iwalktheline

i am 2 years out and you need a magnifiying glass to see my scars. but @ 1 year they were still quite bright, so something must happen in the second year. now my problem is that my port is sticking out when i wear my work out clothes ( after losing all the weight its like this big thing in my stomach) geez it's always somethin with me but I cannot recommend lapband enough. it has cured my binge eating and changed my life. Ide ratherr die than have it removed.

congrats on getting the surgery. did you finance or pay cash? i am super interested b/c I want a TT BAD, my insurance will only cover panni, I want the cadillac of TT w/contouring and lipo. in Chicago it costs 6500. please post before and after pics. I will definately be wishing you well.

wow, what great advice. thanks so much for all the positive feedback. if I had listened to all the "nay sayers" when I was looking into my LB 2 years ago Ide still be sitting here completely miserable @ 80lbs overweight. I know that cosmetic TT is very rarely covered. but I guess I may have a very good HMO plan cause when I called to inquire they said it was covered after large wt loss. went to the MD today for a letter and referral to have a pann/tt done and he was more than happy to give it. he kept complimenting me on my hard work. I will now go see my LB surgeon who also does panni's and tummy tucks. he told me last year that he only does them after 1 year and when you are within 10lbs of your goal. so I need to lose 10lbs. QUICK!! I have done some more research and found out alot of PS don't like to do TT's for insurance cause they don't get the $$$$ like when paying cash. So i guess we will jus have to wait and see. this is important to me, but I always try and remember that there are so many people out there that have alot more serious medical problems than I do, I am lucky to have what I have.

hey mimi, did you have a basic panniculectomy or did you have a full TT?? just wondering cause I think your surgeon should fix that for you. take care

i think you must not have understood my post, I am not seeking major abdominal surgery to look cute in a bathing suit. I have huge amounts of abd flesh, that hangs off my small frame that I have to actually pick up and move when I sit down, get sore red skin i don't wear a strong girdle to hold it up and clearly looks like a disfigurment. I will stay positive and keep hope alive that I will get coverage for my panniculectomy.

i have an HMO that states they will cover any procedure an MD requests. that is how i got my lap band paid in full with a BMI of 35.so I have wanted to remove the excess skin around my belly , b/c I am pretty small under all the skin and have to wear spanx to fit in to clothes. so I called the PCP and got the referral to the PS office and called the PS this am and the receptionist said "Oh no one ever gets there TT covered. Even when your insurance says they cover it we will not submit unless you have skin hanging below your pubic hair." so now I am sad, cause I dont think the skin hangs that low. Can anyone give me some advice or help on how to handle this?? thanks. love to hear everyones stories too

i am a nurse, and i have seen pretty bad dog ears on patients that don't have lipo done during TT. i also have seen the upper abdomen get big while the lower stays flat, b/c no lipo was done. i just found out my HMO covers what ever my surgeon says I need. I had LB done 2 years ago (I paid $25.00) and work out 6 day a week, run 20-30 miles a week and am a size 8, but I cannot lose the abd flesh. I want to get the TT, but I am afraid of 1. Scarring 2. people think I am vain and crazy to have a TT 3. losing time at work taking care of my kids 4. not being able to work out. I guess Im just scared. does anyone have any suggestions about what I should do?? thanks much

yeh i have been dropping a size w/in 10 lbs. i am tall and muscular, i have been working out 6 days a week for 1-2 hours a day. i am in the 160's and i am wearing a pair of size 6 levi's right now. started w/size 18

I am 40 years old and just had a positive pg test after missing my period for 2 months. i already have 2 kids. i can barely pay the mortgage. i just started my life. felt like living again after being banded 7 months ago. lost 60 pounds. training for a marathon. no more depression. no more high bld pressure. now its over. my life is over!!! any supportive advice is welcome

i have been working out 6 days a week for 7 months now. (banded in feb) i work part time so that makes it easier but i do have 2 little kids so if you want it to work it can. my schedule" mon step and circuit training plus half mile swim tues step and weights wed run 6 miles thurs run to the gym and do boot camp class or spin fri step followed by half mile swim sat off sun loooong run (8miles) sometimes i bike to the stadium near my house and sprint up and down the stairs. everyone thinks im INSANE, but hey it makes me feel good my cholesterol is down from 260 to 190 triglycerides are from 190 to 90 doc is so happy w/me.

My goal is to run the chicago marathon in 2010. i started running after my band 7 months ago about a mile i now run 8 miles on my long run day.