Plastic Surgery out of reach

I posted this on the main board, but I felt I might get some better advice closer to home.

I need some advice from those who have gone through this.  I have lost 120 pounds and now have the body of a 90 year old with all the sagging skin.  I had an appointment with a plastic surgeon and was very impressed with him and the great advice he had for me.  The problem is that I was floored when I saw how much it would cost.  I left his office and sat in my car and just cried!!!  For my arms and a breast lift would be about $12,000.  Then for my legs it would be another $10,000.  I could have more procedures, but we were starting with those.  How does anyone afford this?  I have no savings and live paycheck to paycheck.  I was very lucky that my insurance paid for my gastric bypass, but they won't pay for cosmetic surgery.  I am so depressed over this!  I've worked so hard to get where I am, and now I can't get to the finish line.  Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.   I don't have any family or friends who can loan me that kind of money either.  I feel like I've lost the weight, but I still have to hide behind all my clothes.

I'd like to look into getting my arms and stomach done.  But in same boat.......insurance does not pay.  What dr. did you talk to?  Was he in Fort Wayne?  Would like to find someone in Fort Wayne.  Don't really want to travel to Indy for that procedure if someone here is as qualified.  Great job on the weight loss. 

I saw Dr. Kevin L. Berning at Summit Plastic Surgery in Fort Wayne.  I really liked him.  They do offer a finance plan, but I don't know if I can justify putting my family in that much debt and the interest rate is 14.9% and the payments are steep. (They vary depending how long you take the loan out for - up to 5 years.)  I'm not sure I would even qualify for the loan. 

Wow, that is a really high interest rate!!  Guess I'll just have to live with the excess skin as well.  Good luck to you.

Hi! Fabulous, inspiring job with your weight loss, congratulations!! I'm still doing my dr. supervised diet with 3 months to go. I work for an oral surgeon and we offer something called CareCredit. The care credit company pays the dr. in full, then you make payments to the company. If pd off in 12 months, then no interest and I believe the longer it takes to pay off, the interest level goes up. Anyhow, this plan is accepted by a lot of health care professionals, including dentists, plastic surgeons, doctors, even vets!!  You can go to their website and check it out at carecredit.com.  You apply online or by phone. And you can see who participates in their network, or program. Good luck! Maybe just do one thing at a time. For me, that would be my arms, definitely!! Laura :)

I am already having alot of back pain and yesterday at my first appt with the surgeon a nurse told me make sure I notify my PCP.  Get any issues on paper and if they can find a medical reason for the PS your insurance may ok it.  I have a rash constantly under my breasts and tummy flap.  I can get it to clear up , but it comes right back.  I cannot offer any advise on the arms, I am getting the wing flaps, but cannot do anything about it unless I pay on my own.  I understand some PS will set up payment plans for you.  Good luck and let us know if anything changes. 

I know it'd be a bit of a drive, but you may want to set up a consultation with Dr. Debra Bergman in Indianapolis. Most insurancecompanies will cover a tummy tuck but it takes a doctor's office to be willing to fight for it for you. Dr. Bergman's is. Not only that but her prices are much lower than that which was quoted to you with a discount for each additional procedure after the initial one. Depending on what you have done, it's usually $4,000-6,000 per procedure which is 25-50% lower than other quotes I was given.

Dr. Bergman does excellent work and is a very caring person. I don't know of anyone who has been disappointed with her or her results. She is loated near St. Vincent, Carmel a few blocks off of US 31 (north side of Indy).

Sherri

(Dr. Bergman did abdoplasty & thigh lift on me in 2007 and I will be having a breast lift/implant this year. My insurance, Anthem BCBS, paid for the tummy tuck portion of the abdoplasty....after me being told by another local plastic surgeon that they wouldn't pay a dime. She just didn't want to hassle of billing them. Oh...check into Care Credit. I charged my costs to them. It is interest free if you pay it off within a certain set time. I've also been able to Lasik eye surgery and charge it to Care Credit. Shoot....once you have Care Credit, you can charge ALL medical, dental, optical, and VET bills to it.)

I had a consult with Dr. Bergman last week. She uses Care Credit, but no longer has the no interest option.  Her office only offers the 24, 36, and 48 month extended payment plans.

The quote she gave me for extended abdominoplasty and medial thigh lift is about the same price you were quoted for your procedures.

I am considering going to Mexico for my plastic surgery. I have multiple procedures that I need to have done and can have them all done at one time at a much more affordable price.

You may want to visit the plastic surgery forum here at OH. http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/plasticsurgery/

Cathy

I dont know if this will help... but, Dr. Gupta gave me a card for a surgeon who works on patients who are self pay.  She said he is very reasonable.

Christopher Jones  317-848-5512   sandojonesaker.com

 

Huge hugz,

Tracy