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At 74 years old, Richard Young is living a life many dream of, traveling the country with his wife in their RV, capturing stunning photographs with his iPhone and embracing every moment with renewed confidence.
But just a year ago, Richard’s life was defined by a physical burden he had carried for over two decades: a large pannus, or “fat apron,” that hung from his abdomen, a remnant of his incredible weight loss journey.
In 2010, Richard weighed 320 pounds. Through sheer determination and a disciplined eating program, he lost over 130 pounds without the aid of bariatric surgery.
Yet, despite his success, the excess skin and fat remained a constant source of discomfort, self-consciousness and medical complications. “I had to buy pants big enough to go around everything just to hide it,” Richard recalled. “It hung down past my knees. It wasn’t pretty.”
For 15 years, Richard searched for a doctor who would help him remove the pannus.
“No one would take the time,” he said. “They either said it was cosmetic or just didn’t want to deal with it.” That changed in December when a twisted bowel sent him to the emergency room in Apache Junction, Arizona. There, he met Michelle Baribaul, DO, a general surgeon at HonorHealth General Surgery – East Mesa with a reputation for going above and beyond.
After treating his obstruction laparoscopically, Dr. Baribault visited Richard during recovery. That’s when he lifted his shirt and asked, “What can we do about this?” She didn’t hesitate. “I do panniculectomies,” she told him. “Come see me after you’re discharged and we’ll talk.”
What followed was a months-long battle with insurance. Initially denied coverage, Dr. Baribault and her team, including her scheduler Jennifer, gathered medical documentation, photos and letters of necessity from Richard’s cardiologist and primary care physician. They appealed the decision, advocated relentlessly and ultimately secured approval for the surgery.
“There were a lot of hoops,” Dr. Baribault said. “But I could see how much this was affecting his life. I don’t let insurance companies dictate care when I know it’s medically necessary.”
On April 16, Richard underwent the panniculectomy at HonorHealth Four Peaks Medical Center. The results were life-changing.
“I don’t have that big bunch of skin and fat hanging down in front of me anymore,” Richard said. “My clothes fit better. I don’t get rashes in the summer. I feel more confident. I’m more active.”
The surgery didn’t just improve Richard’s physical health, it transformed his outlook. “I’ve gained a new sense of freedom,” he said. “I’m not constantly worried about how I look or whether people are staring. I can move more easily, and I feel lighter in every sense of the word.”
Dr. Baribault, who trained under a high-volume bariatric surgeon, is one of the few general surgeons in the region who performs panniculectomies. “Most general surgeons don’t do them,” she said. “It’s often seen as a plastic surgery procedure, but I do it for quality of life, not cosmetics.”
A New Lease on Life
Richard and his wife now spend their winters in Mesa, Arizona and the rest of the year traveling the country in their 30-foot trailer.
They’ve visited dozens of states, explored historical sites along the East Coast and even attended a Red Sox game at Fenway Park.
“We’ve been retired for over 12 years,” he said. “We sold our house, paid off our debt and hit the road. It’s been five and a half years of pure joy.”
Photography has become a passion for Richard. He’s taken classes to master iPhone photography and now captures breathtaking images from their travels. “iPhones nowadays can really take great shots,” he said. “I love finding beauty in everyday moments.”
He also enjoys woodworking, crafting pens on a lathe, two of which he gifted to Dr. Baribault and Jennifer. “They were just wonderful,” he said. “Jennifer joked about sending my before photos to Chippendales. I told her not to, but she said she was just about to!”
Dr. Baribault remembers those photos vividly. “It was like an appendage,” she said. “I’m a big patient advocate. I care deeply about my patients, and I’ll always fight for them.”
Richard’s gratitude extends to the entire HonorHealth team. “We just stumbled upon Jacqueline Stockton as our primary care doctor and stayed in the system ever since,” he said. “Every experience has been positive.”
Now, Richard is looking forward to returning to Arizona this winter, playing pickleball and continuing his travels. “We’ve found a great community in Mesa and if we ever settle down, it’ll be somewhere in the Valley,” he said.
His story is a testament to perseverance, his own and that of the medical team who refused to give up. It’s about reclaiming life one step at a time and finding joy in the journey.
