I am starting my hunt for a plastic surgeon so i may do my research on procedure and cost.I am wondering if any of you fellow WLS folks have either had plastics done ,what kind and by which surgeon ,were they good and if there were any complications.Please any advice and information would be greatly apprciated.
Thank you in advance

Hello

Depends where you live.  I live in Edmonton, and I have went to Dr Toy and Dr Davis.  Dr Davis also does Bariatric Surgery..he did my panni.  Dr Toy is a plastic surgeon (who also does pannies but wasn't available at the time I had mine done). Dr Toy has done revision to my pubis, and my right hip, also my inner thighs.

Highly recommend him.  He specializes in bariatric patients.

 Excellent thank you so much .. Definitely gives me a starting point :0)

Just so you know...pannies are covered through AHC...anything else usually isn't...the only way other parts of the body can be covered is if you had a panni plus something else...then you only need one anesthesiologist...they are the ones that bring the cost sky high lol.

Breast reduction is AHC covered...so even if you wanted that...a panni and something else...then it would be cheaper.

Hope that helps

 Hello everyone,
I was wondering what should I do to start the process and file to AHC?What should I ask the family doctor, my is a jerk and I think that he knows nothing, there is any specific document that he has to complete or what? Then after that what should I do? If anyone knows the step by step procedure to apply at AHC please post it. Thank you in advance

All you have to do is have your DR refer you to the weightwise clinic if you are in edmonton.After that there is a process that the weightwise staff will lead you through ...your DR may also start you on the required moduals you need to complete .As far as AHC ...you are covered automatically if you are a permanent resident.There is no hidden cost .

hope this helps
Have a great day

Oh also...

Revisions I had to the panni (publis and hip) were also covered under AHC...becuase they were a revision to the panni... ;)

 That's great to know .. Does the surgeon tell you that or they keep that info out ?

I was under he impression AHC covers panniculectomy, mons lift and breast reduction. Am I misinformed?

Mons lift isn't covered, but it kinda goes hand-in-hand with the panni.  As they are removing the skin, they are also lifting the mons area.  Some plastic surgeons may not do that, though.  Dr. Toy lifted mine and I had lipo to that area as well.

I hope this isn't too dreadfully personal to ask, but did you find that removing the panniculus and having he mons lift caused any loss of sensation in the area? I have no sensation in my lower abdomen as a result of 2 c-sections, so I can't help but wonder about that.

Not too personal at all, I had the fleur-de-lis so my incision goes from hip to hip and up the middle to just under my breasts.  I have lost all feeling on my incision line and about a cm or two to either side of it.  It doesn't bother me so much, it's not like there is really any "pleasurable" spots in that area.

Was it a very painful procedure.They dont cut into muscle do they? How about recovery time and abilities?

Yes, it was very painful, in my opinion more painful than my sleeve, but I had muscle repair and that's why it hurt so much.  I was very sore for 3 months or more and it gradually got better over time.  I had a weight restriction of 10 lbs for 2 months so not to strain my stomach muscles or pull apart my incisions.  Not everyone needs their muscles repaired, I think if you didn't need that done the recovery would be a lot easier.

Ouch i was hoping you  werent going to say that ...lol...but no pain no gain i guess.one more question ...how long do you have to be at goal before they will do your surgery ,or have they ever said?

Hope you have a super day

I wasn't at my goal weight but I had been stable for 6 months or so before I was given the referral.  I was at the weight the clinic wanted me to be at so they felt I was good to go.  I believe Dr. Toy has that requirement as well.

 I am from Calgary and have lost 142 lbs on my own thru mostly diet and a little excercise. I searched for a plastic surgeon to do a lower body lift, thigh lift and I will need my arms and breasts done as well.  I was unable to find one in my area that I was comfortable with so I started searching the states. I found one down in Los Angeles and have booked surgery for Nov. I am getting the LBL and Medial Thigh Lift. I will be under for 10 hours which is scary.  Of course I have to pay for it myself as I don't believe Alberta Health Care will pay anything. I have to stay down there for 2 weeks after my surgery before the Dr will let me go home. I have rented a condo. I am excited and scared at the same time. I would love to hear from anyone else who has gone thru this. 

Holy ...thats quite the trip ..i cant imagine this being cheap either.I admire your drive  Lynn .All the best to you and i hope all goes well.Let us know how it goes :0)

 Check with alberta health..... many medical procedures they will pay a portion of..... they quite often will pay what their cost is here in Alberta..... which is way less than private clinics elsewhere but every dollar helps
Not sure how to go about it, but when I was looking at out of province WLS they said they would pay a portion on approval after the surgery was completed..... I just called the alberta health info line 410-0000 and get the AHS extension

Good luck