Question:
I had my surgery close to three years ago and now I am really
depressed about the loose baggy skin my stomach, upper arms and my breasts I hate to get undressed in front of my husband. I,m just embarressed.Please ,if any one has a solution tell me — Debra C. (posted on April 3, 2000)
April 2, 2000
You may want to consider some reconstructive plastic surgery. Many WLS
patients have taken advantage of these additional surgeries to repair the
damage from morbid obesity. My abdominoplasty is being covered by my
insurance although I don't think many companies cover it from what I read
here but the arm and thigh lift proceedures are not prohibitively
expensive. Not sure about the cost of working on your breasts but you
should do some homework on it. Maybe you can do the ones you really need
over time like I plan to do. I'm having four proceedures done over a two
year period if all goes well. The first, this summer will be my tummy and
upper thighs. Next summer I will do my upper arms and a couple face tucks.
That way the healing and the expense are more manageable. The only other
advice might be to get several opinions and make sure your doctor is a
"Board Certified Plastic Surgeon". Since it's lucrative and most
people pay out of pocket there seem to be more "hacks" in the
cosmetic field than almost any other area of medicine. Be careful. I've
had lots of good advice and help from people online here who have had some
of these proceedures. So ask questions too.
Good Luck.
Carol in Philly
— Carol M.
April 3, 2000
Try checking into your community's burn units. Sometimes they
will do the surgery for the skin they remove. I am planning on
talking to my area burn units when it comes time. They are always
in need of skin. Just a suggestion.
— Jen L.
April 3, 2000
I know what you mean. My spouse calls me elephant hips. Not from their
size, but from all the loose, wrinkly skin on my hips and thighs. Don't
bother checking with burn units. They get all the skin they need from
cadavers or grafts from the patient.
— blank first name B.
April 6, 2000
The last answer you got is absolutely untrue. I have a friend
who is donating her skin to a burn unit and the are paying for
her surgery. Besides why wouldn't want to try everything before
having to go the expense yourself.
— Jen L.
April 6, 2000
Can you please list the specific Burn Unit(s) that have accepted skin for
this purpose? This topic has been debated before and specific facts would
be greatly appreciated.
— Toni B.
November 2, 2000
I would only like to add, and it may be a little different in Canada then
the States...but if you have hanging skin that is a health risk to you,
because your not about to clean all up within the area...may get red and
sore, in Canada if you have alot then you are covered for a remove of the
skin in whats called a tummy tuck.
My girlfriend was covered...a picture is taken and sent in to OHIP or
insurance company....how in the world would then be able to say no..Look
into it!! PLEASE...And GOOD LUCK!
— Darla N.
November 15, 2000
All the suggestions for donating to a burn unit , sound good. Alot cheaper
than the 3 thousand I paid for a tummy tuck. I would be interested in your
hospitals response on the donation. Please let us know how you do.
— Ellen M.
February 15, 2002
I am 2 1/2 years post-op and just won my appeal (ins. is going to pay for
it) last week for a tummy tuck. I had my Primary Dr., GYN Dr., and plastic
surgeron write letters explaining my skin fold problems. I also include a
honest graphic explaination with examples of quailty of life issues. I'm
having the surgery March 11. E-mail me and I will be happy to share all the
details. [email protected] Sincerely, Cheryl.
— Cheryl H.
February 15, 2002
Since the issue of getting your tummy tuck paid for by donating the skin
comes up frequently I thought I'd see what I could find. This is it.
I found the following at
http://www.shrinershq.org/Hospitals/
Choose Shriners Hospitals
Then Burns
Go to bottom of page
Click on Boston
Go down to where there is a 'new' flag labelled
Skin, like other organs, can be donated to save lives
</WhatsNewArch/Archives01/donateskin11-01.html>
Click on this.
To the left and close to the bottom of the Dr. Walters' picture you will
find the following:
"We receive a lot of calls about skin donation," says Phil
Walters, director of the skin bank at the Boston hospital. He says the two
most frequently asked questions are: is skin taken from a living donor and
can tissue surgically removed from a patient by procedures such as those
performed to reduce obesity be donated. "The answer to both questions
is no," says Walters. "Skin is procured from a deceased organ
donor, just like any other donated organ."
— garw
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