POSTED UNDER Panniculectomy REVIEWS
30 Year Old- No Kids- 100 Pound Weight Loss - Fluer De Lis Tummy Tuck
ORIGINAL POST
Hey everyone! I've decided to share my experience...
WORTH IT$9,743
Hey everyone! I've decided to share my experience on Realself because I have been reading everyone's stories obsessively as I wait for my own procedure and have found it incredibly helpful.
I am 30 years old. 2 years ago I weighed 270 pounds -emotional binge eater , I was uncomfortable and ready for real change. I started living a low carb lifestyle. After the initial first cpl weeks I felt amazing, I had so much energy. I started working out regularly and I am now 178 pounds. (Down 92 pounds- naturally). I don't plan on ever going back to eating sugar and starch. My body just doesn't agree with it.
Anywayyyy after all that weight loss I am left with a melted tummy. (Thighs are pretty squishy too and I've lost all my boobs- I used to be a G cup). The thighs and breasts will have to wait as it isn't in the budget right now.
After the weight loss I was looking into getting a panniculectomy as my stomach hungover my midline and was very uncomfortable and the skin is tearing underneath. I did my research and found out that Manitoba Health could pay for the procedure. I discussed it with a friend who had a panniculectomy herself and had seen Dr. Ken Murray. She was happy with her results so I asked my Dr to refer me to him. She did and next thing you know I was at my consultation (July 2017). Dr. Murray s office applied to Manitoba health for me and within 6 weeks I got a letter of approval in the mail. The staff was great and I was thrilled! The nurse said I'd likely be going in for my panniculectomy by Christmas!!!
After that I waited and waited. I started worrying about my belly button... Because this was being covered by insurance and wasn't considered "cosmetic" would I lose it? Would it be too low? I panicked and made another appt. At that appointment I discussed it with Dr Murray and he made me feel better - no I would not lose my belly button... but because I also had lose skin above my belly button and extending around my hips... what would be ideal would be to include a vertical reduction as well. This would remove rhe most amount of skin and pull in the excess skin on my hips and hopefully help us avoid any dog ears that may form. I wasnt thrilled about the idea of a vertical scar as well as the horizontal hip to hip scar. But i do want the best result. I so have a pretty hourglass figure and I wanted to keep a small waist (not be too boxy) and scars don't really bug me... kinda bad ass actually ;) plus I'm loud and proud about my weight loss accomplishments and this surgery isn't happening discreetly. I'm very proud. So there it was. My decision was made. So now the procedure will be like a Fluer De Lis abdominoplasty without the muscle repair (which I really don't think I'll need anyway. I do not have any children and I workout regularly and cannot feel any separation in my abdominal muscles when I check. (Lay on your back, knees bent, feet flat on the floor, place your fingers on your midline, lift your head-do a little crunch and press feel up and down along ur midline.)
The procedure now had a cosmetic aspect to it so it was now also going to cost me $2000. Which I thought was very reasonable... and also now that we weren't waiting on mb health to book a surgical room and I was a paying customer -the DR was able to schedule something sooner.
So I had originally said they were going to get me into surgery around Christmas time.... turns out that was an optimistic estimate by the nurse... My surgery was scheduled for March 6 (and that was getting in sooner because now I'm paying... I would have had to wait longer....) that part was difficult only because I am really excited and impatient but I understand that's just how it is.
So I started prepping for surgery.... obsessively reading reviews, how to prepare, recovery tips etc. I'm already getting things ready... packing a bag (I live alone so I will be staying with my grandma for a couple weeks after surgery). I've got a big Rubbermaid bin I have filled with supplies, ... laxatives, pain killers, surgical tape, dry shampoo, baby wipes, books, knitting needles and yarn (grandma's going to teach me... I figure I'll need something to occupy my time) etc.) Plus grandma has a walker and hospital bed at home from when grandpa was sick And she's very experienced with helping him after many many surgeries.
Then last week I get a call from the surgeons office... St. Boniface hospital cannot accommodate my surgery on march 6 and we need to change the surgery date. The nurse offers me Feb 20 and im THRILLED!!!! I wanted to do this sooner so that i can be healed for summertime. (I want to take part in a fun obstacle course mud race) and get back to exercising as soon as I'm cleared.
I am sooooo excited for this surgery. I will update when I've got more to share!
I am including before pictures.
Thanks for reading and I can't wait to update after my procedure!
I am 30 years old. 2 years ago I weighed 270 pounds -emotional binge eater , I was uncomfortable and ready for real change. I started living a low carb lifestyle. After the initial first cpl weeks I felt amazing, I had so much energy. I started working out regularly and I am now 178 pounds. (Down 92 pounds- naturally). I don't plan on ever going back to eating sugar and starch. My body just doesn't agree with it.
Anywayyyy after all that weight loss I am left with a melted tummy. (Thighs are pretty squishy too and I've lost all my boobs- I used to be a G cup). The thighs and breasts will have to wait as it isn't in the budget right now.
After the weight loss I was looking into getting a panniculectomy as my stomach hungover my midline and was very uncomfortable and the skin is tearing underneath. I did my research and found out that Manitoba Health could pay for the procedure. I discussed it with a friend who had a panniculectomy herself and had seen Dr. Ken Murray. She was happy with her results so I asked my Dr to refer me to him. She did and next thing you know I was at my consultation (July 2017). Dr. Murray s office applied to Manitoba health for me and within 6 weeks I got a letter of approval in the mail. The staff was great and I was thrilled! The nurse said I'd likely be going in for my panniculectomy by Christmas!!!
After that I waited and waited. I started worrying about my belly button... Because this was being covered by insurance and wasn't considered "cosmetic" would I lose it? Would it be too low? I panicked and made another appt. At that appointment I discussed it with Dr Murray and he made me feel better - no I would not lose my belly button... but because I also had lose skin above my belly button and extending around my hips... what would be ideal would be to include a vertical reduction as well. This would remove rhe most amount of skin and pull in the excess skin on my hips and hopefully help us avoid any dog ears that may form. I wasnt thrilled about the idea of a vertical scar as well as the horizontal hip to hip scar. But i do want the best result. I so have a pretty hourglass figure and I wanted to keep a small waist (not be too boxy) and scars don't really bug me... kinda bad ass actually ;) plus I'm loud and proud about my weight loss accomplishments and this surgery isn't happening discreetly. I'm very proud. So there it was. My decision was made. So now the procedure will be like a Fluer De Lis abdominoplasty without the muscle repair (which I really don't think I'll need anyway. I do not have any children and I workout regularly and cannot feel any separation in my abdominal muscles when I check. (Lay on your back, knees bent, feet flat on the floor, place your fingers on your midline, lift your head-do a little crunch and press feel up and down along ur midline.)
The procedure now had a cosmetic aspect to it so it was now also going to cost me $2000. Which I thought was very reasonable... and also now that we weren't waiting on mb health to book a surgical room and I was a paying customer -the DR was able to schedule something sooner.
So I had originally said they were going to get me into surgery around Christmas time.... turns out that was an optimistic estimate by the nurse... My surgery was scheduled for March 6 (and that was getting in sooner because now I'm paying... I would have had to wait longer....) that part was difficult only because I am really excited and impatient but I understand that's just how it is.
So I started prepping for surgery.... obsessively reading reviews, how to prepare, recovery tips etc. I'm already getting things ready... packing a bag (I live alone so I will be staying with my grandma for a couple weeks after surgery). I've got a big Rubbermaid bin I have filled with supplies, ... laxatives, pain killers, surgical tape, dry shampoo, baby wipes, books, knitting needles and yarn (grandma's going to teach me... I figure I'll need something to occupy my time) etc.) Plus grandma has a walker and hospital bed at home from when grandpa was sick And she's very experienced with helping him after many many surgeries.
Then last week I get a call from the surgeons office... St. Boniface hospital cannot accommodate my surgery on march 6 and we need to change the surgery date. The nurse offers me Feb 20 and im THRILLED!!!! I wanted to do this sooner so that i can be healed for summertime. (I want to take part in a fun obstacle course mud race) and get back to exercising as soon as I'm cleared.
I am sooooo excited for this surgery. I will update when I've got more to share!
I am including before pictures.
Thanks for reading and I can't wait to update after my procedure!
Nikitabug's provider
UPDATED FROM Nikitabug
9 days pre
10 days away
My surgery is 10 days away! I'm freaking out! I've been stressed out and not eating much. Trying to get everything caught up at work, since I will be off for 5 weeks.
Sometimes I think that it's good. Go in as light as possible. Other times I think 10 days before is too close to be malnourished. I want recovery to go well. I see the anesthesiologist on Monday. Hoping he can calm my nerves. I'm also starting to freak out a little about the vertical scar but it's important to me to keep my hourglass figure that's under all this skin somewhere... and I know I'll get the best result with the fluer we lis.... I'll tattoo over the scar eventually.
Anyway I'll post a couple more before pictures and update again soon.
Sometimes I think that it's good. Go in as light as possible. Other times I think 10 days before is too close to be malnourished. I want recovery to go well. I see the anesthesiologist on Monday. Hoping he can calm my nerves. I'm also starting to freak out a little about the vertical scar but it's important to me to keep my hourglass figure that's under all this skin somewhere... and I know I'll get the best result with the fluer we lis.... I'll tattoo over the scar eventually.
Anyway I'll post a couple more before pictures and update again soon.
Replies (8)