breast/chest plastic surg for men (moob removal)--insu coverage?

Now that I am moving tcloser towards my healthy weight, I am seeing the areas I will need worked on. 

I think before I'm done, I will need chest tissue removal, tt/panni, inner thighs, and even my pubic region.  Well, last time met with my WL surgeon, he said at my next appt (in a couple of weeks), we'll start planning and preparing for plastics.  He quickly assessed me from the waist up, and said the tt and chest tissue are gonna be problems for my skin.

But, what he did say, that has me curious, is that he thinks the chest area will be approved with no problem as a gynecomastia procedure.  I have been skeptical, but did see that gynecomastia is one of the cosmetic procedures they cover for men.

So, was curious if any other guys out there have dealt with this, and did ins cover it?  My concern would be whether insurance will scrutinize it.  I don't know if they differentiate fat and skin from the typical glandular tissue most gynecomastia cases have.

My insurance also has a clause that cosmetic surgery is covered if it is required to correct a defect that arose from medical treatment or surgery, as long as the treatment was a covered procedure..  Hmmmmm-------has anyone tried to push that envelope a little? 

I know lots of guys on here don't discuss it, but I can't wait to get rid of these moobs.  Any input is appreciated.    I'm new to the PS world, and have much to learn

I can't really offer you and answers to your insurance questions as I am in the UK and paid for all mine privately.

I can however sympathize and offer my best wishes.............     Jan 08 I had gynecomastia correction, along with the side boob area excision,  and a lower body lift.        Since then I have had further 5 surgeries & revisions, including an abdominoplasty, butt lift, pubic lift (makes things appear bigger lol),   I have also had my arms done and a full inner thigh lift with V shaped incision at the top going all the  way to the knee.


The chest lift or correction is definately the most satisfying IMO...... my boobs were so large you could easily spot them in clothes - I would wear 2 or 3 layers even in the middle of summer!   Now I am happy to stroll around and go to the gym in very thin T-shirts, short sleeves etc etc.     My case was so extreme I had a large incision running all the way across my chest to remove the tissue and lift the nipples - the scar is pretty bad but still worth it.

It is nice to see another guy on here having plastic surgery - not many men are wiling to talk about it.

I don't worry about it at the gym, and really was not very self-concious about it until the surgeon brought it up, then one day at work, I was discussing getting closer to my healthy weight, and my boss said "so what do you do about the extra up there?" as he pointed at his own chest. So, I know it must be quite noticeable. 

Greg,

I wish you the best with your insurance coverage.  I have to say, and I hope this doesn't upset you because it's not directed at you:

Why can't insurance companies institute policies which discriminate equally between the sexes?

Male boob lifts are in but female boob lifts are out!   Both are cosmetic procedures. 

Sounds like a lawsuit with a chance of success. . . . .

My doctor actually explained it to me in quite opposite terms:  he said women fought so hard and were so successful in getting breast reconstuctions covered, especially post breast cancer, that the companies are reluctant to deny a male, and risk a suit.   So few new male patientrs request fthis PS option are requested, as many men, that discussing it at length of time is not needed.

A female breast reduction isn't cosmetic - it's a health issue.  There's a huge difference - and your surgeon knows it.  Women aren't getting breast lifts covered by insurance on anything remotely resembling routine.  Female breast lifts and male breast reduction pretty much fall into the same category - cosmetic. 

I guess the difference comes in what the insurance company considers the mental impact to be and the range of normality.

No offense is intended here -  But plenty of women have saggy, droopy boobs, even those that aren't massive weight loss patients...... so in theory they could be considered within a normal spectrum.

Where as for men having breasts is totally abnormal..........

In much the same way that I guess breast reconstruction after cancer treatment would be considered essential, but breast implants for a woman with small breasts would not be covered.

Don't get me wrong, I think it is totally unfair as well - But I can understand the logic behind it..... the line has to be drawn somewhere.

Like women don't have any mental impact from saggy boobs . . . .
No offense men, but I don't feel insurance should cover the cost of your Viagra, Cialis or any other male "devices" if they don't cover my boobs. . . . .

It's convenient when that line is consistently drawn to favor you guys.

Well I think that is pretty bitter and stupid to be honest.

Your basically saying that men shouldn't have a serious issue like erectile dysfunction treated because you can't get a boob lift on your insurance.   

Also, some guys develope gynecomastia (or manboobs) during puberty and then suffer years of teasting, bullying, low self estreem etc etc etc.   Are you saying they should be classed in the same category as a middle aged woman who has eaten too many cream cakes and ruined her body though self inflicted actions?