank you in advance.

I'm scheduled for an abdominoplasy so with great advise here I went to real self to look at pics. Now I'm even more stressed because I scrolled through a bunch of pics and don't see anyone with a scar vertically down the center of their stomach. Is it atypical to have that scar in addition to the one horizontally? Seems so. Does anyone here know the answer?

Thank you Michigan Chic for taking the time to respond. I guess I'm hoping for a miracle that my back will miraculously look better. So much work needed so little funds for it. I may need the inverted T after all. This has been so confusing.

Wow Broncos! Your doc sounds awesome. Does having a vertical scar bother you? Do you have pics

I'm just a bag of nerves. My surgery is scheduled for Monday. I still feel confused and constantly wonder if I'm making the right decisions. Here are my the thoughts that are running through my mind. 1. I was approved for a pani. I'm paying extra for an abdominoplasty. It's still close to 7,000. That's still a lot of money. I'm not staying overnight or that would be another 850 to 1,000. I don't understand why it's so much money if insurance is covering some of it. Doesn't an abdominoplasty negate the need for a pani anyways? Is the only difference between a pani and an abdominoplasty the muscle tightening? 2. I'm wondering if my back will be helped at all with the TT? I opted to not do the vertical scar down the stomach. I was dead set against it but now I'm having second thoughts. Is it too late to change my mind? This is a lot of money and probs a one shot deal for me. I just want to wear a 2 piece bathing suit but if I have hanging skin on my back then I won't be able to. Then I think why bother spending the money if I still don't like my body. As it is I'll have to wear shorts because of my upper thighs. I'm sorry for the ramble but I'm so nervous and confused. Thank you in advance for taking the time to read. I'd love any feedback or advise.

Jess and Michigan chick. I think I did miss what you where saying. Thank you for clarifying. I'm so appreciative for your feedback and for posting a pic. You look amazing!!!!!! So happy for you. You are rocking it!!!!! I have this perfection thing going on. Im at the gym all the time. My arms and legs armed ripped. I look so healthy but feel like such a fraud under the clothes. I feel like I have to be perfect. You are Helping me to realize I don't need to seek perfection like that. Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!! Broncos is love to see the pics!!!!

The only problem I've found with real self is there aren't many reviews on PS I'm going with. I just have to hope it works out. I wish there was a better way of knowing who is the best in their field. I'm very nervous because I canceled my original surgery because I wasn't 100% about him after I saw pics. I liked the pic I saw with the guy I'm going with but he doesn't focus primarily on WL patients. I think I could find something about any doc. It's a scary process and I hope I'm making the right decision!

So happy to hear you still rock a bikini!!! Looks like I'll never get to wear one ???? I work out so hard everyday it's a bummer to have all this extra skin. Oh well. Thanks for your honesty.

Hello, I wanted to post an update. I was originally scheduled to have surgery on 11/11. I cancelled it. It was such a hard decision for me because I was hung up on the date as 11 is my number. I see it everywhere. So I thought it was a sign to go with that doc. That's a whole other story. Anyway I chose to go with another doc. I hope I've made the right decision. My original surgery for an abdominoplasty and thigh lift was costing the same price I'm paying for just the abdominoplasty. I feel like if I don't do my legs I'll still never be able to wear a bathing suit. So I still struggle with my decision but at this point it is what it is. My surgery is scheduled for Dec. 21. I'm excited and apprehensive. I appreciate scamp and all the help from others. I will definitely get the tape and use it. Does the abdominoplasty help the leg area at all? Any lift? Maybe I'm just hoping against hope the answer is yes. Although I'm sure I may be fooling myself. I only have the very top part of my legs that are bad. Not sure if I'll ever be able to have another surgery financially so this may be it for me.

Such a HUGE help as always!!!!! Thank you so much Scamp!!!!!! You are awesome ????

Scamp for the tape. How did you use it? Along the length of the scar of across it to hold it together

Scamp thank you so much for your response! I truly appreciate it and needed to hear it ????????

I cancelled my surgery for Nov. 11th. He did agree to not give me the inverted T but I was not too impressed with his pics. I'm both relieved and bummed about canceling as I was really looking forward to it but I need to go with the other doc. Only problem is I can only afford the TT with the other doc for the same price. I hope I'm making the right decision.

Anyone here from Boston? Who is the best plastic surgeon?

Hello Jess, Thank you for your response. I got a price of almost 23 for stomach, thighs and breast. It is almost 8k for stomach and thighs at first doc but first doc wants to do the T and creates a new belly button while the 2nd doc will use my existing belly button and no T. His price includes a breast reduction. So I'll have to call them back and get a price for just the Pani which my insurance covers and maybe save up for the other stuff. There was a review on real self that was not so favorable for the first doc so I am kind of freaking out.

Yes I can do part. That's what I'm doing on the 11th if I go through with it. As it is I'm borrowing the money. I don't have pics myself. I need to take some.

I'd like to see another doc at the same place but worry that would be awkward.

Hello Scamp I've been writing to you under the other thread too ???? Thank you for the link to the tape. I am more confused than ever. The doc I originally chose is not who I really want to go with but it's affordable. Whereas the other doc is not even possible. ???? The doc today said I don't need the T. He also told me I would have to have implants if and when I do breasts but this other doc said he could use the excess skin and no implants are needed. I got a much better feel with the doc today but the price is out of sight. I'm literally sick to my stomach. I already paid for the surgery I'm scheduled for on Nov. 11th.

This doc was amazing. He told me the scar down my stomach is not necessary. He also said I don't have to have breast implants and explained the whole thing because I wanted to know what he thought. The doc I first went to said I had to have implants. I loved this guy but the price was insane!!!!!!!!!! So here I sit. Do I go with what I can afford? Do I do nothing? I just don't see how I could ever afford this guy. I'm so bummed!

Scamp your so great to answer and share it is much appreciated. Wow the scar that you used the tape on looks great! Where do you get the tape? If you had to do it again would you wish you didn't have the vertical scar?

Scamp thank you so much for taking the time to respond. I'm actually sitting in a waiting room right now for a second opinion. However my appointment was scheduled for 10:15 and it's almost an hour later and I'm still sitting here. I'm such a nervous Nelly and this is such a big decision. This will be interesting. I just want them to take the time to answer my questions.

Thanks Jess for your response ????????

I have BCBS also. They approved a pani. I am paying extra for TT and upper thigh lift. My thighs are not bad just some yucky skin top of the legs. They won't tell me what the insurance is paying for the pani. I'm paying 7,515 out of pocket. I have no prob posting cost. I feel it is helpful to those looking and researching. It has been so hard trying to research. I for one would like to know if this is a competitive price. It took until I had my surgery date until they gave me the price then only gave me a week to come up with the money to hold the date.

I am scheduled to have a tummy tuck 2nd week in Nov. already went through all the steps and had my pre surgery appointment. I still have questions though so I'm going to a different hospital/doc tomorrow to see how they do things. Here's what feels weird to me. During my first appointment they told me I had to wait 4 weeks because you have to be at the same weight for 6 months and be a certain amount of time after WLS. I wondered why they didn't tell me that when I scheduled the appointment and before I wasted everyone's time. I also asked to see prices and pics but they told me we could discuss all that when I come back next month. Pricing would be helpful as I needed to know if it was even feasible but uhm ok. So I go to the next appointment. They still don't give pricing as I have to wait and see if I get approved by insurance etc. I ask to see pics but doc is in and out in 2 seconds. When talking to nurse she tells me only doc can show pics I'd have to schedule an appointment. Really? So next step is wait for response from insurance company. So I wait and wait and I finally get approved and when I ask how much the surgery costs they tell me they can't tell me as it's an agreed upon price between insurance and hospital. I'd have to call ins. Company. I got approved for a pani but have to pay the extra for a TT and upper thigh lift. So now they finally give me a price for the additional work and give me a week to pay if I want the surgery date they've given me. Gee, thanks for the heads up. They give me a date for my pre-op and anesthesia appointment. When I call to again request to see pics they tell me the docs nurse can't show me the pics. Only the doc can. So they keep my anesthesia appointment which was last week but change my pre op appointment with their office to Oct. 30th. Which is on 12 days before my surgery. It just feels like I've been pulling teeth with these peeps. Tomorrow I go to a totally different hospital to see what they say but I'm afraid iv already gone to the pre op etc that insurance won't pay if I decide to switch. If anyone actually stuck around long enough to read this novel thank you. What do you think? Do you find this odd? Has anyone else experienced this?

Thank you for your response Sara. The plastic surgery thing has been interesting. Hard to find info on who is the best or what makes them good etc. I have an appointment tomorrow with a different hospital. It will be interesting to get some alternate input. I hope it won't feel like pulling teeth when I ask for prices and pics.