For those who have had brachioplasty

I had my WLS in 2002 and I was left with huge sagging arms....as are a lot of people.  My question is, did any of you have your brachio covered by insurance and if so, what was the criteria?  In my case, I do not have a medical reason for the surgery, but my arms are so disproportionate to the rest of my body.  It looks ridiculous.  I never wear short sleeves.  That's the one area of body I would like to take care of first, as far as loose skin is concerned.  It has been so long since my WLS, but I never considered looking into plastic surgery post-op because I never thought I would have the money.  Just wondering what everyone else's story is.  Thanks.  ~Michelle 

I just had my arm lift (brachioplasty) and my insurance did not pay for it even though I had a large benign fatty tumor in one arm that they did pay to have removed.

I didn't have WLS - surgery scared the heck out of me - however after 190 pounds lost left me with some problems that only plastic surgery can resolve. I got what bothered me most fixed - LBL with hernia repair and bracioplasty. At this point in time I'm really not sure if I'll have any more work or not. My recovery has been basically pain free and fairly easy but I don't like the limitations while healing.

I had brachio as well (pics are posted here on anothe rpost).  My insurance paid for my TT (well, it paid for a panni and I upgraded).  But no go on the arms.  I've never heard of anyone getting that covered.

Good news is that arms are pretty cheap.  You might want to get a couple consults and see.  You might be surprised and be able to swing it.  It's REALLY worth it let me tell yoU!

My insurance paid for my arm lift but that was 5 years ago and I know the criteria has changed alot since then.  I was getting yeast infections in my arm pits and open sores on my arms & sides where the skin would constantly rub if I didn't keep them covered.  I took pictures of every rash & sore I got.  I was using prescription creams from my pcp for the rashes & made copies of the labels each time I refilled it.  Those were sent in with about 80 pictures of my arms & tummy(had tummy tuck done at same time) along with letters from my pcp and weightloss surgeon.

Lisa

I had my arms done a year ago.  I LOVE my new arms!!  They are fabulous and I get compliments on them all the time, and not just from WLS friends.  Regular people who don't know my story compliment them, too...lol.  I have before/after pics on my profile.

My arms cost $3900, which in the ps world is not really very much.  Start saving your pennies (or researching loans)!!

Laura

Thanks everyone.  At least now I know that I will have to finance it somehow, but I do want it done. ~Michelle

Hey Laura!
You had amazing arms before your brachio - even with the saggy skin!  I bet your arms are just rockin' now!  You workout Mama!

Thanks, girl!!

I had 5 lbs of skin removed from one arm and 4 lbs from the other!!!  They were massive AND still my insurance wouldn't cover them!  I swim laps regularly and they would hit me in the head!  It would have been funny if it weren't for being so pathetic!
I love my new arms!  Absolutely the best thing I have ever done for myself!  Worth every cent!

You know, my best friend always jokes with me and loves to squeeze my arms.  She keeps saying...."don't ever get rid of this, I love this"....my cat likes to sit on my chest and she massages my upper arms with her paws because they're so pudgy and soft.  The attention to my arms is cute in a way, but also hurtful at the same time.  It just makes me feel so different from everybody else.  As if being overweight isn't bad enough, it's even worse when a part of your body is so out of proportion to the rest of your body.  It's funny that you say that your arms use to hit you in the head.  In my case, I think if I started flapping my arms up and down I could probably fly away.   I will check into having this procedure done since all of you have had such a great experience with it.  Now, I feel a lot more comfortable.  Thanks.  ~Michelle