What about plastic surgery? Who pays if you need it?

Hi! I'm still going through the Gastric Bypass Life Skills class required by Dr. Irgau so I don't have my surgery date yet (although I have lost more than 16 pounds). I've been watching shows on the Discovery Channel about WLS & Plastic Surgery. One woman lost 240 pounds after her WLS and, even though she was working out almost every day, she had to pay $15,000 to have huge amounts of excess skin removed. I don't want to go through all this pain and hard work just to be ashamed of my body because of baggy/saggy skin that I can't afford to have removed. What do you do if you need plastic surgery but it's not covered by your insurance? I welcome any advice from folks who have already "been there - done that."

Many of us are ashamed of our bodies prior to surgery. That goes with being obese. People don't usually go through this surgery for cosmetic reasons alone. Usually it is to enchance your health, have a longer lifespan with your family, etc. Basically you campaign as much as possible with the insurance company, but normally unless the excess skin is causing side-effects they will not approve cosmetic surgery. This will not get better, in fact, more insurance companies are getting strictre about their apporval. [I have not alpplied yet, since Dr. Irgaau said that it is highly unlikely that I could get approved, plus I want to live in my new body for a couple of years, and deal with keeping my weight before I worry how good I look.] When the insurance company fail you, you may be capable of working out an extended payment plan with the plastic surgeon. Before you worry too much about plastic surgery though, it is important to change your lifestyle and be extremely agressive about working out.

Cassandra, I have not had PS, but wanted to say hello and welcome you to the DE board. We have had a couple of gals here on the DE board that have had PS, perhaps they will pop in and give you some advice. Or you could go to the main message board or the plastic surgery board and ask there. http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/plasticsurgery/ http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/messageboard/ Tammy

Congrats on your WL I say take one step @ a time. Not everybody will need PS it depends on several different factors. And I know ppl who the insurance didn't cover for PS. They had to do payment plans and/or take out loans, etc.... Where there's is a will there's a way

Welcome, Cassandra. Awesome weight loss! As for plastic surgery, I want it all--but cannot afford it all! I am newly postop (Aug 3rd), and I will definitely just be glad to enjoy a normal weight and healthy lifestyle. Although I know I will be denied plastic surgery, I will be just fine with my sagging self that I will probably learn to camoflauge to an extent. Dianne