Tummy Tuck Question - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

Meaghan · 02-14-2005, 09:37 PM

Just a quickie - for those that have opted for plastic surgery... how is the tummy tuck surgery? Is it even comparable to the WLS??? Just curious, I'm thinking ahead - would love to have a flat stomach (that would be INSANE!) but curious at to the recovery...also I'd have to pray that my damn insurance MIGHT cover that - but I'd tend to doubt is since they won't cover WLS. Let me know if ya'll get a chance.

Thanks!

Bythelake · 12-10-2008, 07:17 PM

I recently had a gastric bypass which was covered by Healthcare here in Canada. All bariatric surgery is covered here and in Alberta Canada, breast reduction and tummy tucks related to weight loss are also 100 per cent covered. Thank goodness for Universal Healthcare!!!
I am pretty sure that these procedures are not covered by MOST insurance policies in the U.S. as they are considered "cosmetic" Let us pray the new Obama administration will begin to cover bariatric surgey as a neccesary , life saving surgery

like it is in Canada. Cheers!
Progressing nicely.. beginning weight was 260, surgery weight 235 one month in.. 204.. only 80 to go!

Sue0609 · 12-10-2008, 07:35 PM

There is a plastic surgery forum, you might want to check there (lots of stories). From what I've read, the plastics are worse than the GBS in terms of pain and recovery time. It seems like a lot of the post-GBS people get a lower body lift not just the regular tummy tuck. The LBL goes around the entire body. It can also be done in two stages (front first, then back). Some people combine it with breast reduction/lift or even thigh lift. I think it makes sense that the tummy tuck is worse because the incision is much, much larger and you are sent home with drains.

Linda in MN · 12-10-2008, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bythelake

I recently had a gastric bypass which was covered by Healthcare here in Canada. All bariatric surgery is covered here and in Alberta Canada, breast reduction and tummy tucks related to weight loss are also 100 per cent covered. Thank goodness for Universal Healthcare!!!
I am pretty sure that these procedures are not covered by MOST insurance policies in the U.S. as they are considered "cosmetic" Let us pray the new Obama administration will begin to cover bariatric surgey as a neccesary , life saving surgery

like it is in Canada. Cheers!
Progressing nicely.. beginning weight was 260, surgery weight 235 one month in.. 204.. only 80 to go!

Did you have to wait a long time for surgery?

I'm not sure we'll ever be able to afford universal health care since our government is going into a staggering amount of debt propping up the banking/insurance/car industries on top of the huge debt we already had.

Some policies in the US cover the plastic surgery. I think every insurance company is different. I haven't checked with my company yet. I think I'm going to have a saggy belly when I'm done losing weight but, plastic surgery seems really scary to me. Ouch! I'll think about that later.

MiladyB · 12-10-2008, 08:50 PM

I had a tummy tuck and breast lift at the same time. How does it compare to my wls? It was much more painful but my wls was done lap. Am I sorry that I had the plastic surgery? NOPE! It was worth all the pain. I had 10 pounds of skin removed. Lost ALOT of blood during surgery and was in surgery for 6 hours. So I understand why I felt so lousy for weeks.

In regards to recovery time it was much longer than the wls too. I felt terrible for a good 4 weeks and was off from work for 6 weeks. I am an RN though so my plastic surgeon wasn't too eager to have me get back to work quickly.

I had 4 drains in after my plastic surgery. The two in the breasts were out in one week and the 2 in my abdomen were in 2 weeks. I was in the hospital for 3 nights after my plastic surgery.

It certainly isn't a surgery that you will recover from quickly but it was certainly worth it for me.

Jeanie · 12-11-2008, 03:44 PM

For me GBS hurt way more (I had it lap) my body lift was a walk in the park. The 1st day (same day as TT) was hard and I had a lot of pain, but after that not too much pain at all. I went home a couple hours after I was done. The thing that hurt the worse was the damn blood thinner shots that I had to have everyday. Lucky for me I have a very close friend that's a nurse so she came over every night and gave it to me. I guess it just depends on you. I paid for it myself insurance wouldn't but it was the best money I've ever spent. I love the fact that I had a flat belly for the 1st time in my life, and even after having a baby my tummy is still flat. It was pretty flat about a week after I had her, so I say GO FOR IT!

lealphachienne · 12-14-2008, 09:59 PM

Jeanie, how is the tummy tuck doing since the baby? How did pregnancy change things?

coptergirl · 12-15-2008, 04:35 AM

I had my TT one year and two days after wls. They were doing a hernia repair as well. Although I was sore (really more tightness than soreness) and although I came home with a JP drain, I found the recovery to be far easier than wls for me. In the recovery room, I was demanding that someone bring me a piece of pizza...I was sooooo hungry!!

Jeanie · 12-15-2008, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lealphachienne

Jeanie, how is the tummy tuck doing since the baby? How did pregnancy change things?

It's going awesome. You could never tell that I had a baby. My tummy started to get flat a few hours after I had Savanna. By the time I walked out of the hospital I was wearing "normal" clothes (non marternity), and nine days after I had her my stomach was flat. People couldn't believe that I just had a baby!

8 weeks after I had her I was able to get into my size 6 jeans again!! WOOOO HOOOO thank you Dr. C & Dr. Mofid!!!!

lealphachienne · 12-15-2008, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeanie

It's going awesome. You could never tell that I had a baby. My tummy started to get flat a few hours after I had Savanna. By the time I walked out of the hospital I was wearing "normal" clothes (non marternity), and nine days after I had her my stomach was flat. People couldn't believe that I just had a baby!

8 weeks after I had her I was able to get into my size 6 jeans again!! WOOOO HOOOO thank you Dr. C & Dr. Mofid!!!!

Amen!!!!! Can't wait to see.