Anyone had plastic surgery?

I have been watching the show "Big Medicine"  and alot of the bariatric patience have had plastic surgery to have excess skin removed.  I haven't lost all of my weight but I am just wanting to do my research. Any input would be great.

Hello,

Yes, I have had plastic surgery.  I have had a lower body lift and an inner thigh lift.    I started out at 550 pounds and now I am at 179 pounds. So I had alot of excess skin. I had both procedures done at Kansas University Medical Center~KU Med.   I am thrilled with both.  If you want to know more about either one, just email me and I would be glad to try and answer your questions.

Julie

Hello, this is for Sharlene and Barbara...and anyone else who might be interested. First of all let me say that YES I am thrilled with every inch of my Lower Body Lift and my Inner Thigh Lift.  I had them both done at KU Med (Kansas University Medical Center) by Dr. W. Thomas Lawrence. I found him on through the OH Plastic Surgeon  physician finder.  I love him! Okay, now, my insurance paid for everything.   Only because it was deemed medically necessary. I need both knees and a hip replaced.    The lower body lift  was a 10 hour surgery.  The incision goes all the way around my body. They start with the patien lying on your stomach, the incision goes around each side and angles down to right above your pelvic area.   You will have several drains...I had 6, ...2 on the left side by my ribs and 1 on the right side by my ribs.  then 2 on the top of my left thigh and one on the right.  These stayed in until I less than 30cc's of drainage in a 24 hour period.  You do come home with these and you have to empty them.  the ones in my thighs came out at about 3 weeks post-op and the ones in my side I had for about 42 days post-op.   FYI~ they do not hurt when they take them out either. Costs: Anesthesiology~ $ 1,700.00 Surgery~ $12,000.00 ***NOW COSTS YOU MAY NOT THINK ABOUT**** these figures are right off of my explanation of benefits: This is from the hospital Operating Room~$38,344.00    (10 hours) Recovery Room~ $1,500.00   (3 hours) Supplies~ $13,532.00 Blood~$8,106.00**   I needed 17 units of blood~ very Un-common for this surgery. Drugs/Pain meds~$9,064.00 Pathology~$9,000.00(aprox.) Inhalation therapy~$3,000.00 ICU~$11,000.00**Not everyone need ICU-this was due to my blood loss. ****Totals=$110,440.88**** I am sure that these totals will differ for everyone, I had ALOT of skin to remove! I hope this helps you and does not scare you. I have not received the bills for my Thigh Lift yet. If anyone is interested, that incision starts just below my knee on the front of my leg, goes around the inside of my leg to the center of the back of my knee and up the back of my leg, there are also incisions around my pelvic area~ like where the elastic would be on your underwear and actually this ws the area that healed first, absolutely no problems at all, with either surgery. This surgery I only had 2 drains, one on each side of my pelvic area and they removed them before I left the hospital.  This was a 4 hour surgery. Hope that I did not freak anyone out. Julie

Hi Julie: Thanks for the info. You didn't scare me at all. Good info.

OMG  (Oh My Goodness)!   I would be a self pay so it looks like I will wear long sleeves and long shirts the rest of my life. lol  Thanks for the info. Sharlene

Sharlene, Don't get discouraged,  do some checking around.   I need my arms and boobs done and will probably be a self pay on those.    Go to the plastic surgery forum and look aroung! Don't give up.  Where there is a will there is a way!!!! Julie

Thanks Julie, I will look around.  I have several months before my goal so I will take that time to research.  I will keep you posted.  You are my inspiration. Sharlene

Sharlene,   thank you, that is so nice of you to say.   I know that there has to be other options out there. Yes, keep me posted.  I will do the same, because I want to have my arms done and possibly a breast reduction/lift. which will more than likely I will be paying for out of my pocket. Julie

I had breast lift, and augmentation(under the muscle) with a tummy tuck last year in spfld, mo.  Cost total was $10,000.  This year I had a thigh, and arm lift and the total was $11,000, but it also included to lift my mons more.  I am very happy with both.  If you ever have questions feel free to contact me.