It has been three years since I had RNY surgery with DR. Nohr in Medicine Hat.  I would have done it sooner if I could.  After losing 100lbs I still have the extra skin hanging around my middle which looks like a big fat belly wich i cannot get rid of no matter what.  There is no way I can lose any more weight I have tried going back to 3 shakes a day and exercising and even that didnt work after a full month of trying.  I think because of where I work we are not able to eat on time or drink water when we are working, that may have something to do with it.  I see that everyone is doing well and wish I could manage to make it out to one of the meet and greets. 

And each day and week just keeps getting better and better. Hang in there! I'm 9 weeks post op yesterday and feeling great. Had my post op visit today and the doctor said "keep doing what you're doing."

Hey folks 

I know I won't qualify for Manitoba Health to perform any part of a tummy tuck because I have absolutely no issues with my skin. I have a quote from the plastic surgery center (The Ariel Center) that is affilitiated with the facility where I had my VSG in Tijuana, as well as quotes from two private plastic surgeons in Winnipeg who I saw today. 

Ariel Center in Tijuana:  Tummy tuck is $4995 (on special for $3995). However, after assessing the photos I had to send, I was recommended to also have the "love handles" removed. The fee for that is $6240 U.S. The compression garment is extra, as well as hotel accommodations (only $65/night) and of course the flight to get there. They recommend a companion for this surgery. Air fare for two is about $1500. (Air Miles could be an option, but the flight selections are horrible.) All told, with conversion to Canadian dollars, it's around $8650. That doesn't include meals or any other incidentals which would add at least another $500, so it would be around $9150 total.

I won't name the Winnipeg surgeons here, but PM me if you want to know. Surgeon #1 did my breast reduction surgery in 2001. He has many years of experience and is rated very highly in North America. Surgeon #2 is familiar to me from a hospital we both worked at 35 years ago in another province. I don't know anything personally about his plastic surgery outcomes since he wasn't specialized in that then, but he did a residency and has been doing plastic surgery for many years now.

Surgeon #1 does the standard abdominoplasty with some liposuction. The full surgery (above and below the umbilicus) is $8400. To have liposuction to the love handles on the back is an additional $1050, so $9450 for the full deal. 

Surgeon #2 does the abdominoplasty mainly by liposuction rather than surgical excision. Of course the skin is removed surgically. He won't do the love handles at the original surgery, so I don't know how much that would cost, but there would be some facility fees you would probably have to pay twice. His fee is $8557 for the full abdominoplasty.

So, in the big scheme of things, they are all within a few hundred dollars of each other. The cheaper cost in Mexico is made up in the cost of getting there, hotels, meals, etc.

I hope this answers questions for a bunch of us who have been curious about the cost if they have to pay out of their own pockets. I paid for the two consultations ($105 each) because I wanted more than one opinion. My husband is okay with me spending the money to have the surgery. It sure is a lot, though. 

That's awesome! I only met you at one M&G way back in November and you looked small then. Yay for you!