As I loose weight I have saggy skin too. My upper arms are bad as is my upper thigh area. My tummy is also. Boobs too! My bariatric program will refer you to a Bari Plastics surgeon after you have met your goal and maintained goal weight for 6 months I think if you have followed all the bariatric rules like keeping your appointments, getting your labwork done, not smoking, no alcohol, no caffine, no soda.... I will probably look into it. They give you a discounted rate but it is still expensive and insurance won't cover it most of the time unless you get infections from the loose skin rubbing. I do believe my insurance states it won't cover it if a person has had WLS too. I guess I would just have to pay for it on a health care like credit card or rob some of my retirement funds!
At my WLS support group one woman had her upper arms and upper thighs done about 4 weeks ago. She said the pain wasn't bad. The procedure took 7 hours in Operating Room and she had drains and had to be wrapped daily so she said you have to have someone with you that can help you with that stuff.
I worry about the pain and then the cost too.

As I loose weight I have saggy skin too. My upper arms are bad as is my upper thigh area. My tummy is also. Boobs too! My bariatric program will refer you to a Bari Plastics surgeon after you have met your goal and maintained goal weight for 6 months I think if you have followed all the bariatric rules like keeping your appointments, getting your labwork done, not smoking, no alcohol, no caffine, no soda.... I will probably look into it. They give you a discounted rate but it is still expensive and insurance won't cover it most of the time unless you get infections from the loose skin rubbing. I do believe my insurance states it won't cover it if a person has had WLS too. I guess I would just have to pay for it on a health care like credit card or rob some of my retirement funds!
At my WLS support group one woman had her upper arms and upper thighs done about 4 weeks ago. She said the pain wasn't bad. The procedure took 7 hours in Operating Room and she had drains and had to be wrapped daily so she said you have to have someone with you that can help you with that stuff.
I worry about the pain and then the cost too.

Thank you so much for your post!

I wish I had heard of this before I had any PS done! I guess because I wasn't in a bariatric program per se explains why I never knew of it. I mentioned to another post that my bariatric surgeon retired within my first year post op and I was never given a referral surgeon or nut. I was so ashamed of having to go through the surgery I isolated myself further from any support of any kind by keeping it a secret too. Hindsight I realize I was a fool and only hurt myself further. I stumbled on help on the web and I'm so thankful!

Only regret is that I didn't find out sooner and definitely before my 70 lb regain, lol.

One more thing about knee replacement surgery... I know two people whose new knees came apart after a couple of years! So I'm actually more careful with my new knee than the old one because of that. I don't want to go through that surgery again! I think that the technology has improved tremendously since my friend's surgery. Theirs was about 10 years ago at least. So, I wouldn't let that stop you but I felt I should mention it. You're really not supposed to do a lot of high impact stuff like jumping, especially if you're overweight. Puts too much stress on the orthotic.

And I forgot to say that I, too, had to take antibiotics before dental appts but I thought they said just for the first five years after. I haven't been to the dentist since the five years have past. My dentist retired and I haven't found another. One of my friends whose knee failed had an infection. Not sure if that's why it failed or if the failure caused the infection. They had to clear up the infection before they could do another replacement.

2 wks post op of the inner/outer & anterior thigh, calf & knee lipo surgery. I'm just now getting a little bit back to normal. I had complications with the anesthesia and the pain meds which put me behind schedule in my recovery. The first night I had severe nausea but could only dry heeve since my tummy was so empty with surgery at noon and I could have nothing past midnight the night before. 2nd day I was mostly drugged but kept up all Dr's orders, fluids, legs elevated, ice on, ice off, walk, move, etc. I was so light headed and had the twinkly lights every time I got up to move or go potty. Day 3 I passed out on potty, scared me and hubby very badly. He said my eyes rolled back in my head and I was out for +-3 mins. I can't even talk about what was going on while I was passed out. Just glad it's behind me.

Got stitches out on 1 wk post op. The one behind my knees were growing into the skin so that was fun having yanked out. My iron levels were down from 15 to 8 and my BP was 94/68. No wonder I was having twinkly lights and weak. Oh yeah, my chest also felt like an elephant was sitting on it for the entire first week plus. I kept up the deep breathing and coughing, thinking it was the anesthesia. Nurses had no answers. Comforting, right?! I have to go back on Tuesday to see the Dr for the first time since surgery.

The worst part now is the support garment which is very restrictive but important I'm told and have to wear it 4 more weeks, 24/7 with a break only to shower and launder it. I am, of course, bruised worse than I expected too. I see no difference for all the pain and anguish but I'm told it takes months before you see it. They took 6.25 liters and I weighed today 185 which is the same as I did the morning of surgery. Very swollen so we'll see. Needless to say I'm not a happy camper EXCEPT that I'm happy to be alive!

At this point, I'm done with PS...no 2nd phase thigh lift for me. UNLESS, they find a miracle between now and when I die. Thanks for listening.

As for me, I have just started this journey. I do not like my fat upper arms. I am using all types of lotions, brushes and exercise to stimulate my skin and hoping that my skin has great elasticity and bounces right back. If not, I will have all the surgeries.

I have been doing sit ups for the last month or so to see if it will help tighten any of the muscles in my tummy/abs. I do lift three pound dumbells 75 times as arm curls twice a day to try to help with my bat wings. I have been obese all my life so I don't think my skin is gonna snap back. When I first started the WLS process I didn't think I would do or want plastic surgery for the saggy skin but after loosing 47 pre op and now 54 pounds since sleeve surgery things are sure saggy and look bad. Almost worse than when I weighed 270 pounds. UGH!

Thought I'd give an update to anyone who is interested. :flowerforyou:

I went to my PS visit Dec 3rd and the swelling has pretty much gone down with the exception of my right ankle area which is weird since he didn't lipo there. I still have hardly any feeling in my calves and that is weird too since he only took a dab out of them. He said his main concentration would be the thighs and that it's difficult to go further down the lower extremities since it is harder the further away from the hearts blood supply for healing. I begged him to just take out some since I'd love to be able to wear boots and haven't been able to find any since I was a teenager due to my entire big legs. (Not just the thighs which are extremely huge.) Anyway, now I believe I've screwed up. Due to my complications with the pain meds, :sick: freaking out post op not to mention the additional cost -I'm scared to do the 2nd phase of the surgery which is the lift. My skin is even looser on the legs which was to be expected but guess I didn't realize how much and now they swing like crazy! There is still tons of fat above my knees too and it still hangs down over my knee caps so badly that you can't even see them now. I am doomed come summer when I want to go to the lake! Will it ever end?!!! :sad:

My next appointment isn't until March. I'll let you know what develops at that point in case anyone is following my journey. Thanks!

Thought I'd give an update to anyone who is interested. :flowerforyou:

I went to my PS visit Dec 3rd and the swelling has pretty much gone down with the exception of my right ankle area which is weird since he didn't lipo there. I still have hardly any feeling in my calves and that is weird too since he only took a dab out of them. He said his main concentration would be the thighs and that it's difficult to go further down the lower extremities since it is harder the further away from the hearts blood supply for healing. I begged him to just take out some since I'd love to be able to wear boots and haven't been able to find any since I was a teenager due to my entire big legs. (Not just the thighs which are extremely huge.) Anyway, now I believe I've screwed up. Due to my complications with the pain meds, :sick: freaking out post op not to mention the additional cost -I'm scared to do the 2nd phase of the surgery which is the lift. My skin is even looser on the legs which was to be expected but guess I didn't realize how much and now they swing like crazy! There is still tons of fat above my knees too and it still hangs down over my knee caps so badly that you can't even see them now. I am doomed come summer when I want to go to the lake! Will it ever end?!!! :sad:

My next appointment isn't until March. I'll let you know what develops at that point in case anyone is following my journey. Thanks!

Thanks for update Deb!! I am following your progress since I will need similar surgery if I ever get up the nerves and under 300 pounds. I have one question for you. If you knew what you know now would you do this again? Take all consideration about cost off the table. If you rich and money was no issue would you do this surgery again and if anything w:grumble: hat would you change.

Hang in there. Change is always hard. I do feel if you stick with it you will get a good outcome. You just have to get over the humps or bumps in the road. Thanks for sharing with us.

Good question...I'm still trying to decide...:grumble:

now I believe I've screwed up. Due to my complications with the pain meds, :sick: freaking out post op not to mention the additional cost -I'm scared to do the 2nd phase of the surgery which is the lift.

THESE PROCEDURES ARE SO COMPLICATED AND HEALING CAN BE SUCH A LONG PROCESS. ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FAT OR TISSUE REMOVED. HANG IN THERE. I DON'T THINK YOU SCREWED UP. YOU JUST UNDERESTIMATED HOW TOUGH RECOVERY IS. STAY ON YOUR SURGEON'S CASE ABOUT ANYTHING THAT'S BOTHERING YOU SO HE CAN HELP YOU HEAL FOR THE NEXT PHASE. I'VE HEARD THAT THE LEGS ARE THE TOUGHEST OF THE POST WL PLASTICS. HOPFULLY AFTER YOUR LIFT YOU WILL SEE THE RESULTS YOU EXPECTED AT THE OUTSET.

I would love to have my lower stomach and boobs done... I went for a free consultation and was told it will cost 24,000 plus... I am trying to figure out how I can get it done where it is not cosmetic... Ugghhh!!!

I had this done in '95, 2 years after my RNY and I was so happy that my insurance paid for it. The excess skin can cause issues too, mention it to your doctor if it causes chaffing or skin irritations. You never know how they might handle if there are additional medical issues relating to the excess skin.

The bat wings and thighs I wish I could have gotten fixed, but I will just continue to exercise and tone and just deal with it. I just feel better not being 300lbs....I can deal with this little thing.

Wishing you the best...Celia

i would kill to get lower tummy and boobs done(never gonna happen tho) :sad: i can live with the bingo wings also would love to get the tops of legs done down to the knees!

I just realized that I forgot to update MFPs on my last follow up in March. I have nothing to report, really. The swelling is all gone and feeling is mostly back but it's been almost 6 months too. The skin is very loose, much worse than prior to the lipo (which was expected) and I will have to live with it for now. I feel very fortunate to have done all the PS that I've done so far and would love to complete the final phase but I can't see charging anymore PS at this time and I haven't the money to pay out of pocket. I believe if money was no object and I could also find a reputable PS who had prior experience with massive weight loss patients and done the legs I would go forward and complete my journey in that area. The legs, I think, are very tricky and you don't hear of many patients who've done them successfully. It's a large area and hard to find PS who have much experience in that area. It's quite costly and I don't think it's worth it unless you have the money and know they can show you several references.

My PS is going to contact his resources and asked me to follow up in another 6 months to see if I changed my mind.

Thanks for all your comments.

I know that because of my age (47) and the fact that I've been overweight/obese all of my adult life, I will eventually have to "deal" with this excess skin. I've only just begun this journey (VGS 12/5/12) but I am already flapping on my belly, back and thighs... Not so worried about the thighs... spanx works wonders in taming the jiggles there but the upper and lower belly, my breasts and this horrible advent of back fat... its making me quite ill...

In my research, I ran across this article... your thoughts?

http://www.alighterme.com/corset-trunkplasty-surgery.html