Gastric Bypass Surgery Support Group
Gastric bypass (GBP) is any of a group of similar operative procedures used to treat morbid obesity, a condition which arises from severe accumulation of excess weight in the form of fatty tissue, and the health problems ("co-morbidities") which result. If you are considering gastric bypass or have had it, join the community where we share our experiences and find support.
Well it's been quite sometime since I last check in. Well as of today I am post- op 17 months. In January I had my year check up and I was weighting in pre-op 278 and now I am down to 145. All is going well I still don't eat as much. Just a spoonful or two of anything I get full very quickly. I am still doing protein as a meal replacement because I just don't get hungry. But my surgeon said I am good for my weight and to start living life. I also had a consult with a plastic surgeon to talk about the saggy and I mean saggy skin.. It's not bad but I lost a lot of weight I didn't realize I had a petite frame.. And it shows for sure. So I am considering plastic surgery. The surgeon as me what areas and I feel like everywhere... I have lost breast tissue so the girls are swinging low...lol. I guess is where I am trying to get at is will exercise help with the toning up.. Before i really decide about going through the surgery.. And by the way it's not covered by insurance which needs to change.. Because I get rash from time to time from the excess skin. Any words of wisdom is welcome.. Peace and Blessing!!!
JAA
You are an inspiration! Congrats on your amazing weight loss!
I thought I could maybe get away with belly only but the "girls" have changed density so much that when I lean over the pulling seems to be pulling muscle and it's painful.
Everything (and I mean everything) below the belly button needs "fixing" including "area 51' and the tops of my legs (which I thought were going to be ok but now sag).
I'd love to have my arms done but I would do those last.
My new reality.... but I'm off insulin so that makes it all worth it.
Some insurance will cover panniculectomies if there are documented rashes and many will cover breast reductions. However, I don't recall hearing of any insurance companies that will cover an actual tummy tuck (TT), which is what most of us need. A tummy tuck not only removes excess skin, it also repairs the abdominal muscles. With pregnancy and obesity, the linea alba (tissue connecting the left and right abdominal muscles) stretches. No amount of exercise can unstretch it.
If you have several areas with excess skin and you do go the plastic surgery rout, I highly recommend "staging" your surgeries rather than trying to fix everything during one surgery. Almost everyone I've known who have done multiple areas in one surgery have had complications. You'll have better results with multiple surgeries. I did mine in 4 surgeries...first a TT and breast lift. Then, 11 months later I had a posterior circumferential belt lift (butt lift). , I had a brachioplasty (arms) 2 months later. 5 months after that, I had my legs done. Yes, I'm still paying for the surgeries...but I get to live in a non-saggy body while I do!!
I am a firm believer in CareCredit - to paraphrase Joan Rivers..."I'd rather have a new body getting out of an old car, than an old body getting out of a new car." Personally, I believe my plastic surgeries are totally worth a car payment!
Feel free to look at my before/after pics and message me if you have any questions!
JJ