I am new and need some help

I have recently in the last year lost about 160+ pounds and now have a large skin flap that hangs down. I get lower back pain and sometimes rashes. Can I get is removed and will insurance cover this. I just do not know where to start. Thanks for any help.

This sounds like a panni or an "apron". Pretty common thing for large weight loss. If you can prove that this is causing issues, such as the rashes and lower back pain, and can get a doctor to verify that, then you have a chance that insurance will pay for the surgery necessary to take care of it. As embarrassing as it may be take pictures of the rashes and see the doctor about it. The more you can document about the better chance of insurance approving it. You don't say who your insurance is but I have heard that BlueCross has been pretty decent as long as it is medically necessary and not for cosmetics. Also check out the plastic surgery forum on this site at http://obesityhelp.com/forums/plasticsurgery/ . If you are a male, also check out the men's forum at http://obesityhelp.com/forums/men/ and post a message there. Several of the men have had the surgery done very recently and are willing to discuss any issues about it you may have. Hawkeye Mike

Hawkeye Mike (hey! I'm from Newton too!!) gave great info. You need a panniculectomy, the removal of the pannus, or the excess abdominal skin that is left behind after tremendous weight loss. I am having a panniculectomy on Sept 25 with Dr. Bergman in Des Moines http://www.bergmancosmeticsurgery.com/drbergman.html My insurance is Welmark BC/BS and they are paying for it, but I had to get prior approval. Here is what you need to do... You need to go to your primarcy care physician and complain about the medical problems this hanging skin is causing you (rashes, etc.). Make sure he is charting these complaints. Ask him to give you a referral to a plastic surgeon for a consultation. (Do your homework ahead of time and know what surgeons are covered by your insurance so you can ask for a specific dr if necessary). You will get in to the plastic surgeon quicker if you are referred by your primary doc and they make the call. OK, then go to the plastic surgeon and he will take pictures, etc. and he will handle sending it all in to insurance for you and will request the prior approval. Let them handle the paperwork, they know what they are doing. Wait two weeks, then start calling insurance asking the status of your request. Call every other day until they rule. My dr. said they like to sit on these types of requests and not get them approved in a timely way. If your plastic surgeon knows what he's doing, and submits everything correctly, including pictures, and as long as your insurance doesn't have an exclusion, you will be likely to get approved if it is deemed "medically necessary". If they deny you, just keep going back to your primary doc once a month or so and complain about the rashes, and whatever other medical problems this skin is causing you (back pain is common also). Then try again with insurance in a few months. Hopefully you can get this approved, because nobody who loses 160 lbs is not having problems with excess skin and irritation, etc. Especially if you were heavy a long long time. That skin is never going to go back into shape on it's own. jean