Hiya :)

I recommend scheduling a consult with a surgeon who has experience with those of us who have lost large amounts of weight. Possibly more than one.

1. I can only tell you how I knew. I knew because my excess skin was making exercise annoying and I didn't want to deal with very compressive compression gear all the time.
2. Again, I can only tell you for myself. I knew because I loved my body and would be happy to stay the weight I was for forever. I also figured that the weight I had left to lose wouldn't make a huge difference and that I might need to have revision down the road. I accepted that. The timing for how it fit into my life was good for me.
3. I've never found a "real" name for the thigh lift beyond thigh lift. Arms are called "brachioplasty." I hate the term "bat wings." Like.. could we be more insulting to our bodies? :( The butt lift normally happens with a procedure called the "lower body lift."
   1. My surgeries were lower body lift + brachioplasty, upper body lift + mastopexy, and leg lift. I was in the hospital for one night after the first surgery and went home the same day for the others. Recovery times were 2 weeks of **** and the another 4 weeks of no exercise.
4. My surgeries were 6-8000 per procedure, with the lower body lift counting as two.
5. My insurance covered NOTHING. It's often determined by the employer.
6. I had oxycodone and valium post-op.
7. I recommend traveling to Washington DC for surgery with Dr. Michaels.

Hm, that's interesting. I figured with such a high output from your drain that you had, had lipo. I had both out at 8 days and they were outputting 15ccs or less each per day. My surgeon did say that having lipo increases drain output, which is why I asked.

Did you have a lot of lipo done?

Yup - I only have one and thought "wow I lucked out with only having one" but it's in the left groin and nothing but trouble lol

Interesting! I've had a number of friends tell me this is something they experience - sans weight loss, child bearing, or plastic surgery, and they've got perfectly flat stomachs. So I'm inclined to think that my hang is a natural body thing :)