Friday, September 17, 2010

My Extra Belly Skin part 2

The first pictures didn't show it too well and really I can't fully show you how much is there unless I post bare belly pics and even then you don't understand the full grasp of just how much skin is there until you see all areas and to do that I would need to be naked/almost naked and that isn't gonna happen......  besides my doctor, only a few very close people are allowed to see that much details and only if they really wanted to.

Anyway the picture before in the gray skirt I had bike shorts on under the skirt. I have to wear something under my dresses/skirts or my belly will just hang too much, pull on my back too much and swing from side to side like Dolly going jogging without a bra. Even when I wear shorts under the dress the extra skin still pulls, hurts, gets red, irritated, can bleed and rubs against it's self.

I took some pics in one of my new dresses without anything under the dress just to compare. Maybe this will start to help some people understand how much is there. This is massive amount of extra skin, not just a little roll or love handles. And remember this is just the main belly area, not even talking about my thighs, under my belly, my upper arms or under my arms. This part has to come off before the other areas can even be considered for any type of reconstruction.

From the front:

And the side, I put the red line right where my body ends and the extra skin starts:

5 comments:

  1. CJ, I am LadyBlueberry from lowcarbfriends. I've read through a lot of your blog here and I appreciate sharing your experiences. I have been eating LC since April and have lost about 60 pounds. I found your meal suggestions helpful in addition to your approach to your WOE. I especially liked the excel spreadsheet! I read through your challenge with surgery. I have three questions. If you ignore the money issue for a moment, did the surgeon feel that she could help you with your problem? Second, given that you are having problems with the excess skin (the infection, etc.), is it possible to speak with the insurance company directly and see if they will cover it? My last question is that with all the discounts and what insurance would cover, how much would you be short for the first (main) surgery?

    I'd also like to say that your determination and honesty is really to be admired. Nancy

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Nancy,
    The surgeon can very much help and feels that the surgery is very important to be done asap for my health, not just for her pocket book. She is actually not going to make much off my surgery because of all the discounts she is giving me. There is only a small part that insurance will cover and the surgeon submitted that request and we are still waiting on approval. She says it should be approved and in her experience there is no reason why they should deny it. But they won't cover the upper tummy that needs to be done at the same time. Even with insurance covering about 6k of the surgery and all of the discounts and everything I still have to pay 8k out of pocket for the surgery. That does not include thighs or anywhere else on my body. This is only for the extra skin on my abs and belly.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi I'm new on LCF and just found your blog. You should be SO proud of yourself, you have done an amazing job, and are such an inspiration! Good luck with your surgery.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, honey... my heart just aches for you. That weight must hurt SO BADLY!!!!! I just began reading this today and so I don't yet know if you've been able to have your surgery yet... this was written a year ago so I really hope so. I will keep you in my prayers. Love, Elyn (your Mom's friend)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh, honey... my heart just aches for you. That weight must hurt SO BADLY!!!!! I just began reading this today and so I don't yet know if you've been able to have your surgery yet... this was written a year ago so I really hope so. I will keep you in my prayers. Love, Elyn (your Mom's friend)

    ReplyDelete