Dolittle

I hate to tell you this, but 99.99% of the patients that need plastics to remove their excess skin will be denied by their insurance providers. Cosmetic surgery is considered an elective surgery. It really depends on your insurer and your doctor. If you and your doctor can build a case to show that the excess skin is causing you all kinds of health issues, you might get it done. Good luck.

Sorry, but 99.99% of the gastric sleeve patients on this forum are self pay. You are in what we call "insurance hell" for weight loss surgery patients. If you're an insurance patient in the USA, you're not going to find much information here concerning the insurance hoops and requirements that may pertain to you. Here's some food for thought, there have been numerous patients that had insurance but still chose the OCC for their surgery and were self pay. Many found out that with all the insurance hoops and other requirements, plus their portion of the deductible and co-pay, the OCC and its award winning bariatric program was a better choice. www.obesitycontrolcenter.com

If you were banded in 2003, my opinion is that your way past the average life of the band. Most patients of that era only got 6 to 10 years out of the band before having issues. The OCC uses the Marriott in TJ for the patients and companions to stay post surgery. For info pertaining to reflux, hernias, etc, contact the OCC and talk to one of the surgery coordinators at 866-376-7849

A tummy tuck is where a plastic surgeon will cut and carve with a scalpel to remove excess skin around your waist line. Liposuction is where a special thin hollow rod is inserted under your skin that has the capabilities to cut and suck fat deposits without removing outer skin. My best advise is to go to Youtube and which a few videos on these subjects.

There's pros and cons to each. The Plication surgery and sleeve are really similar. On the Plication, they fold and sew the stomach to the same size of a sleeved stomach. It can be reversed, or say undone. Sleeve is permanent, you can't undo it. But most have better results with the sleeve than the plication. If you consult your surgeon, they can give you a better perspective and some statistics.

No need to exchange money to Peso's, everyone takes American and Canadian money, especially if your just using it as tip money. Places like Walmart will do an exchange right at the cash register.

I loved my band,, but after years of high maintenance and fills, unfills and acid reflux. I found it time to dump the band and go with the sleeve.

Best to call the OCC surgery coordinators. 1-866-376-7849

The TSA only goes after stuff that will bring a plane down and prohibited items, example, guns, knives, bombs, liquids over 3.4oz, gels and aerosols in your carry on. Protein powder isn't one of those and it isn't a prohibited item. They might check it, but it will end up ok to go. If you are checking a bag, pretty much anything can go in checked. The TSA has examples on their website if you need to be assured.

Call the toll free number 1-866-376-7849 and talk to a surgery coordinator and they will answer all your questions.

Protein powder and supplements will be fine going through customs and airport security. The only thing the airport security is looking for is liquids, aerosols and gels over 100ml in your carry on. If you have anything that's larger than 100ml, put it in your checked bag. If you don't have a checked bag,, don't bring it. Walmart has a lot of travel size stuff under 100ml available.

I had no issues with using FMLA at work. Signed the proper forms at work and it was approved. I don't remember if the employer can ask where your procedure will happen? Your surgery coordinator at the OCC should be able answer that question. They deal with it everyday.

It's never too late to have surgery. There are a lot of patients our age that have chosen to go this route and have had great success. I started this journey back in 2007 at the age of 54 with the Lap-band, then at age 61 switched to the Sleeve. One of smartest things I had ever done.

I really don't hear of patients that need aftercare. If they have an issue they can call the OCC and they advise you from there. Most are very minor and handled over the phone.

Just send your flight info to your surgery coordinator and the OCC concierge. That way your covered. And a week out, email them to get conformation. They should give you a contact number for the van driver too. Just in case you need to contact him when you hit the ground in SD.