You are here:

Bariatric Surgery/skin removal following lapband weight loss

Advertisement

Expert: - 5/17/2011


Question
I had lapband surgery in 2003.  I am 5ft. 10 in. tall and lost 151 pounds. (343 to 192lbs.) I have been this approximate weight since 2005. I have maintained very well and feel very healthy. However, I have a large amount of excess skin on my arms, legs, and stomach. How do I go about finding a surgeon to address this problem. My shoulders ache due to the weight on my arms. Have you had experience with this being covered by insurance?  At first glance my ins. says no, but I am ever hopeful...female...and 53!

Answer
Hello Sheila and congratulations on the weight loss!

I would suggest that you approach your primary care physician and speak to him or her regarding the ache that you mention.  The ache seems to me to be a quality of life issue and may be the beginning of musculo-skeletal issues caused by the excess skin.  

It is my experience that with no other problems caused by excess skin insurance does nothing to cover the cosmetic surgery required to rid you of the skin.  However, the ache may be enough to cause your surgeon to define it as a health issue.

Please see your doctor with this issue and take with you my wishes for a successful outcome.

Yours,
Steve

Bariatric Surgery

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Steven West

Expertise

I can answer any and all questions from the perspective of a weight loss surgery patient. I have had Gastric Bypass Surgery - Roux-en-Y - and can answer questions from the perspective of one who has experienced the pain and suffering of murderous obesity. I have mustered the courage to open myself to the opportunity to live life again! Let me help you get there, too! Weight loss surgery isn't for everyone, but for those who fit some specific criteria, it is a viable option. With the rise in obesity in America, there are suddenly weight loss surgery centers springing up on every street corner, it seems. Choosing to have weight loss surgery is a major decision in your life, and choosing the right center can mean the difference between weight loss success and failure. There are three main types of weight loss surgery being performed today at most all surgical weight loss clinics: the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, which creates a small stomach pouch and bypasses part of the small intestine; the Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, which is similar to the first surgery, but is done laparoscopically, so it reduces the size of the incision, and reduces the pain and recovery time of the surgery, and the LAP-BAND surgery, which is a band fastened around the stomach to create a small pouch. Weight Loss surgery is not for everyone who is obese. In most cases, candidates must be at least 100 pounds overweight. Surgery should be the last resort, rather than a quick-fix. Surgery is a long-term answer to managing your weight, and you need to be aware it will change your life.

Experience

I am a post operative patient of Weight Loss Surgery (Gastric Bypass, RNY). I am interested in providing coaching for pre-operative and post-operative patients.

Organizations
Member of obesityhelp.com.

Publications
Profiled in Obesity Help Magazine.

Education/Credentials
Bachelors Degree in Computer Science. I am an engineer working for Computer Sciences Corporation in the Washington, D.C. area.

Awards and Honors
I am a retired veteran with over twenty years of U.S. Naval Service.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.