Help Transform a Life: Support Skin Removal Surgery

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It’s no secret that over the past four years I’ve lost a significant amount of weight. Four years ago, I was at my highest weight of 537 pounds. It’s hard to even tell anyone that. My weight was slowly killing me. I was tired of being tired. Even walking for five minutes was exhausting. I had to sit in a chair while I showered. My A1C was over 10, and I was taking ten different medications just to keep me alive. I even had a BiPap machine at night to help me with sleep apnea.

Then one day, I decided I wanted to get my life back. I was tired of seeing my loved ones doing things that I couldn’t do. I was tired of being tired all the time. I wanted to start living a fulfilling, meaningful life where I could help others and make a difference in people’s lives.

I started my weight loss journey with the keto diet and lost 162 pounds on my own. I watched my carbohydrates and sugars. I stopped eating fast food and started cooking healthy meals at home. In June 2022, I made the tough decision to have weight loss surgery to keep me on the right path and to aid me in losing more weight to become healthier. I decided to have the bariatric sleeve surgery with Dr. Asad, and I was lucky enough to not have any complications.

Since my sleeve surgery, I have lost 170 pounds, which currently puts me at a total loss of 332 pounds in four years. I couldn’t have done this without a lot of support from family and friends. I put in the hard work and was motivated to keep losing more weight, and I did. I’m currently weighing in at 205 pounds and going strong. Because of my weight loss, I was able to enroll in nursing school to get my RN. I get to help people and make a difference in their lives every day. Four years ago, this was a dream of mine that seemed impossible.

Because of my significant weight loss, I’m left with excess skin, which is a constant reminder of the person I once was. I still feel like that 537-pound girl. Now I’m left with not only excess skin but body dysmorphia. Nobody prepares you for that side effect and how much it can affect your confidence. I have to hide certain parts of my body because I’m so self-conscious. Every time I look in the mirror, I am proud of how far I’ve come but also sad that I am left with so much skin.

Recently, I had an appointment with a bariatric skin removal surgeon in Pittsburgh, where I learned that my insurance company will cover the lower abdominal skin removal; however, not the skin from my belly button and up. This surgery is an extra $5,000 out of pocket that I just don’t have. I am thrilled and very grateful that I am able to have the lower part of my abdominal skin removed but also discouraged that my insurance will not cover my upper abdominal skin removal.

I really don’t like asking anyone for help, or especially for money, but it would mean a lot to me to get my additional upper abdominal skin removed. It would help boost my confidence and make me more comfortable in my skin.

I want to thank everyone who has helped me on my weight loss journey and supported me. It means the world to me!