Question regarding TT and other plastic surgery

[Guest guest]

At what point is it considered a good idea as a post op to consider a

Tummy Tuck (Panni removal) and/or other cosmetic surgery? I know it

is still early for me, I am only 4 months post op (-70#) and still

have (hopefully) 110# to lose to get to " my " goal (Dr said ideal

would be 160 only 94# away but my ideal weight would be 145# since I

am 5' 7 1/2 " ) anyway I am wondering at what point in the weight loss

do you start considering the panni? when is too soon? is there ever a

too late? I may have to have my breasts put back where god intended

and my arms taken up some, but those I know are atleast a year or two

out for sure- I want to give exercise a chance. The TT I am fairly

certain will be required though exercise and all. Anyway, any

guidance on this issue would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Latour

3.22.01

lap bpd/ds

324/254 -70#

[Guest guest]

Ok here is my opinion in reconstructive surgery. Typically you

should schedule when you are within 30 or so pounds from your goal

weight, and you should try to be in good physical condition. If you

want the insurance to pay for the procedures and you anticipate being

denied and need to fight then you should try to began the process

sooner.

I am six months out and have lost over 92 pounds, I have another 65

to go but I am getting my ducks in a row for a denial, because of an

exclusion on the insurance policy. I anticipate that I will win

eventually by then I should be within 30 pounds of goal. I am saving

money to in case I need to retain Walter and Lindstrom (Obesity

Law) to be my advocate for this surgery.

It is never too early to start planning for reconstructive surgery.

I started thinking about it even before WLS.

> At what point is it considered a good idea as a post op to consider

a

> Tummy Tuck (Panni removal) and/or other cosmetic surgery? I know it

> is still early for me, I am only 4 months post op (-70#) and still

> have (hopefully) 110# to lose to get to " my " goal (Dr said ideal

> would be 160 only 94# away but my ideal weight would be 145# since

I

> am 5' 7 1/2 " ) anyway I am wondering at what point in the weight

loss

> do you start considering the panni? when is too soon? is there ever

a

> too late? I may have to have my breasts put back where god intended

> and my arms taken up some, but those I know are atleast a year or

two

> out for sure- I want to give exercise a chance. The TT I am fairly

> certain will be required though exercise and all. Anyway, any

> guidance on this issue would be greatly appreciated.

>

> Sincerely,

> Latour

> 3.22.01

> lap bpd/ds

> 324/254 -70#

[Guest guest]

(Dr said ideal

> would be 160 only 94# away but my ideal weight would be 145# since

I

> am 5' 7 1/2 " )

Your doctor's weight for you is probably right. You will most likely

look like you weigh 140-145 when you really weigh 160. For some

reason we wls post-ops look thinner than the scales reflect. I've

heard that it's due to our skeletons being more dense (and thus

heavier) than those who've never been MO, since we've had to carry

around all this extra poundage for so many years.

So far that holds true for me. I'm right at 224 now, and I know I'm

smaller in clothes size, and visually than I was 18 years ago when I

weighed in at 185. That's almose 40# difference on the scale!! I'm

now in size 18's at 224 5'7 " . My previous smallest size was 20 at

185, 18 years ago. It's strange but true!!

Good continued success. There is another plastic surgery procedure

out there...it's called the belt-lipectomy. It cuts and cinches you

all around in one surgery and lifts your tummy, outer thighs and butt

all at once. If you're interested in checking it out

www.surgery.uiowa.edu/surgery/plastic/beltlipectomypage.htm

Colleen - Iowa

DS 1-15-01

Dr. Buchwald

312/224/160