Initial plastics consult

I had my initial consult.  Took the 360 photos (shudder) was examined and spoke with the doc and finally the money people. Doc said my pannus would definitely be covered by insurance.  Then we talked about abdominoplasty.  As discussed in a prior post his practice will not submit to insurance for any surgery other than panniculectomy due to the low amount insurance is willing to pay. So the cost for abdominoplasty came to just under 13k. Just for giggles I asked about lower body lift and that was 33k.  So....I am not sure if I will be happy just having the panniculectomy as I want a truly flat stomach and a discernible waist.  I told the doctor my insurance won't pay until I am 18 months postop which will be in November.  I also plan to lose that last 20-25 lbs by then. The doc said he could get an even better result if I lost that amount.  

Wow, I hope you do not mind me saying this - $33k is really really expensive for a body lift! 

I thought so too. They tried to sell me on he was a premiere surgeon with a patented technique. I am going to get a couple more consults and lose a few more pounds.  

Be cautious... cosmetic plastic surgery is very competitive and so there is a lot of salesmanship that goes on. Each surgeon has his/her technique. To claim that someone is a premiere surgeon with a patented technique sounds like marketing (I was a marketer before I retired from that profession). He may indeed be an excellent surgeon but that surgery would be out of my price range. 

I had my surgeries done with an excellent plastic surgeon and paid $25k for my entire body to be contoured. I had a tummy tuck, butt lift, outer thigh lift (body lift), monsplasty, inner thigh lift, arm lift, flankplasty, and breast lift. Price included OR, anesthesia, ambulance, and care center fees. 

Good luck with your other consults. If I have not already shared this with you, here is an interview that I did with my plastic surgeon on body contouring plastic survey after weight loss. We explore everything you need to know about body contouring after weight loss, choosing the right plastic surgeon, and how to make body contouring more affordable. You may read the interview here. I hope you find it helpful as you begin your journey.

The community here is very supportive and you can always ask the women for recommendations for plastic surgeons, what they paid, etc. Good luck!

I have found that the surgeons here are a little higher than average.  That seems way high.  Sounds like he is collecting the insurance and the full price on top of it.  I saw one surgeon that worked on the Mother Daughter winners of biggest loser and he wasn't even that high.

It's uncomfortable to do the photos!  You should definitely get more consults.  That's more than 3x what I paid in FL for LBL, lipo and hernia repair.

My LBL, everything included, was $13,500. Your surgeon's prices are WAY out of line. Keep looking. 

With regard to the photos... the first set, the before set, is humiliating to do. But by the time you get your after photos done you will no longer be ashamed of your body. You may even enjoy taking the after photos. I was very proud of my body and happy to show the incredible results of my tummy tuck (that was my first sugary) with the surgeon who created them.

I am delighted to say that now all timidity about my body has been removed. I feel so comfortable in my own skin. I love my body. Someone on this forum told me that plastic surgery saved her soul. Another woman on Twitter told me that plastic surgery is about finding the person you were meant to be. I could not have said it any better than these two women did! 

That sounds like a crazy amount of money to me.  I had a LBL, BA and BL for about $18K.  My tummy, butt, hips, and breasts are perfect even with the swelling.  I paid $18K for hospital, overnight, anesthesia, all preop & postop visits.  You'll be grateful for before photos.  It's amazing how different you'll feel afterwards.  I still have a damn drain, and I've never felt sexier in my life.  :)

As someone who had the free panilectomy DONT Do it. I have regretted not doing the abdomen ever since day 1. I had no waist. Even skinny I felt fat. After putting on wight it all goes to your abdomin and it really is not good.  When they remove that skin they remove all the fat cells and so when you gain weight it can't go there cause there is no fat cells. If you can afford the abdominplasty do it