Plastic Surgery?

Hey there you guys.. I am just getting started on Plastic Surgery options.. what type.. self pay vs. insurance.. all of the research stuff. I feel like I prepared so far in advance for my Gastric Bypass but for this I'm really going into it blind. I have an appointment for a consultation with a PS Doctor/Surgeon on Wednesday. .. This is a Consult for a Abdominoplasty and a Breast Lift. It might turn out that I'm looking more at a lower body lift. And a breast lift/augmentation.. I just don't know yet. Is anyone else considering having Plastic Surgery? And if so what have you experianced with all this so far?.. I also think I should have a referrall from my Bariactric Surgeon or Primary.. AND I don't. Even though it was the Bariactric Surgeon *****ccomended I see this Plastics Doc back in July. The initial consult will be $100.00 out of pocket. And then I think they submit to insurnace. I certainly am not prepared to do this with out insurance help. I feel that the hanging skin is a result of surgery that was approved by insurance. So anyone have any thoughts on this whole Plastic Surgery issue? IS it for you or not? Have you looked into it at all? Any insight on dealing with insurance? ... Peace mo 290 - surgery weight 150 - current weight.

I still have some weight to lose before I'll seriously consider plastics. However, when I was heard my skin flaps slapping against my body when running last week (playing soccer) it was very disconcerting. If anybody was running close to me, they could have heard it to. Making me think I'll eventually want the plastics, though I'll be a self pay. Let us know how it goes Mo. -Pam

hi there Pam.... YIKES!!! I know that sound so well the sound of your own skin flapping back at ya!!.. the first time I heard my boobs smack back at me like that I looked around and thought "what was that"?? .. took me a minute to figure out it was me!... well I am going to go ahead with plastics.. at some point I will be 'done'!! lol! peace mo

Hi Mo, I have already had my plastics consult. GOD that was a trip standin there in all my horrid, saddy nekkidness. For a total belt lipectomy, breast augmentation (mine are itty bitty no need to lift) and an inner thigh lift it will be roughly $15k. Insurance (or rather mine) will only pay a portion of the belt lip. if there are skin issues such as moisture retention or rashes. I do not have either. So I am basically screwed and cannot afford it without insurance help. Boo hoo boo hoo Sue

Hi Sue! thanks for the reply. You know the moisture retention is something I had not considered.. but I can go with that.. I use a lot of baby powder for sure. The cost of Plastics is frightning I agree, but wouldn't it be the icing on the cake?.. take care sweetie..p.s...how's your love life honey? i always love to read happy things from you.. peace mo

I'm just getting started as well, although I have had two consults already. One doc won't submit to my insurance (says its a waste of time - they won't pay). He quoted me about 13.5K for a circumferential torsoplasty, including muscle repair, and breast lift, including the surgery center and anesthesia fees. The other doc will submit to insurance and cooperate in fighting for coverage. He has developed a sort of menu of options that can be added to the standard panniculectomy, which is all that insurance typically covers. So he'll charge $1500 to add a vertical incision, which he can accomplish in the time allotted for the panniculectomy. Going all the way around costs $2500 and adds about 2-3 hours at about $1000/hr for the surgery facility and anesthesia. So if insurance covers a panniculectomy, turning it into a lower body lift with an anchor incision would cost $6000-$7000. But I forgot to ask about muscle repair. I need all the common trouble areas addressed, so even the second doc is probably out of reach financially if insurance will cover only a panniculectomy. My insurance states that it covers reconstructive surgery when illness or injury has a major effect on appearance, even though elsewhere in my policy it imposes all kinds of limitations and conditions on post-WLS plastics. I think that the special conditions HealthPartners imposes are medically unjustified and discriminatory, and should be declared legally invalid. So I'm going to fight my insurance company as best I can. Super-morbid obesity is a life-threatening disease that damaged or debilitated many of my body's organs, systems and functions. The treatment of RNY surgery allowed me to recover from obesity, and much of the damage was reversed. The damage that super-morbid obesity did to my skin, however, remains and cannot be reversed. The skin is overstreched, thinned, and scarred (stretch marks are scars). It overlaps in folds putting me at high risk for irritation, rashes and infection. In this era of treatment-resistant pathogens, that risk should be taken seriously. To a limited extent, the most severely damaged areas of skin can be excised, and a more normal appearance restored. The skin of people in the post-morbid obesity condition will never be completely normal, though; there are areas that surgery cannot address, and surgery itself will leave long scars. So my question is, how much more obvious can it be that this is reconstructive, not cosmetic, surgery? If my or your insurance policy covers reconstructive surgery (my state - MN - requires it) then we should be covered for all the post-WLS plastics we need, as long as we are moving from abnormal to normal (not from already normal to super hottie). I know this got long, but geez, insurance companies burn me up.

Hi Fran.. You really look great in your photo.. Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. I agree with you, insurance should cover what is left behind by a surgery they 'did' cover to begin with... I have a many fold problem.. ( parden the pun).. I am also dealing with the just getting started issue on Plastics and I am discovering that this will most definatley be a battle between myself and the insurance company. As I understand what you have said are you saying that the Panniculetumy is covered by your insurance? I suppose mine would be also then. that is just removing the belly fold isn't it?.. I would take that right now I am getting so discourged and I haven't really even started. My husband seems to be not so much in my corner on this issue either. I think he veiws any more 'inhancment' as a threat somehow. It seems that way I hope it really isn't so. I have asked him to go with me on Wednesday for the consult and he is very reluctant to go... I am considering waiting until after the end of November to start this process.. I just want to be ready.. and I don't want to battle insurance and family at the same time.. good luck to you and I will save your post and incorporate a few lines into any appeal in my future.. peace mo

hey gorgrous mo. i miss you. you look fab now. fuggetabout the plastics. who the hell needs more surgery? you look simply luscious. loveya, nan

nani poo .. Haiku for u titties wilting pretty tummy soso sad lifts my spirit to have you near holding you in my heart my dear. fugggetaboutit!!!!!!! damn skippy you make me smile... peace baby mo

oh, just lovely - dear. and i have some free verse for you.... my thighs are soft and they sag my breasts are no longer what they used to be indeed my tummy falls flat and flaps and flops and yet i am still who i am inside my lover knows this i know this and that's what matters doesn't it? because no matter how much i nip and tuck and suck it up i am still me the person i was meant to be and saggy breasts don't matter and saggy tum is not fine but unkind and fine still i am ME and it's ok. i am me. and it's fine i am my creativity. i am my honesty. i am my friendabiliity. i am me.