Weight Loss Journey

I have been overweight most of my life. As a teen I weighed 160 at my lowest. I had my first 2 children and by my 30's was around 280 to 290. I was having skin problems what seemed like severe psoriasis all over my body especially the back of my neck and scalp. I had to start taking Glucophage to manage my Adult onset Diabetes. I knew I had to take action to shed the weight and improve my health.

After extensive research I felt like the risk of weight loss surgery was not as high as the issues I had with my weight. I had tried everything to lose weight. I tried weight watchers, medical liquid fast, exercise programs and would lose minimal weight due to being insulin resistant. I had been diagnosed with polycystic ovaries in my early 20's. 

After gastric bypass in 2004, I got down to 180 to 190. The lowest weight after bypass was 172, which was during my Law Enforcement Academy. The academy was a boot camp style setting where I was required to run 5 miles a day, participate in extensive exercise, spar and participate in obstacle courses 4 days a week.
In 2011 we moved because my husband got new orders, he is active duty Navy. I was at home full time which I was not used too. I changed my depression medication. I ballooned up to 230 in a period of 10 months. I worked with my Doctor get off the new medication and changed to a new medication.
I visited a Biatric Surgeon and had everything check with my Gastric Bypass. My Stoma was dilated, the opening that empties the stomach into the body. What that means is that my restriction was gone, I felt hungry all the time because my stomach would empty out quickly after eating. I decided to do band over bypass to allow restriction again.

I decided to incorporate jogging into my daily life. It took almost a year to make a habit and I hated every day. Now I can’t imagine my life without it. I had band over bypass in June 2013. I got back down to 180-195.
I had an apron and a lot of loose skin. I wanted to be 160 to 170 before any plastic surgery, but realistically I have plateaued at 180 to 195. I decided to start my plastics in hopes it would allow me to move pass my plateau and enjoy exercise and life in general better.

I had a Corset abdomaplasty and Arm Lift on June 26, 2014. Insurance paid for my panniculectomy and I paid the balance for the Corset abdomiplasty and Arm Lift. PS gave me 3 choices between an extended Tummy Tuck, Fluer De Lis and Corset abdomiplasty. I choose the corset because of the amount of skin from the weight loss. It was also the most expensive. After insurance is applied for the paniculectomy…. I still paid 4000.00 for the arm lift after a discount. The abdomiplasty portion of surgery was 6222.50, Corset fee 3277.50. Total out of pocket for my surgery 13,500.00. This was a sacrifice for my family and we had to finance the entire portion.

I wanted to document my journey to help others in their journey. There is not a lot of information or postings on the Corset technique. I hope this helps others. Also I need some support as I go through this phase of changes.