I see a lot of questions about this topic, and how to get insurance to pay.

The key is a matter of semantics and coding.

Thighplasty is a cosmetic surgery procedure that tightens skin and underlying muscle. Most insurance will not pay for it. What I had, skin excision is a procedure to remove excess/redundant skin. In my case, it was paid for because of the constant skin infections and other issues.

Different procedures, different codes.

I'm currently on disability, and my skin reduction was paid by the state and Medicare.

Today, I got a phone call about a job opening in my field (broadcast journalism) that I didn't even apply for.

One of the people there had seen my posts and read my blog, and asked me to apply.

The two things I'm worried about - my age (57 this month), and the length of time I've been out of work. 

It's been 15 years since I last practiced .  I've kept up with the changes in the industry, but we have a powerhouse college here - University of Notre Dame, and most of the broadcast job candidates come from there.  I have a BA from Indiana University.  It pales in comparison around here.

I checked out surgeons online, and took cards from my DS surgeon's office. 

I checked locally and found one, but we decided we couldn't work together.

I picked a surgeon, then he decided to retire at the end of last year.

He referred me to a colleague, I believe a former student of his, and that's how I decided.

I didn't consider scarring at all, because my skin is prone to hypertrophic scarring and

hyperpigmentation, so I knew it would be something I'd have to deal with later, no matter who did the

cutting!

Emphatically YES!!!

For the first time in my life, I can eat like a normal person, and not worry about gaining weight!  In fact, I eat more now to maintain my weight than I did when I was SMO.  A DS in overdrive?  Maybe. I get my protein in and I take my vites. As long as my labs look good, I don't worry, and follow the dietitian's recommendations based on those labs.

To that I say:  Drive on !!!

I'm no expert on this, but I would think it would depend on the severity of the mental health issues.

If it has been a cause for hosptialization, and you have records that bear this out, it's a long shot, but I would submit that anyway, along with any physical effects you are having.

I knew beforehand that I would not scar well, since I have a tendency toward hypertrophic scarring...I heal *too* well, and too fast.

My PS gave me a silicone gel preparation called New Gel + E, but does anyone have something that worked well on scars for them?  Not necessarily prescription, but something you might have gotten OTC that worked well.  Already got Vitamin E oil, pure cocoa butter and pure shea butter.

My insurance is covering skin removal from my thighs.  It is excision only, and not a "lift" or thighplasty per se. 

It is a medical necessity, and that's the only reason my insurance is paying.

Some insurances will pay for "lifts" under medical necessity, if that's the only way to accomplish removal of the excess skin, but mine won't. 

Really it's OK with me - I just wanted the flapping to stop, and after my surgery on Friday (5/16/14), that will be accomplished.

I would rather do most of the contouring through muscle building anyway, once I'm healed.

Consider that blood vessels and lymph channels have been cut during surgery, and it takes time for things to get back to the way they were.

Deep healing is still going on at 9 months.  I had my calf swell up on me after 1st stage of thigh reduction this month, and I'm "healed" according to the medicos.

I've had thigh skin removed, and it is a bit to get used to, depending on the method of closuer,  I had staples and surgical "Krazy Glue". 

I also had the complication of getting a cellulitis attack,for the first time in four years.  I stopped getting them after I lost weight, but I suppose it was just an opportunistic infection, and I did test positive for MRSA.  I also had a surgical wound deshicience (open up) about six inches.  It is closed now.

My expereince was the exception, not the rule.  I just fell on the wrong side of the stats in having such a tough time post op.  The next phase should go much better, at least, I hope it will.

Good luck to you in getting your outsides to match your insides! :-)

My surgeon is two hours south of where I live as well.

I did come home with drains, and all I had to do was empty them and keep records of how much fluid came out of each. 

I had one incision dehisc, which is almost closed.

My surgery is being staged, due ot the amount of skin I have to remove, so I just got the front/inner thighs done this time.

Next will be the back/outer (hip) and thigh area, then the third stage,  where everything will be tightened upwards.

My initial surgery was December 27th, and I'm still following with my surgeon, due to the complications.

Without complications, I'm guessing it would be closer to just until the stitches and staples are removed, probably two to three weeks.

I can tell you for sure you will have longitudinal scars on both inner thighs, and possible scars in or near your groin area, probably just below where your leg meets your torso. 

The scars all depend on the technique the surgeon uses, and your own personal genetics.  Plastics guys/gals make beautiful scars - very thin, and if they don't spread, over time, they will barely be noticable.  However, that depends on what kind of healer you are.

I am prone to hyperpigmentation and keloids.  In the past, I have had cortisone shots directly into scars from other surgeries, to flatten them (not as bad as it sounds, really!) , and have used Rx skin lighetning cream after the scar fades on its own a bit.

Susan-

You're right about it looking disgusting.   I have a RN changing the bandages every day, and I will be going to a Wound Care Clinic at one of the hospitals where I live.

Staples will (hopefully) come out in a couple more weeks.

Summary:  After losing 247 pounds, I began the task of medically necessary skin reduction on 12/27/2013.

I was set to address all areas of the lower body, but my surgeon decided, after getting me in to surgery, that there was too much to do at one time, and staging would work better.  Starting point - inner thighs.

It was not picture perfect.

I have about a 6 inch long, and at least as deep area of dehisc in the left thigh incision , and a 1/10'' area in my right thigh, which is about how the left started out.

I have some skin sloughing around the incision and staples, which looks normal (for me), since I've had some sloughing from other surgeries.

I am having the dehisc treated at a wound care clinic, and the staples are supposed to come out in a couple weeks.

I was nutritionally sound going into surgery.  Does this just happen to some people, or is there something else I could have done nutritionally  to prevent this?

P.S. - I supplemented with L-Arginine capsules, in addition to my regular vitamin regimen pre-op.