Question about skin removel

I know I am not far enough out to have this, but I am thinking about it. I have a panni that hangs way to low (insurance will remove it with no issues) But I also have a tummy roll that is half skin half fat right now. I can pull it outwards. I can tell it's getting smaller but I think it will need fixed to bc of self esteem reasons. My arms are only an 1in smaller then my calf lol. Talk about hanging. I was thinking about them as well. I guess my question is, when is the best time to do the surgery. I lose my insurance in april so I want my panni done before then if I can. And I know I have to pay cash for my tummy and arms. How much does that run? I live in NE Ohio. I was guessing 5-7 g's. I have lost 102 pounds last check, and I think a good goal for me is around 130-145. Bc I'm not tall lol. So if anyone has info or has it done. Chine in please :) thank you.

I have seen on here that you should be between 18-24 months post-op & that you have had a stable weight for at least 6 months (basically have reached goal & been there for about 6 months). This is just what I have read on here, so I am not sure if it is entirely correct or up-to-date.

Good luck!

Just wanted to say that typically I read what Lily said in all my research. However, I recently got a lower body lift at about 10 months out of GBS. I hadn't been at a stable weight for very long at my consult (around 9 months) but the plastic surgeon felt that I had worked very hard and didn't really have much more to lose. I was going to the gym for hours per week. I am 5'4" and weighed about 145 with a large hanging pannus. If you work hard, it is possible :) I might also add that I went to a VERY reputable surgeon, so I trust his judgment and am very happily recovering.

Thank you for your input. I was thinking about looking into a surgeon about a year out. I lost 7 pounds last month so I am still losing at a good rate now. It hangs so low, and I know it is going to cause more problems then it is now. And I don't need to have a reason why to get it removed. Just need a doc to say it would be a good idea with my insurance company. 

You're very lucky that your insurance is so lax!! I'd take full advantage of that if I were you!! I just shelled out $15K for my LBL, I would have loved if insurance even considered it! I thought my panni hung pretty low, but apparently not insurance wise. I hear you on the self esteem issues though, I'm young and single and knew it was something I had to do for myself.

I had my TT at 18 months post op... The rules around mine were I had to have my weight documented that it has stayed the same for 6 months, and that I have lost at least 100 pounds. (and of course was at my goal, if I still wanted to lose more, then I would have had to wait till I reach goal and stay there for 6 months)

oops, i mean I was 16 months post op... not 18! (I'm not even 18 months post op myself yet! haha) 

When I was getting consultations for my various plastic surgeries, they all wanted you to have been at a stable weight for 6 months regardless of how far out your were.  The problem is that if you have most types of PS at your lowest weight and then gain some back, it can look bad.  The same thing happens if you lose more after you have the PS done... then you end up with loose skin again.  Arms can be a bit different than TT or LBL or panniculectomy.  I had my arms done before my weight was stable for 6 months (I still needed to lose about 20 pounds), but I had already lost all the fat in my arms (and the surgeon said that even if I were to gain a small amount of weight, it wasn't going to be in my arms, anyway).

I was self pay for both brachioplasty and tummy tuck (after having panni paid for by insurance).  I am south of Dayton and paid $5500 for my arms, and about $7500 for my tummy tuck ($400 of that was optional, and was for him to place on On-Q pain pump) using a surgeon in northern Cincinnati who uses a surgical hospital (cheaper than a full-service hospital).  I would suggest, however, that if there is any way for you to have the full tummy tuck done at the same time as an insurance paid panniculectomy, that you do it that way.  If you don't, it is two surgeries and it also often means they have to do a "reverse" tummy tuck (where instead of an "anchor" cut -- that looks like an anchor or an upside down "T", they do a right side up "T" with the top of it literally right under the breasts)... so you end up with an extra incision line, and the skin right under the breasts (I discovered later) is often kind of fragile and can break down or turn necrotic easily.  Having an incision turn necrotic is a significant complication and takes a while to heal (depending on how deep it is... mine took 5 months).

Lora