Question:
Plastic Surgery help!
I had the lapband done 2 years ago. Now I need some skin removed very badly. I do not feel happy with the way I look. My stomach and boobs are awful! Is their any kind of organization out there that will help with this. I have insurance but we all know that is no help and I can not afford it on my own. I live in North Carolina, and I didnt know if anyone knew of some organization that might help people with this. I am open to any suggestions. Thanks! — Babbles (posted on August 3, 2008)
August 3, 2008
Contact your local plastic surgeons. I know there is a hospital in RI that
does the skin removal pro bono for the local trauma unit and the skin and
tissue removed is donated to burn victims or kids that need it for skin
grafts. The donors in turn get a donation certificate as a tax write off
and they give you so much money per pound of tissue and skin that can be
used. A friend of mine had it done and they "paid" her $500 for
the tissue/skin. -- Karen in MA
— Karen M.
August 3, 2008
I also know that if the extra skin is making sores, that insurance will pay
if it is medically necessary per doctors request. Sue
— [Deactivated Member]
August 3, 2008
If you are getting sores, rashes and such make sure to document it and have
the plastic surgeon you feel comfortable with submit them to your
insurance. That is what I did and my insurance paid for my tummy tuck and
arm lift. I turned in over 50 pictures of sores along with receipts for
prescription creams my pcp gave me and receipts from all of my appts. with
my pcp.
— tazfan
August 3, 2008
Unfortunately, there are some insurances that have it written explicitly
written out of their policy as they classify it as cosmetic. They do not
care if you have sores, yeast infections, rashes, or that it is a condition
that hampers movement or participation in regular activities. That
happened in my case and I had to self pay. There are lending opportunities
out there to help and sometimes a plastic surgeon will set up a time
payment with you. Good luck!
— AlleeM
August 4, 2008
I live in California and what I have been told is that there are plastic
surgeons who work with burn survivors and will do the skin removal surgery
for a reduced cost or even free. I have not confirmed this but you may ask
your doctor about this or start calling around. Good Luck!
— pjlewis1
August 4, 2008
Check with a plastic surgeon in your area and see if they could finance
your surgery for you, my niece had a tummy tuck done and the surgeon
financed for her, it's worth a try.
— humper
August 4, 2008
I read and was told that the burn center / skin donation thing is a myth...
that extra skin from people who've had WLS isn't suitable for skin grafts
because its lost its elasticity and that most skin grafts are either take
from one part of the body and moved to another or grown in the lab using
the patients own cells because its safer/easier/less complications. With
that said, would some please email me and tell me, specifically, what
doctor/hospital are doing free surgery in exchange for skin. I always here
about friends and friends of friends, so for those of you who know people
who has had surgery, please, please, please send me a private message or
email (mrsidknee at gmail dot com) and give me the name of a doctor(s),
hospital, clinic, whatever where it is being done.
Unless you are having significant medical issues (rash, infection, mobility
impairment, pain, etc.) from excess skin, most charitable organizations
aren't going to help with a cosmetic surgery because they have a limited
amount of money and lots of people who need help with medically necessary
surgery.
Realistically, if this is really important to you, you need to think about
getting a loan or putting it on a credit card. There are some special
loans (lower interest, I think) that are meant for people who want to
finance medical/dental procedures and surgery.
Good luck to you!
— mrsidknee
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