Attention ! Australian Sleevers

[ausmith 374]

Hi everyone, I have done nothing but read through this site for the last 2 days and finally caught up with what each of you have been through and what you have achieved. All of you are inspirational.

So where to begin ? My husband and I have been livinging in Singapore for a few years because of his work commitments. We are both extreamly overweight with shocking BMI's. because of his position here we both have top medical coverage. After lots of soul searching and research, we decided that we would both get sleeved ! Yeah felt so good to make the decision together to get healthy for the last time. First step ensure we were covered by insurance. Not a chance ! Considered to be cosmetic surgery here. Desperate to have the opp now after all the time we took to decide, so we said okay let's pay for it, this will increase both of our lives. Not a chance! The first thing every single surgeon wanted to know before they had even met us was what Nationality ? The minute they new we were expats the dollar signs clicked over and the cost was going to be 30k each. I can not tell you how devastated we have been.

Left it alone for a few days and have now come up with another plan ( will not let this beat me now we are committed)

I called our medical insurance company in Aus and asked them if they covered the opp tick. Also asked if I release the suspension we have on our membership how long would it be before we could have the opp, " as soon as we can org it " yeah. This will mean organizing everything from here and returning to Aus 1week before opp and returning to Singapore 2 weeks after but I'm okay with that. Long way still to go but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It will mean we have to continue to pay 6 mth worth of medical insurance once we leave before we can suspend it again but that's a small price to pay when you consider the 60k it will cost us here. I'll keep you updated, sorry about the life story I just needed to vent.

[kelliv 659]

Hi everyone' date=' I have done nothing but read through this site for the last 2 days and finally caught up with what each of you have been through and what you have achieved. All of you are inspirational.

So where to begin ? My husband and I have been livinging in Singapore for a few years because of his work commitments. We are both extreamly overweight with shocking BMI's. because of his position here we both have top medical coverage. After lots of soul searching and research, we decided that we would both get sleeved ! Yeah felt so good to make the decision together to get healthy for the last time. First step ensure we were covered by insurance. Not a chance ! Considered to be cosmetic surgery here. Desperate to have the opp now after all the time we took to decide, so we said okay let's pay for it, this will increase both of our lives. Not a chance! The first thing every single surgeon wanted to know before they had even met us was what Nationality ? The minute they new we were expats the dollar signs clicked over and the cost was going to be 30k each. I can not tell you how devastated we have been.

Left it alone for a few days and have now come up with another plan ( will not let this beat me now we are committed)

I called our medical insurance company in Aus and asked them if they covered the opp tick. Also asked if I release the suspension we have on our membership how long would it be before we could have the opp, " as soon as we can org it " yeah. This will mean organizing everything from here and returning to Aus 1week before opp and returning to Singapore 2 weeks after but I'm okay with that. Long way still to go but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It will mean we have to continue to pay 6 mth worth of medical insurance once we leave before we can suspend it again but that's a small price to pay when you consider the 60k it will cost us here. I'll keep you updated, sorry about the life story I just needed to vent.[/quote']

Hi and welcome. This sounds like a great plan and much more affordable for both of you. How exciting that you will have the operation at the same time and both experience the benefits together. Have you decided who will do your surgery and have you contacted them regarding pre op requirements such as a psychologist and dietician consultation? I winder if you will need to see the surgeon before the surgery or if they will book you both site unseen. You will need to obtain referrals from a GP in Australia to a surgeon too. You may need to come back for a brief visit to get everything organised? At least afterwards you will be able to have a holiday as the recovery is really easy. Very excited for you both and we loom forward to an update from you when you have further news.

[kelliv 659]

Hi everyone' date=' I have done nothing but read through this site for the last 2 days and finally caught up with what each of you have been through and what you have achieved. All of you are inspirational.

So where to begin ? My husband and I have been livinging in Singapore for a few years because of his work commitments. We are both extreamly overweight with shocking BMI's. because of his position here we both have top medical coverage. After lots of soul searching and research, we decided that we would both get sleeved ! Yeah felt so good to make the decision together to get healthy for the last time. First step ensure we were covered by insurance. Not a chance ! Considered to be cosmetic surgery here. Desperate to have the opp now after all the time we took to decide, so we said okay let's pay for it, this will increase both of our lives. Not a chance! The first thing every single surgeon wanted to know before they had even met us was what Nationality ? The minute they new we were expats the dollar signs clicked over and the cost was going to be 30k each. I can not tell you how devastated we have been.

Left it alone for a few days and have now come up with another plan ( will not let this beat me now we are committed)

I called our medical insurance company in Aus and asked them if they covered the opp tick. Also asked if I release the suspension we have on our membership how long would it be before we could have the opp, " as soon as we can org it " yeah. This will mean organizing everything from here and returning to Aus 1week before opp and returning to Singapore 2 weeks after but I'm okay with that. Long way still to go but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It will mean we have to continue to pay 6 mth worth of medical insurance once we leave before we can suspend it again but that's a small price to pay when you consider the 60k it will cost us here. I'll keep you updated, sorry about the life story I just needed to vent.[/quote']

You will also be out of pocket for gap fees between $5,000 - $6,000 each, as private medical and medicare don't cover everything unfortunately, but it will still work out cheaper for you both. Maybe you can negotiate a special two for one deal with your surgeon???!!!

[kelliv 659]

Hi everyone' date=' I have done nothing but read through this site for the last 2 days and finally caught up with what each of you have been through and what you have achieved. All of you are inspirational.

So where to begin ? My husband and I have been livinging in Singapore for a few years because of his work commitments. We are both extreamly overweight with shocking BMI's. because of his position here we both have top medical coverage. After lots of soul searching and research, we decided that we would both get sleeved ! Yeah felt so good to make the decision together to get healthy for the last time. First step ensure we were covered by insurance. Not a chance ! Considered to be cosmetic surgery here. Desperate to have the opp now after all the time we took to decide, so we said okay let's pay for it, this will increase both of our lives. Not a chance! The first thing every single surgeon wanted to know before they had even met us was what Nationality ? The minute they new we were expats the dollar signs clicked over and the cost was going to be 30k each. I can not tell you how devastated we have been.

Left it alone for a few days and have now come up with another plan ( will not let this beat me now we are committed)

I called our medical insurance company in Aus and asked them if they covered the opp tick. Also asked if I release the suspension we have on our membership how long would it be before we could have the opp, " as soon as we can org it " yeah. This will mean organizing everything from here and returning to Aus 1week before opp and returning to Singapore 2 weeks after but I'm okay with that. Long way still to go but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It will mean we have to continue to pay 6 mth worth of medical insurance once we leave before we can suspend it again but that's a small price to pay when you consider the 60k it will cost us here. I'll keep you updated, sorry about the life story I just needed to vent.[/quote']

You will also need to allow for gap expenses of about $5-$6,000 each as private medical and medicare don't cover everything, but it will still work out cheaper for you both. Maybe you can negotiate a two for one deal with your surgeon??!!

[ausmith 374]

Hi Thank You, so excited. I have sent email to Dr Reg Lord at St Vincent's and Craig Taylor at O Cinic in Sydney as that is where we are from. Explaining our situation and all of our details weight, BMI'S etc and asked them to contact me. I suggested that we were both due for full yearly medicals here. So if they could tell me what bloodwork they need or scans we could have them done now and email them to them. Also suggested maybe a Skype appointment with the surgeon, nutritionist and either see a psychiatrist over here or also by Skype.

That was 2 days ago still no reply, I'm just hoping they get back to us one way or the other. So I can investigate others or come up with something else.

[ausmith 374]

Didn't think to negotiate but yeah I'm hoping to stick to 6 each as I have to add the cost of flights and 6mths of insurance.

[kelliv 659]

Hi Thank You' date=' so excited. I have sent email to Dr Reg Lord at St Vincent's and Craig Taylor at O Cinic in Sydney as that is where we are from. Explaining our situation and all of our details weight, BMI'S etc and asked them to contact me. I suggested that we were both due for full yearly medicals here. So if they could tell me what bloodwork they need or scans we could have them done now and email them to them. Also suggested maybe a Skype appointment with the surgeon, nutritionist and either see a psychiatrist over here or also by Skype.

That was 2 days ago still no reply, I'm just hoping they get back to us one way or the other. So I can investigate others or come up with something else.[/quote']

Sounds like a good plan. Hopefully you will hear from one or both of them soon.

[Lissa_S 787]

Hi all! 19 days til my op! So exciting! But got a little disheartened when I visited my new dietician on Tuesday (I moved so had to find a new one) and was told that my goal to get to 80kg was a bit optimistic I'm currently around 145kg and 174cm tall. She said that from data taken from patients shows that I'm likely to get to 95kg.

Anyone out there lost big numbers? I totally want to prove her wrong but am secretly now worried I can't make 80kg

Please make me feel better lol

Donna xo

PS love reading about everyone's journey on this thread!

Hi Donna- I was 173kg at surgery on 4 September last year. I am now 89 kg- so a loss of 84 kg in (almost) 12 months. My dr had a goal for me of 93 kg and she thought it would take 18 months I see her in four weeks so she should get a nice surprise. I plan to lose another 10 kg and then see how I feel but would like to get to 73-75 kg in the end if I can but will let my body dictate that a little and see where I am comfortable hope that helps!! Cheers Liss

[Scotty75 68]

10 months after surgery, getting there. I am now planning surgery, body lift and legs.

[kelliv 659]

10 months after surgery' date=' getting there. I am now planning surgery, body lift and legs.[/quote']

Great transformation Scotty but it doesn't look like you will need much corrective surgery. I have heard you should wait for up to two years before additional surgery to sculpt as it takes a while for your body to reach it's final state. I would like a inner thigh lift and mini arm lift, but won't look at it seriously for at least another year.

[Dons2.0 39]

Hi All,

Thanks heaps for the encouragement and letting me know it is totally doable but I will aim for 95kg and go from there.

Can't wait to begin!

Donna

[Scotty75 68]

Thanks Kell, it will be about 18 months by the time I have surgery. I had a good photographer to hide my extras lol. It's my final chapter in my life change and ill be glad to be happy with the skin I'm in.

[Sydney Susan 333]

I have sent email to Dr Reg Lord at St Vincent's and Craig Taylor at O Cinic in Sydney as that is where we are from.

Craig Taylor was my surgeon and I was/am v happy with my choice. I don't know him personally or a lengthy history of his work - just got his name off the web, rang his office (and others) and liked what i heard.

He is quite conservative - all patients in hospital 4 nights with excellent preventative care re clots and leaks, and I thought that was terrific. I've needed major surgery before and have experienced both good and bad, and felt well cared for on this occasion - which was v important to me. I've read hundreds of posts on this forum and I'm yet to be convinced that a short hospital stay is right for anyone with this op. From my experience he doesn't charge any more than others ($5K out of pocket), despite providing more hands-on care in that first week.

I disagree that recovery is "easy", or rather that you should expect it to be. Although personally I had no complications and breezed through the whole thing, it's a BIG op and there's definitely the potential for things to go wrong occasionally, so best to be in a good hospital with excellent care close to hand. I chose Mater but Craig Taylor works out of other hospitals too. Mater is closest to his rooms (just round the corner). His fees include dietician and psych - not sure how many visits but I've had 3 and 1 respectively so far, in 4 months. Anaesthetist fees and all hospital pathology also included.

Congrats on your decisions and good luck with it all. PM me if you want any more info on my experience.

[ausmith 374]

Thanks Susan that's fantastic information. I'm just waiting to hear back from him and to find out if he can work with our situation.

How long after your first appointment with him was your surgery ?

[sueoco 509]

Dons' date=' I started at 150 kgs and before the plastics I landed in the 77-79 range, so 80 is definitely doable. I was aiming for 80 at first as well.

I did have almost 5 kgs of skin that was removed, so will be interested to see where I land now.

Thanks Ali <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

I.caught a glimpse of my arms today in the mirror while changing the compression garment, they are still puffy and bloated, with no bat wings hanging down...they look just normal..yehaaa...I have never had normal arms.

I am still carrying a fair bit of Fluid and draining a fair bit of stuff still so will see where my weight lands during the next week.

I am getting to go home from hospital today but still have 4 drains to monitor. But better than 4 more days in hospital[/quote']

Fantastic! I am so happy for you! I bet you can't wait to jump on those scales! Don't be too disappointed if it isn't as low as would hope -like you said you are still full of fluid!

You will be out shopping for new clothes in no time!