Plastic surgery???

I have been reading about how a lot of people have plastic surgery after they lose weight. What's up with that and how much is it going to cost me?

Health is important and it is my first concern. But if I'm going to go through with this thing, I want to end up looking good.

The cost can vary, depending on who your insurer is, and if they will pay for cosmetic surgery.  Some insurers will if its a health issue, so make sure if you start having rashes and such under skin folds and belly area that you take pics and go to your dr.  The more pics and medical documentation the better.

But I think many of post-op folks end up paying out of pocket. 
There are lots of different kinds of plastic surgery, like some will have the extra skin on the belly removed, or skin under the arms (near your armpits), breasts redone, extra thigh skin, and just having the skin tightened up and put back where it belonged in the first place.

Somewhere there is a section here on OH that goes into all the different plastic surgeries and estimated out of pocket costs and pics and such.  www.obesityhelp.com/content/lifeafter.html down near the bottom is a section about it.

Average Fees of Plastic Surgeons
The US national average for surgeon-fees for selected plastic surgery procedures are:

• Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) $4,827
• Arm Lift (brachioplasty) $3,299
• Body lift (Circumferential Panniculectomy) $7,874
• Breast Lift (Mastopexy) $3,965
• Breast Reduction (Women) $5,351
• Buttock Lift $4,793
• Face Lift $5,966
• Forehead Lift $3,065
• Male Breast Reduction (Gynecomastia) $3,124
• Liposuction (Lipoplasty) $2,578
• Thigh lift (Thighplasty) $4,308

(Source: American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery)

I don't think that includes hospital, surgery or anesthesiologist fees, just the surgeons fees.

I am considering liposuction for my belly.  It hangs but it's not flat skin its still all fat.  I don't think I will ever get it smaller.  Because of it my shirt size and my pant size are not the same and it aggravates me. 

There are also lots of products in the store for people who don't have plastic surgery, like girdles and spanx.  They have full body tummy tuckers, or just the bottom or top girdles.  I have a panty like one that has legs on them to help hold my thighs and belly in.

Also you can do exercises and such to help tighten skin, but you won't be able to tighten it all up with exercise alone. 

In the end, your decision will depend on how much skin you have when you are done losing weight, whether your insurance will pay for it or not, and your own personal reasons.

I have rashes now and they turn into staph.  I have not yet had WLS.  My insurance will pay for this if it is medically necessary.  It has already been dtermined to be medically necessary.  Just have to lose the weight so I can get the most punch for the money.

If you still have problems with your rashes and staph after surgery when you start losing weight, keep going to the dr and getting it treated, that way your insurance will pay for it all to be taken off when you are done losing weight. 

Do you want to look good in general?  Or look good naked?  Because you can look good in general without plastics. 

I tuck my saggy stomach into size 2s & 4s everyday with no trouble - so I don't plan on plastic surgery.

Looking good NAKED however... that would require a skilled surgeon... maybe a couple of them... (for me anyway)