Weight Loss Surgery

tazzababe

Does anyone know what guidelines there are for tummy tuck on NHS? My friend had one years ago, after having three c-sections.
I have started losing wieght and it seems to be going really well (so far) but I know that I will have loose skin. It looks bad now, its going to look even worse when I reach my target weight.

Cute_'n'_Quirky

tazzababe wrote: »

Does anyone know what guidelines there are for tummy tuck on NHS? My friend had one years ago, after having three c-sections.
I have started losing wieght and it seems to be going really well (so far) but I know that I will have loose skin. It looks bad now, its going to look even worse when I reach my target weight.

It depends where you live.

In my area they will do a tummy tuck but you have to have maintained your new weight for at least 12 months first

vix2000

constant weight and bmi below 30 where I live. also not interested in applications on medical grounds only psychological. Waiting for mine after successful appeal.

tazzababe

Cute, Vix Can I ask what region you live in. I'm in the North West

vix2000

Hi Tazza, no probs. I live in Sheffield. Its been a bit of a battle and taken nearly a year to get funding though.

homealone_2

i posted on here a while ago asking what the criteria was for having gastric surgery. i said i had back surgery in 2004 and since then have gaine just over 7 stone, have tried xenical for 18 months and dieted with no avail. am having other weight related problems and my knees are so painful it has to be the weight. well i went to see my gp yesterday for my monthly reveiew of medication all armed with a convincing case for surgery when i said am thinking of having gastric surgery and she said i agree with you, you really have alot of serious problems now related to your weight gain and i think you would make a perfect candidate. i said i was hoping to get bank loan just wanted her approval first in case there would be a problem with all the medication i take especially the amount of morphine and she said no i will write to the hospital requesting a consult and we can take it from there. so with any luck i may get it on the nhs which financially would be a relief as only have hubby working and really struggle every month as it is. so all i can do now is wait and see. am just hoping i dont need to wait months for an appointment and then have the good news of being accepted only to find myself on the end of a very long waiting list.
is anyone else either at the stage i am now or the next stage of haven seen consultant, would love to hear from anyone with relevant experience

homealone_2

anyone around that has any recent experience of gastric surgery?

vix2000

homealone wrote: »

i posted on here a while ago asking what the criteria was for having gastric surgery. i said i had back surgery in 2004 and since then have gaine just over 7 stone, have tried xenical for 18 months and dieted with no avail. am having other weight related problems and my knees are so painful it has to be the weight. well i went to see my gp yesterday for my monthly reveiew of medication all armed with a convincing case for surgery when i said am thinking of having gastric surgery and she said i agree with you, you really have alot of serious problems now related to your weight gain and i think you would make a perfect candidate. i said i was hoping to get bank loan just wanted her approval first in case there would be a problem with all the medication i take especially the amount of morphine and she said no i will write to the hospital requesting a consult and we can take it from there. so with any luck i may get it on the nhs which financially would be a relief as only have hubby working and really struggle every month as it is. so all i can do now is wait and see. am just hoping i dont need to wait months for an appointment and then have the good news of being accepted only to find myself on the end of a very long waiting list.
is anyone else either at the stage i am now or the next stage of haven seen consultant, would love to hear from anyone with relevant experience

fingers crossed for you. Mine was a few years ago, but the fact that I had medical conditions made worse by my obesity worked in my favour, as I only needed a bmi over 35 instead of 40. Go for it, you've got nothing to loose.

After a years fighting for my abdomniplasty funding I had the consultation 2 weeks ago. I am having a fleur de lys tummy tuck. I have just had a letter with a date for the op of July 30th. How quick is that!!!!!! Just got to get my psoriasis under control as I know if it isn't they won't do it.

homealone_2

vix2000 wrote: »

fingers crossed for you. Mine was a few years ago, but the fact that I had medical conditions made worse by my obesity worked in my favour, as I only needed a bmi over 35 instead of 40. Go for it, you've got nothing to loose.

After a years fighting for my abdomniplasty funding I had the consultation 2 weeks ago. I am having a fleur de lys tummy tuck. I have just had a letter with a date for the op of July 30th. How quick is that!!!!!! Just got to get my psoriasis under control as I know if it isn't they won't do it.

wow that is great waiting a year could not have been fun but july 30 is really soon. why did you have to fight for other operations, did they not feel it was necessary and how badwas the stretching skin and what is a fleur de lys tummy tuck?

vix2000

basically after loosing 5.5 stones after gastric banding I started developing sores and infections under my 'apron' of skin on my tummy. This was partially due to my psoriasis. My gp was requested to send in photos, which we did, and my plastic surgeon and dermatologist sent letters recommending the surgery for medical reasons. They rejected my application on the basis that surgery was not a valid reason for surgery (but the infections were, according to my pct guidelines.) I thought it was a no go so forgot about it until I had to go to my plastic surgeon regarding some surgery to my breasts after my reconstruction following mastectomy. He asked how my application was going and I told him it had been rejected. He told me to appeal and I said is it worth it? He replied that he strongly advised me to appeal. After my surgery at the plastics dressings clinic I was discussing it with the staff nurse who told me to put all my psychological problems down, as the pct are more interested in these than medical reasons. So I appealed on the grounds that I hated looking at myself in the mirror, never go out as my clothes dont fit properly due to buying 3 sizes too big to accommodate my excess skin and as for letting a member of the opposite sex near me!!!!!!! All true may I add. I got a letter approving my application. Now, to me, thats ludicrous. Surely medical grounds should be as valid, but obviously not.

A normal tummy tuck is when they cut along the pubic line under the flap, then take a slice, as in melon, above the navel and make a new navel hole and rejoin the skin as below:-


the fleur de lys is performed in people who, like me, have a thick midrift and the above would not give a very satisfactory outcome, so they take a triangular slice as in the picture below (black lines) from the breastbone and this pulls in the waist and tightens skin higher up. (see below).



I also have a lot of scars in this mid section, so this will remove all these and I will have a vertical scar, but I'm not intending sunbathing topless at my age, or glamour modelling, so I'm not that bothered.

Hope this helps, feel free to ask if you have any more questions.