tummy tuck

[Guest guest]

I am having mine done by a PS and he said he is definetly preserving the belly

button!

Kristy

[Guest guest]

Hi Sharon!

I was just looking at your before picture and I almost didn't

recognize you! It's like you've always been the slender beauty you

are now. I think it's because I saw the beauty inside of you when we

first met and always saw you the way you are now in my mind's eye.

I'm so proud of you and so happy for you!

Hugs!

Tracey

BTW, how's your puppy doing?

> I am extremely pleased with the TT that Dr K did on me. I have a

> perfect flat tummy, and a belly button.

> Sharon in Onyx

[Guest guest]

Monday, August 1, 2005, 12:17:51 PM, you wrote:

m> I am a slow loser, but the loss has been steady and

m> I don't deprive myself. I still have another 50 lbs to lose. But now I

m> have to have my gall bladder removed and insurance will pay for that.

Well, first of all, you may not lose the extra fifty. If you do, then

you may have some sagging/flab/etc. after losing that. Or may not.

m> If I did the tummy tuck at the same time, insurance would pick up the

m> tab for the anesthesia, hospital, etc. I would just have to pay the

m> plastic surgeeon's fee up front. It would save me about $4000.

Did the INSURANCE COMPANY say they'd do that? If not, get it IN

WRITING from them. A gall bladder removal is done lap these days in

almost all cases, and is a quick surgery. The TT will probably be

three or four hours, depending. The hospital bills the anesthesia and

the operating room by the hour. I'd be very surprised if the

insurance covered all of that. But sure, check into it.

Yes, you always pay the plastic surgeon up front, even if he's doing

your behind. But a TT is an outpatient surgery generally these days,

and the difference for me was only about 2400 bucks, though that will

vary depending on the doc and where you are. Also, does the PS doc

have the same affiliation with hospital, etc, as the gall bladder guy?

And will THEY both agree to do it together? Some docs won't even do

the gall bladder and the band at the same time.

Not trying to rain on your parade, but just to be sure that you have

it all in writing.

dan

Dan Lester, Boise, ID honu@... www.mylapband.tk

Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana, 4/28/03

323/209/199 Age 62 Fair is whatever God decides to do.

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Dan is right,I failed to mention that my hospital wanted 6,000 just for my p s

[who does reconstruction at that hospital] to walk in the door!!!! I was having

a hysterectomy and thought it would be a fine time to kill two surgerys at

once.Well that wasn,t gunna fly why should I pay over double for a t t.So I was

weight stable for another year and then had the tt.

Donna Q.

Dan Lester <honu@...> wrote:

Monday, August 1, 2005, 12:17:51 PM, you wrote:

m> I am a slow loser, but the loss has been steady and

m> I don't deprive myself. I still have another 50 lbs to lose. But now I

m> have to have my gall bladder removed and insurance will pay for that.

[Guest guest]

Sorry to tell you (I know this because I work in an operating room)

when a patient has a combined procedure (one medical/one cosmetic) the

OR time is accurately divided between the time spent for

the " insurance covered " part and the self-pay part. If we don't do

that, then the insurance refuses to pay for ANY of it and the hospital

loses money, so we have to document what time one procedure ended and

the other began. (Examples of such procedures are: septoplasty for

deviated septum with cosmetic nose job---even if the same surgeon is

doing both parts, which is not unusual, umbilical hernia repair with

tummy tuck, etc.) Doing both at the same time may not save you money,

but it would save you a second anesthetic and recovery; the logistics

may be impossible to arrange, however, because there is only a one in

five chance that your plastic surgeon and your general surgeon operate

on the same day. (Surgeons have " block booking " for the operating room

so they generally always do their elective cases on certain days,

their office on certain days, etc.)

Good luck with either or both surgeries---let us know how you do!

>

> mrskmt1 <dawntrahan@b...> wrote:

> If I did the tummy tuck at the same time, insurance would pick up

the

> tab for the anesthesia, hospital, etc. I would just have to pay the

> plastic surgeeon's fee up front. It would save me about $4000.

[Guest guest]

I'm sure " someone " has, but it really is not a great idea, for a

number of reasons.

First and most importantly, the gallbladder removal is considered

a " dirty " procedure, as a diseased and possibly infected organ is

being cut and removed, and there is always a chance that the infected

material will get into other areas.

A TT is a " clean " procedure (no infected materials involved) , and

one with a significant infection risk under the best of

circumstances, because of the extensive wounds and the poorer healing

ability of fatty tissues. Combining it with a " dirty " procedure is

really not a good idea, and would greatly increase the infection and

complication risk - and I doubt many good surgeons would even

consider it.

Also, most docs want you pretty close to goal before they do a TT.

Any weight loss afterwards would again leave loose skin, anmd you

might be very unhappy with the results. GAINING weight after a TT is

entirely different, as the muscles and skin simply stretch out again.

Lastly, you would probably not be saving any money at all, as the

surgery time, anesthesia time, and all other things would be

carefully allocated to each procedure, even if you could find someone

willing to do them both at the same time. Insurance companies are not

dumb - they do not pay one cent more than they have to for anything.

The gallbladder procedure takes about 15 minutes, laparoscopically.

the TT often takes several hours, MINIMUM. Every second of

anesthesia time, surgical time, supplies, and all else used during

the cosmetic part of the procedure would not be paid - and this would

be 95% of the total procedure.

I'd really suggest waiting until the right time for the TT, when

everything is optimal for you to do well and have a great procedure

that you're happy with for a long time.

Hope this helps - Sandy R

> Has anyone had a tummy tuck before reaching goal? I was banded

> 01/03/03 at 300 lbs. 8 weeks later I found out I was 6 weeks

pregnant

> with kiddo #3! After 2 1/2 years, 40 weeks of which I was pregnant,

I

> am now at 200 lbs. I am a slow loser, but the loss has been steady

and

> I don't deprive myself. I still have another 50 lbs to lose. But

now I

> have to have my gall bladder removed and insurance will pay for

that.

> If I did the tummy tuck at the same time, insurance would pick up

the

> tab for the anesthesia, hospital, etc. I would just have to pay the

> plastic surgeeon's fee up front. It would save me about $4000. And

I

> would be so happy to once again buy pants based on the size of my

hips

> NOT the size of my big belly. I don't want to jump the gun on the

> tummy tuck, but I also don't want to miss an opportunity for

insurance

> to help out. Decisions decisions. Any input is appreciated.

> Dawn

> 01/03/03 300/200/150

[Guest guest]

Again, agree with Sandy here. As to how long to wait for the TT,

well...mine was done a bit before my " ideal goal " , but since I've

accepted that I'm happy where I am and may not ever reach that elusive

goal, I did it. However, as she points out, there are MANY chances of

infection, no matter how careful you are. I had a hematoma some five

weeks after surgery that held almost a liter of fluid...and required a

drain to be reinserted for a week or so...and then drained for several

weeks more.

Anyway....don't combine them, no matter when you get the TT.

dan

Monday, August 1, 2005, 10:13:29 PM, you wrote:

S> A TT is a " clean " procedure (no infected materials involved) , and

S> one with a significant infection risk under the best of

S> circumstances, because of the extensive wounds and the poorer healing

S> ability of fatty tissues.

Dan Lester, Boise, ID honu@... www.mylapband.tk

Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana, 4/28/03

323/209/199 Age 62 Fair is whatever God decides to do.

[Guest guest]

This is certainly true in my hospital, but I didn't even mention it

because of the surprising number of surgeons out there who seem to be

willing to remove the gallbladder at the same time as placement of the

band. . .

> First and most importantly, the gallbladder removal is considered

> a " dirty " procedure, as a diseased and possibly infected organ is

> being cut and removed, and there is always a chance that the

infected

> material will get into other areas.

>

> A TT is a " clean " procedure (no infected materials involved) , and

> one with a significant infection risk under the best of

> circumstances, because of the extensive wounds and the poorer

healing

> ability of fatty tissues. Combining it with a " dirty " procedure is

> really not a good idea, and would greatly increase the infection and

> complication risk - and I doubt many good surgeons would even

> consider it.

[Guest guest]

Well, if they're both covered by insurance, and there is a need for

both, why not? (Other than gall bladder being dirty....but there are

some docs who will remove it even if not infected, full of stones,

etc. as a prophylactic measure).

Tuesday, August 2, 2005, 5:07:29 PM, you wrote:

n> This is certainly true in my hospital, but I

n> didn't even mention it

n> because of the surprising number of surgeons out

n> there who seem to be

n> willing to remove the gallbladder at the same

n> time as placement of the

n> band.

Dan Lester, Boise, ID honu@... www.mylapband.tk

Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana, 4/28/03

323/209/199 Age 62 Fair is whatever God decides to do.

[Guest guest]

The gallbladder is always considered surgically " dirty " even if it's

not infected because cutting into the gallbladder is equivalent to

cutting into the small bowel since they're connected. (Not as dirty

as cutting into the large bowel where all the e.coli live, but still

not sterile; bacteria + implant = potential bad outcome---it all

depends on how much risk the surgeon is willing to take. It used to

be very common, for example, to take out the appendix at the time of

any abdominal surgery " as long as we're in there " to prevent future

potential problems since it only added a few minutes to the surgery,

but this fell out of favor some time ago because of the potential

for infection issue.) Our docs won't do it at the same time, but

since there are so many who will, there probably isn't a good

controlled, randomized study proving that it's either OK or not OK.

>

> n> This is certainly true in my hospital, but I

> n> didn't even mention it

> n> because of the surprising number of surgeons out

> n> there who seem to be

> n> willing to remove the gallbladder at the same

> n> time as placement of the

> n> band.

>

>

> Dan Lester, Boise, ID honu@g... www.mylapband.tk

> Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana, 4/28/03

> 323/209/199 Age 62 Fair is whatever God decides to do.

[Guest guest]

I am definately in need af an excess skin removal. I wouldn't mind

Mexico, but with the price of flying.... adn if I need to consult

first, is it really cheaper? I need help making a decision. i would

like to do it over my Christmas break. Please help. What aboput

Arkansas. I live in Missouri.

[Guest guest]

You can do the consult via email. Get prices, etc. Then you go for surgery and get a detailed consult. It's about half the price vs. what I would pay in the US.On Sat, Sep 13, 2008 at 1:33 PM, kaszs46 <kaszs46@...> wrote:

I am definately in need af an excess skin removal. I wouldn't mind

Mexico, but with the price of flying.... adn if I need to consult

first, is it really cheaper? I need help making a decision. i would

like to do it over my Christmas break. Please help. What aboput

Arkansas. I live in Missouri.

[Guest guest]

There is also a Dr. Hollingsworth in Texarkana, TX (30 mins from Hope, AR) that is very good. I know several people that he has done Boob jobs on and also tummy tucks. Everyone I know that has used him said they would recommend him.

[Dr-Aceves-bandster s] tummy tuck

I am definately in need af an excess skin removal. I wouldn't mind Mexico, but with the price of flying.... adn if I need to consult first, is it really cheaper? I need help making a decision. i would like to do it over my Christmas break. Please help. What aboput Arkansas. I live in Missouri.

[Guest guest]

I have had a consult with an Dr. in Mexicali and its not half the cost of what I could have it done here in the US...thats including..cost of airplane and cost of hotel stay for a week. BUT...its done in the hospital where Dr. A is and if something is needed of him like if my port is damaged or needing to be moved etc...he is there to be able to fix if needed. So that is worth it to me to have it done in Mexicali. The diff in price is almost a thousand.

Check around for prices in the US and be sure you ask EXACTLY what that cost includes, then check with either DR Bello's or Dr Luque in Mexicali. This can be done by email. Its not the exact price but estimated cost. Have a consult would give you the exact cost.

Need to know anything else just holla.

DOB

8/1/07

207/139/135

Re: tummy tuck

You can do the consult via email. Get prices, etc. Then you go for surgery and get a detailed consult. It's about half the price vs. what I would pay in the US.

On Sat, Sep 13, 2008 at 1:33 PM, kaszs46 <kaszs46 (DOT) com> wrote:

I am definately in need af an excess skin removal. I wouldn't mind Mexico, but with the price of flying.... adn if I need to consult first, is it really cheaper? I need help making a decision. i would like to do it over my Christmas break. Please help. What aboput Arkansas. I live in Missouri.

[Guest guest]

I think a lot depends on the city you live in. For me to go to a doctor in Phoenix is double what i would pay in Mexicali. I could fly to another part of the country for a less expensive surgery or I can drive to Mexicali for half what it would be in the US.

I really feel comfortable with Dr. Luque so he'll be doing my surgery. I think that is the key, find someone that you feel comfortable with. If that little voice is screaming at you to find someone else, find someone else. ;o) That little voice is usually pretty on target.

On Mon, Sep 15, 2008 at 9:07 AM, <lgr00_00@...> wrote:

I have had a consult with an Dr. in Mexicali and its not half the cost of what I could have it done here in the US...thats including..cost of airplane and cost of hotel stay for a week. BUT...its done in the hospital where Dr. A is and if something is needed of him like if my port is damaged or needing to be moved etc...he is there to be able to fix if needed. So that is worth it to me to have it done in Mexicali. The diff in price is almost a thousand.

Check around for prices in the US and be sure you ask EXACTLY what that cost includes, then check with either DR Bello's or Dr Luque in Mexicali. This can be done by email. Its not the exact price but estimated cost. Have a consult would give you the exact cost.

Need to know anything else just holla.

DOB

8/1/07

207/139/135

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the info.

From: vanessa bobo <vjbobo2003@...>Subject: Re: tummy tuck Date: Monday, September 15, 2008, 10:19 AM

There is also a Dr. Hollingsworth in Texarkana, TX (30 mins from Hope, AR) that is very good. I know several people that he has done Boob jobs on and also tummy tucks. Everyone I know that has used him said they would recommend him.

[Dr-Aceves-bandster s] tummy tuck

I am definately in need af an excess skin removal. I wouldn't mind Mexico, but with the price of flying.... adn if I need to consult first, is it really cheaper? I need help making a decision. i would like to do it over my Christmas break. Please help. What aboput Arkansas. I live in Missouri.

[Guest guest]

I had the tummy tuck and the first week is the worst, but I had strong meds to help comfort me. You will need help showering but it was bearable. The girdle was not bad for me, it actually helps alot!!! I didn't want to stop wearing after the first month. I missed the feeling it gave my posture. Just be prepared to walk, walk, walk!!! It will ease the pain.

Carolyn

From: g <gerryleeo@...> Sent: Saturday, June 20, 2009 3:58:55 PMSubject: tummy tuck

I'll be ready for a tummy tuck in another 10 pounds or so, but am very apprehensive. Is it as difficult as some say? I live alone and won't have anyone to help me with the abominable girdle I've heard about.

Would love to rid myself of the horrid accordion folds on my tummy and thighs, but wonder, if it is worth it.

Any thoughts? Who has had this surgery and is it as bad as they say? Appreciate any input.

Congrats to the success of everyone in this group. I love hearing about your experiences.

Gerry