I'm 21. And I need advice!

Hey everyone,

My name is Lara and I'm 21.  I haven't been on OH in a while since I got my weight loss surgery a year and a half ago!  But I'm back now since I've started to think about getting plastic surgery.  I had a few questions and I would greatly appreciate anyone that could help me out :-)

I've lost 90 pounds, and I now weight 160, overall I am happy with how I look, except the fact that I have extra skin in my stomach, breasts, arms and legs.   I'm not quite sure if i'm ready to get plastics yet or if I should still be trying to lose more?  My goal weight is 140, so i'm still 20 pounds from that, but i've been stuck in the 160's for quite a while now.  Any suggestions?

I also was wondering if anyone knew if it would be likely for insurance to approve me?  I have BCBS through my dad who works for the government.  They approved the WLS, but I worry they won't approve plastics.  Also, my insurance through my parents only goes until I'm 22 (i'll have my birthday in april) so I feel like if I do want to get approved, I have to do it soon.

I know i'm young, and i've had a lot of people tell me that I shouldn't do this.  But I want to feel like a normal 21 year old, and I don't know if I ever will if I have all this extra skin!

Any advise you have would be appreciated :-)
Thanks guys,

Lara

You need to go on some free consults with board certified plastic surgeons and let them give you advice as to whether or not you are a good candidate for plastics.  It is highly unlikely that your father's insurance will cover anything more than a tummy tuck.  The breasts, legs and arms are not likely.  Most plastic surgeons will tell you that body contouring results are best if you are near goal weight.  I was a little lighter than you when I had my Lower Body Lift two years ago - at 155.  Today I weigh 136. 

I'm surprised that you have a lot of extra skin at your age normally it retracts rather well and you lost about what I lost.  I would be very careful in going for the drastic surgeries like the arms and legs unless I really had a lot of hanging skin. 

Good luck with your decision

Hi Lara,

I'm not TOOOO much older than you :) While I'm sure someone that twice my age would have much more of a skin problem, after years of obesity, weight loss and weight gain, I too, after loosing about 85 lbs, have saggy everything. Also like you, I want an opportunity to be my age. So often, many people play the "others have it worse game", but we all want the same thing- to be our definition of "normal" and for many of us, that means plastics.

I am going to get some things done in December in Mexico. I can't decide which procedures, however. I am positive that I'm getting my stomach and boobs done, but can't decide on the arms and legs. I think, well, they could be a lot worse, but then again, I woudn't wear a bathing suit because I'm self conscious about my legs, and when I kick box, my arms litterally make flapping noises sometimes. Anyway, don't let people deter you because of your age. IT also seems that you are at an apporopriate weight.

If you get approved for anything, it will only be your stomach, and that will only be a panni, not a full abdominoplasty. Go to the consults, however. Its good to see through someone else's eyes.

Good luck

Hey! Thanks so much for this post,  it was really helpful! I'm so glad somebody knows how I feel about the whole "others have it worse" thing.  It's so true.  And although I do feel lucky that I don't have it as bad as others, I am still extremely self conscious about the saggy skin I do have.  Why did you chose mexico? Because it's cheaper?  I'd like to get mine done over winter break as well (hopefully it could happen that fast though)  And boobs and tummy also will come first for me.  I'm not a huge fan of my arms or legs but those are less important to me.  I'll save those for later :-) haha, thanks again for the reply!

You need to call your insurance company.  I have BCBS too.  The requirements for me were to be 1 year out from WLS and have lost a minimum of 100 pounds.  That's it.  I had a tummy tuck done only.  That is all they would cover.  Don't count on losing alot of weight from the skin.  Skin does not weight that much. 

Erica

Hey, thanks for the help.  Have you already gotten yours done? 

I have federal employees health insurance. They hate paying for ANYTHING but after dealing with two different plans (BCBS  Fed being one of them) it SEEMS that the requirement is that the panni skin hangs down and covers the pubic area in order to be considered 'necessary' for even a panni removal. if it sags an inch or two and just bothers you (HELLO! WHO WOULDN"T BE BOTHERED!), but doesn't cover the mons area completely, they will fight it tooth and nail. I took mine all the way up to the OPM appeals and still failed because the panni didn't hang down far enough and there wasn't enough documentation to determine that it wasn't just 'cosmetic'.

Yours will be even tougher because all they have to do is deny it and drag their A&& until you turn like 22 (i think) and then you're not covered anymore under your father's plan either way.

Good luck!

Cass

Being that I work for BCBS I can tell you where you can find the medical policy they go by to approve you.  But they won't cover your arms or your breasts I know that.  A panni is all that is covered.  But if you go to Bluecrossma.com and at the right hand side where it says search type "medical policy"  and then do the quick search and type 068.   it will tell you everything your plastic surgeon would need to know as well as you. 

I was approved for a panni but I am paying extra to get a vertical tummy tuck.  I didn't have a thigh lift or anything like that.  but I also haven't had my panni yet.  If you need anymore help with your insurance just let me know.

Hey, thanks for the info. I just went to look it up.

It says that I need recorded documentation of rashes, trouble walking etc.  If I don't have that, does that mean I probably won't be covered? 

because of your age, you can't get gummy bear implants.