POSTED UNDER Panniculectomy REVIEWS
Soon to Be 58 with Gastric Sleeve Almost 3 Years Ago - Akron, OH
ORIGINAL POST
I had my gastric sleeve 3 years ago in May by Dr...
cidmorMarch 18, 2016
I had my gastric sleeve 3 years ago in May by Dr Ramos Kelly in Tijuana Mexico. My highest weight was 278. I got really sick of being overweight....literally sick. My insurance would not cover any surgery and started pricing cash in the states. YIKES!!!!! I found and researched Mexico and it worked for me. I went down to 155 but I have gained 15 back...ouch!!! A friend of mine had the lower body lift and I started watching the show skin tight and doing some research. I am using the PS my friend recommended. About a week and a half ago I went for consultation and he was pretty sure my insurance would cover the panni. He said I didn't need muscle repair, but when he got to that point if needed he would tighten it up. I was shocked with my weight being so high and having 2 kids that my muscle hadn't separated. I was told it would be about 4 weeks to hear from insurance. Well today I got a letter in the mail. I was afraid to open it as I thought since it was so quick (10 days) I was denied. Nope...I was approved. Yippee. I will schedule the surgery on Monday. I will keep you all informed.
UPDATED FROM cidmor
I have my surgery date
cidmorMarch 21, 2016
I have a surgery date of April 25th. I go in for pre-testing on the 19th and will meet with my surgeon again. More to follow....I'm so happy :)
Replies (1)
UPDATED FROM cidmor
Pre testing and another consulatation
cidmorApril 19, 2016
Went in for all pretest stuff this morning. I also made an appt with the PS for another consultation. I was kind of confused and thank goodness I did after reading more. He was not going to do anything above the belly button. He was going to do panni and mons lift and that's about it except if the muscle below the belly button needed repair after he got into it he would fix it. So now he is going to reposition the belly button and fix the skin above it and repair that muscle. I had to pay an extra $1500. Basically paying the extra for the full tummy tuck...which is ok with me. The first consultation was just confusing...nurse, PS, another dr and a scribe behind the curtain.....and we were talking at that time breast lift and arms.....tugging and pulling.....I would've been really upset after surgury to look down and see the above belly button fluff.
Replies (23)
I lost 95 pounds naturally. I had an extended TT & BA.....TT was necessary since I had 6 pounds of excess skin & fat from losing the weight. My PS did not do muscle repair since my abdominal muscles were not separated. I did not have any children but, I had gained a lot of excess weight on my stomach.....still wonder if I would have benefited from MR! I have a thick waist now & I'm working on losing weight on my flanks & above navel where I'm still thick!
Good luck with your consultation!
MR...Muscle tightening
The panni is just skin removal under your belly button. It does not tighten the muscle or pull the skin tight above your belly button. Some will do that anyway as they want their work to look good. It all depends on how you want to look. Me...I was born with a bell and have been overweight all of my life. I want to go the distance :)
Yes, there is a downside to just a panni . There will no muscle repair & the navel will not be centered.
My extended tummy tuck was also considered a panni since I had skin overhang causing rash & discomfort when exercising. I paid for the surgery since it would taken months of going back & forth with the HMO to receive authorization for panni surgery. At the time of TT the doctor lifted my pubic area included in TT price. The pubic area had a slight hand, not too bad but, it bothered me. I still think he should have done MR .
When your insurance covers the panni in California that all the PS will do no MR or moving the navel. You would have to pay extra monies out of your pocket for lipo to flanks, MR & moving navel.
Please look @ other panni surgeries on Realself.com so you can be informed & know your options. I didn't know my options until after my surgery!
I like my PS he did a great job & he was trained @ Loma Linda Hospital in California. He's has excellent credentials however, he didn't do MR when I was in the operating room! It would have taken 20 minutes more....he just didn't think it was necessary! I think that why I have a thick waist.
So I have to keep exercising everyday to tone & tighten my upper core area!
I look great & exercise is helping me trim down! But, it would have been easier with muscle repair & lipo of flanks! Which other doctor's do included in price!