I had my DS under Medicare and Medicaid due to disability.  My SMO was affecting my overall health, and medicines for Lupus and Fibromyalgia simply did not work.  After my DS, and a substantial weight loss, medicines for my conditions began to work, and are still working to reduce my symptoms.  My DS is part of my strategy to get off of disability.

That said, Medicare and Medicaid will pay, but you need proof that your obesity is contributing to other health conditions.  Those conditions, like high blood pressure, sleep apnea, GERD, and others, are called co-morbidities.  You do need to find your surgeon and a hospital designated as a Bariatric Center of Excellence before you get to work on insurance.  Usually, the surgeons's office and hospital will take care of that for you.

Your surgery must be done at a hospital that is designated a Bariatric Center of Excellence in order for Medicare and Medicaid to pay.  You can find out by simply calling up and asking someone from the hospital's program if they have that designation. Check to make sure, by calling up US Dept. of Health and Human Serivces. Google it, and you should be able to find an 800 number, and/or a website. There may even be a list here in OH, I know they have a list of surgeons, but I'm not sure about hospitals,  because I didn't find this site until after I had done my own research and scheduled my surgery.  You may also find some information on the Medicare site, and generally, state's Medicaid coverage lines up with Medicare.

By the way, if you are using Medicaid, your surgery must be done in your own state.  Medicaid is state-run and does not transfer from state-to-state.

I have a lot of loose skin, but my tummy is not the problem.  The loose skin, with uneven fat deposits is on my thighs. My body type is that of a "pear"...I carried my weight in my butt and thighs.  My loose skin has created a medical issue for me, making me prone to cellulitis attacks (infection of the fat layer directly under the skin)  that I never had when I was obese.

Whether or not you will have loose skin depends on age, genetics  how much weight you're carrying and the size of your frame...whether you're big boned, average or small boned., and how long you've been carrying it.  at 4'11' and 275 pounds  and 48, if you have good genes, and your skin is not prone to wrinkles, it probably still has very good elasticity. and there's a better chance that it will "snap back" after you lose the weight.  I was obese from first grade on, with periods of "okay-ness"  (not slim, but  "large average" size in my high school years) so my skin was stretched out almost my entire life. Facially I look younger than 55, but my body skin has been damaged from being stretched out so long.

The rapid weight loss also contributes to skin sagginess, because the skin doesn't have time to adjust to the new size. Again, some people just have to wait for the skin to catch up, others aren't so lucky.

Everything about WLS is a trade-off, and some of the effects you have to ask yourself if you can live with them.  For me, losing the weight was more important that saggy skin, but now that the skin has become a medical issue, I have to fight the medicos again to have it removed.  My doctor keeps excellent records, which prove that the cellulitis is a direct effect of the loose skin. 

By the way, since I was small on top, I had much less body fat there, and so, "The Girls" are gone.  Almost totally empty, except for some glandular tissue.  I need breast implants, but in the meantime, thank God for padded bras!

There is no cream or other preparation that will tighten your skin, so really it all boils down to what you got genetically, and there's no way of knowing until the weight is gone...well, there probably is a way of knowing through genetic testing, but most people don't have that kind of money, and insurance won't cover it unless it's for a bona fide condition, like burns or deformities you have had from birth. 

Loose skin after WLS could be considered a deformity, but it would take lots of fighting the insurance companies to get it covered, I'm sure.

I am having similar issues too.  If anyone has suggestions please help.  I have trouble exercising.....I have been walking some.

Hello. Just curious, I am 5 yrs out and am starting to have alot of abdominal pain lower.  Lots of gas also.  Praying its not something serious... Any thoughts?

It has been a long time since I posted.  My 4 year anniversary is coming in August.  I had back surgery last year and it was a blessing.  I must say the surgery was a blessing also.  My health and stamina, so many things improved after the surgery.  I am thankful for the surgery, but there were times I wished I had had it sooner.  Can't change the past - just move forward. 

I must say I follow the rules. I make sure I get my protein every day and eat 4 - 6 small meals throughout the day.  I think retiring has also helped.  The stress of work is gone, but the stress of living goes on.  I guess it all depends on what kind of stress you carry and how you handle it. 

I hope my friends are still out there and doing well.  If  you remember me, write!