Posts by Lisa Ross43

So far, I’ve only ever undergone correction on my upper arms, and that was done over in Cleveland at the clinic with the Jurist. Back in May, I went in to discuss the next steps in my plan, but he informed me that because of the extensive scarring on my abdomen from previous procedures—combined with this recent sleeve surgery—there is a genuine risk of skin necrosis. Honestly, it made me pull back and reconsider everything, though I can't help feeling a bit resentful seeing how easily others seem to undergo the exact same thing without such warnings...
But, despite the hesitation, I am seriously considering picking this back up in the fall to continue with these corrections... even if plenty of people are trying to talk me out of it. I’ve always been a stubborn sort, and I suspect that hasn't changed one bit, so I’ll likely push forward regardless...
If you look at the very beginning of this thread, you'll find an earlier post of mine containing photos, but just to save you the scrolling, I’ve gone ahead and copied it here for you to review.

Here is what things looked like before the operation, during the preparation phase when they were doing the markings (April 27th, 2009).
http://yfrog.com/6cjanacrtanaj

And this is right after the surgery, as I was heading home...
http://yfrog.com/4jjaposlijeoperacijej

AND HOW IT LOOKS TODAY

http://yfrog.com/g4rukedanas001j

http://yfrog.com/0yrukedanas003j

http://yfrog.com/j7rukedanas004j

quietgull62 said:I see you’re just starting out on this journey. Honestly, I think it might be a bit premature to be worrying about all that right now. You have the surgery first, then there's at least a full year of weight loss ahead of you... and until then—who knows if Medicare will even have the budget for any of this stuff! I guess I'm joking, obviously, but you really have plenty of time to stress over those things later.
Regarding breast surgery—honestly, I’m just not sure if Medicare would even cover something like that. I don't personally know anyone who has managed to get a breast augmentation covered through Medicare. I mean, I know reduction surgery is a possibility since there’s an actual medical indication for it, but a lift? I really don't know. In any case, I think you should probably focus on that final victory over the scale first, and then we can worry about the aesthetics once the time is right. Good luck!

Well, I can tell you for certain that breast corrections are definitely possible... and I'll be able to give you the full, exact details by the end of the year... Kitty hehehe

graniteviper19 said:Does Medicare cover the cost of skin removal surgery after a bypass or other procedures, and if so, under what specific circumstances? Thanks!😕

Everything related to that extra weight you lose—all those physical changes resulting from slimming down—is completely covered by Medicare.

Kenneth Howard5 said:Beslin thinks it takes two years, though... :-(.

Precisely... you spend a full year losing weight, and then you wait another full year after the weight loss has plateaued. He explains it by saying there might still be more weight to drop during that second year, and why bother with plastic surgery if you're just going to end up looking gaunt again. I took that exact same approach myself; once I finished my year of dieting, I waited another twelve months for everything to truly stabilize before finally undergoing surgery to remove the excess skin on my upper arms. These days, I am making the decision, quite privately within my own mind, to move forward this coming fall. I'll just pick up the phone, dial the number for the Jurist at Rijeka University Hospital, and tell him I'm on my way... Kitty hehehe

quietgull62 said:Well, yeah...
After dealing with all of this and finally taking a look at my midsection—I guess I'm pretty sure I'll be heading back for more plastic surgery...🙂 hehehe...

I have been mulling this over constantly lately, and I truly believe that once autumn rolls around, I will finally make my move to take things further myself.....

Kenneth Howard5 said:I am under the impression that if someone is diagnosed with a hernia, Medicare will cover an abdominoplasty. Personally, I don't have a hernia, but I am looking into getting both a tummy tuck and a thigh lift. Does anyone here have any insight on this? I believe Dario_21 was the username used previously—if any of you have been following the lap band forums, I recall him mentioning he was planning to undergo similar procedures...

Well, both Dario and Kevin Turner7 had all those procedures done, while I’m just looking at an arm lift...
Medicare covers everything, but the three of us had our surgeries done in Cleveland, though now I'm reading that they perform them over at Holy Spirit too... before we went through with the Cleveland option, I reached out everywhere and they all insisted it would be an out-of-pocket expense, just like paying a private surgeon....
There you have it.

Jonathan Perez88 said:Thanks Lisa Ross43 for posting those photos! I have to admit, it looks a little intimidating 😳. I was under the impression it would heal much more smoothly. But I noticed your abdominal scar immediately—it looks way better than mine!

It is quite daunting, isn't it? But I truly believe things will improve; for instance, the area under my armpit is almost invisible now, though I simply couldn't manage to snap a photo of it myself. My husband, bless his heart, has absolutely zero talent for photography, and even after a great deal of coaxing, he barely managed to get one shot while I had to take these other two on my own... and those first two were taken by my doctor, Davor Jurišić.....

Jonathan Perez88 said:Great stuff, really. But I’m with Taylor Garcia66 on this one—we need those photos. Just hand a camera to the kids and let them snap some shots and upload them for you! 😁

Well, I suppose I should make a bit of an effort here and share what I’ve actually managed to accomplish. I’ll be the first one among this entire group to post my progress, though I must admit it is limited strictly to my forearms. When it came to working on my abdomen, I was told there was a serious risk of necrosis, which frankly left me feeling quite disheartened. It was such a crushing disappointment, and now I find myself sitting here completely at a loss, wondering what on earth I am supposed to do next.

Here is the preparation process, specifically the marking stage, just before the surgery (April 27, 2009).
I simply cannot wrap my head around how people can be so utterly careless with their digital presence nowadays, though I suppose that is just the modern way, isn't it? I was looking at this link—it’s one of those old image hosting sites, yfrog.com, which honestly feels like a relic from a bygone era, much like the way we used to rely on physical filing cabinets before everything became so ephemeral and fleeting. It reminds me of a time when I spent an entire afternoon in a dusty library in Cleveland, searching for a single piece of information that now takes three seconds to find on a smartphone, yet even then, the quality of what you found was far more reliable than this digital clutter. One must wonder about the security of such things, the sheer lack of oversight that exists in these corners of the internet where data just sits, unmonitored and vulnerable, much like the way certain bureaucratic processes back home used to leave us waiting indefinitely for a response from Medicare. It truly makes one reflect on the necessity of order and structure in an increasingly chaotic world.

After undergoing surgery and now finally heading back home...
I suppose I should probably share this link, though I can't be entirely certain if it will even function properly on this platform—it’s one of those photo hosting sites that seems to fluctuate in reliability. It is essentially a snapshot of my current state following the surgical procedure. As I sit here, attempting to maintain some semblance of composure while navigating the rather tedious recovery process, I find myself reflecting on how much one's perspective shifts when they are tethered to a recovery bed. One moment you feel quite prepared for the ordeal, and the next, you're just staring at the ceiling, wondering why the healing process feels like it takes an eternity. Anyway, here is the image: http://yfrog.com/4jjaposlijeoperacijej

AND TODAY AS WELL

http://yfrog.com/g4rukedanas001j

http://yfrog.com/0yrukedanas003j

http://yfrog.com/j7rukedanas004j

I can't say for certain the exact weight of the skin that was removed, though I suspect it was hovering somewhere around the 2.5 kg mark... and well, that’s really all there is to say for now, as I am still carefully weighing my options regarding what comes next.
I extend my warmest greetings to all of you.

quietgull62 said:After nearly two years of checking in regarding the gastric bypass journey, and having finally won my battle against the weight, I suppose I’ve reached the end of this particular road. And I know I'm not alone in this stage. Our focus has definitely shifted toward corrective procedures now that the massive weight loss is behind us. About ten days ago, I underwent tummy tuck surgery. Essentially, it was a reconstruction of the abdominal wall to remove the excess skin, fix a post-op hernia, and include some liposuction.
Is there anyone else out there who has gone through something similar? I think exchanging experiences might actually be helpful...

I believe I have already mentioned in those other threads that I happened to consult with the Jurist in Cleveland, who performed the skin removal on my upper arms after I lost the weight...
I went to see him to discuss getting the excess skin removed from my stomach, but during our consultation, once he saw all the surgical scars on my abdomen, he warned me there was a possibility of tissue necrosis. Honestly, I walked away immediately; I simply wasn't willing to take that kind of risk. However, just because he flagged it doesn't necessarily mean it's a certainty—after all, Kevin Turner7 had the exact same type of operation, plus on her thighs, and she didn't face any issues at all. It is quite baffling to me why he specifically raised that concern for my case. I am still weighing my options and deciding what to do next, but the issue isn't just my stomach; the loose skin on my thighs is becoming a major problem too...