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For what it's worth, it didn't even cross my mind that I'd want reconstructive surgery after losing weight. That was something that "other people did." :P Especially since I was never bothered by how my body looked, before or after the weight loss. I was just annoyed with how it functioned!
It's hard to be prepared for anything, eh? :)
VSG with Dr. Salameh - 3/13/2014
Diagnosed with Binge Eating Disorder and started Vyvanse - 7/22/2016
Reconstructive Surgeries with Dr. Michaels - 6/5/2017 (LBL & brachioplasty), 8/14/2017 (UBL & mastopexy), 11/6/2017 (medial leg lift)
Age 42 Height 5'4" HW 319 (1/3/2014) SW 293 (3/13/2014) CW 149 (7/16/2017)
Next Goal 145 - normal BMI | Total Weight Lost 170
TrendWeight | Food Blog (sort of functional) | Journal (down for maintenance)
That makes sense, I didn't think about it like that. I'm probably just a little overwhelmed. It's just REALLY starting to sink in about what's going to be happening. And I am finding new things I haven't though about before joining this online group. I like that advice to start saving now. If I don't use it, I could go on a nice vacation!
Hi there.
I think you might be getting a skewed impression. The number of people who lose massive amounts of weight, and maintain, is pretty small, and the number of -those- people who pursue reconstructive surgery is pretty small. So it's probably not as common as this forum makes it out to be!
I didn't develop any rashes with my weight loss, but I also wouldn't say I had reconstructive surgery for cosmetic purposes. I had it because my excess skin was impacting my ability to do the things I wanted to do - like jumping jacks. Even running wasn't comfortable due to the excess skin and compression gear only helped so much. And then, the big thing, I could adjust my finances to be able to pay for it.
You may or may not have excess skin, it may or may not bother you. You can start saving money now, just in case, and if you find you don't want plastics... hey, new car! Or vacation. Or whatever!
VSG with Dr. Salameh - 3/13/2014
Diagnosed with Binge Eating Disorder and started Vyvanse - 7/22/2016
Reconstructive Surgeries with Dr. Michaels - 6/5/2017 (LBL & brachioplasty), 8/14/2017 (UBL & mastopexy), 11/6/2017 (medial leg lift)
Age 42 Height 5'4" HW 319 (1/3/2014) SW 293 (3/13/2014) CW 149 (7/16/2017)
Next Goal 145 - normal BMI | Total Weight Lost 170
TrendWeight | Food Blog (sort of functional) | Journal (down for maintenance)
Hello, I always thought eggs had more protein until I looked the other day. I have now incorporated 3 protein shakes a day into my food on top of a high protein diet. I am 12+ years out from my bypass and can not seem to absorb the protein. So, I am now faithfully making sure that I am getting around 150 grams or more a day. I will get my blood workup done in a month and see if that has made a difference. I also did some research that said that probiotics help with absorption of protein and chewing your foods well. I also just started yoga and am hoping that this added protein can help me start to rebuild all of the muscle that has wasted away
Tammy
Hello again. As I've stated in the general discussions forum, I am new to obesity help. I won't be ready for surgery until June/July. I've been looking through the posts here. I didn't realize that plastic surgery was so common. I know my insurance will cover PS if I develop rashes and what not in the skin folds, but is that very common to develop rashes? Do most people do it for cosmetic reasons, skin issues, or both? (no judgement either way). Is loose skin worse if you loose a lot of weight really fast, or if you have a larger amount to loose? I will probably loose around a hundred pounds. According to the BMI I need to loose about 190 lbs, but I just don't think that would make me look healthy. I'm 330 now and BMI says like 140-175 (I'm 5'10") with my surgeon saying closer to 140. I was 175-190 from about middle school through age 18. I've thought about my boobs sagging, but I didn't really think about all my other parts. Should I prepare myself a lot of loose skin? I'll talk to my team about it at my next appointment, but reading through some posts have got me thinking. Anyone around my size before surgery? How did your body look with the weight loss? Does my height give me any advantage in the loose skin department?
Thanks for reading,
Amanda
You should get one included in with the price of the surgery. I did for my thigh lipo. I did not get another of the heavy duty Stage 1 recovery bottom garments because after a few days I would wa**** and put on spanx for a few hours while it dried. My breast reconstruction was different - I got another vest end wore it for 6 months or so (switching off).
Ask your PS - at the last pre-surg appt, they measured me for the garments they would put on me at the end of surgery. I would think that the drs get a volume discount
Also check for any lotions that you should apply. Straight Vit-E oil was good and Dr Michales gives some silicone lotion with sunscreen.
Sharon 
No info on Dr McCurry, however Dr Michaels in the DC area treats WLS people from all over. He does phone consults - email neck-down photos and discuss what you want and what he thinks is possible - travel to see him if he makes sense.
After I had a phone consult with Dr Michaels, I cried for over an hour, with relief to think that finally someone could take care of these problems. I needed reconstructive as well some cosmetic surgery. And it took two surgeries, so he knows how much can realistically be done at one time to get good final results.
Sharon
Many insurance plans cover complications from PS, even if not the basic plastic surgery. You might want to check yours so you know the cost of having another PS back in Idaho do the follow-up if there are complications. If you go to an ER, they will treat you and keep you alive, but then if you need additional work done by a PS, they will expect payment before taking you on.
I had my PS done by a US PS specializing in post WLS work. Dr. Joseph Michaels in the DC area. For many of the same reasons as catwoman7.
Sharon
My PS wanted me to be at 100 gms protein a day for the 2-4 weeks before surgery to help promote healing. How much are you getting?
An egg only has 6 gms of protein, so are you getting another 64gms a day?
https://www.google.com/search?q=protein+in+an+egg&oq=protein+in+an+&aqs=chrome.0.0j69i57j0l4.2838j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Sharon
Arms, breasts, and extended tummy - all in one surgery, and paid a little more than $27k. Lord, I feel light-headed typing that!!! It's true that we pay for our overeating in SOOOO many ways... ?
donnaloza · 1 replies · 323 views
