[HandbagAficionado]

Hi everyone! I don't post often, and JUST now noticed that this board existed! I've been around years on and off, but lost my username/password when I took a pregnancy break in 2003. Anyway, I just want to whine.

Today isn't such a bad day, but most days I am disgusted with myself (naked) because I don't look like a thin person, I only look like the same fat person, rolls and droopy skin, but just in a reduced size. Does that make any sense? I hate working out because my belly skin is actually flopping and it is so uncomfortable. Even though I am a smaller size, I look horrible in anything sleeveless because of the way my arms sag. And don't even mention breasts - the surgeon I consulted with told me that my DD would be just an average B cup if I had the lift and got the extra skin removed, so you can imagine just how much of my breasts are just skin. My personal life is affected by this (sex life, won't go into too much detail, lol) because I am more sensitive of my body issues now then when I was overweight! I can't bare to be touched certain places or seen - at all. It really is terrible and ruining certain aspects of my current relationship.

Of course insurance wouldn't pay for it when I tried back in 2005 ... but I am going to give it a try yet again. I have a hernia, have had that for a while now and I am just living/dealing with it, and hoping to get some sort of combo surgery.

Paying for surgery is out of the question as I am a single mother of three now, divorced in 2005. Unless I hit the lotto, I don't see how I would ever pay for it because there will always be something more important that my children need. Guess that means I need to start playing lotto! lol

Anyway, I am glad to have found this board.

Kelly

[shrinkingchica]

Hiya and Welcome!

Yes, the type of surgery needed after massive weight loss is reconstructive and not what someone typically thinks plastic surgery is all about. (Though, I never had a "normal" body so maybe for me it is more "constructive" construction work than re-constructive! )

Because, like you said, exercising is made greatly more difficult (and obviously we don't need something that is physically exerting enough made more strenuous!), the extra skin can be prone to rashes potentially, and psychologically it can be devastating to put so much work into something and feel a bit disappointed at the end result, if not worse.

But, even so, surgery isn't for everyone for a variety of reasons and goodness knows it is NO walk in the park. Surgery days, before and after I check my sanity!

It is the weirdest sensation to long for something and dread it at the same time. But, then again I guess surgery is very similar to weight loss in that respect: You have to be able to make some immediate sacrifices for a much more desired long term result.


Oooopps, I think I may just have gone a'rambling!!

[Mary from Maine]

Hi Kelly,

I usually only lurk, but this post caught my eye. I spoke with my sister, who works for an insurance company, and she said that if the procedure for the removal of excess skin is documented as "medically necessary," insurance companies will usually pay for (or pay for at least part of) the procedure(s). Just wanted to share that with you.

Mary