About Plastics????

I was just wondering if after your weight loss.....does insurance usually pay to get the extra skin removed or is that out of pocket?
Carmen

It depends on your insurance, but usually the answer is no. You can check with your insurance- some of them will cover all or part if the skin is causing problems with life and mobility (like, really bad rashes, etc). I read about it a little in the plastic surgery forum, and every now and then there's a lucky person or couple of people who manage to get it covered. Largely though, it's considered cosmetic and as such isn't covered by most insurance.

When I got my approval letter for surgery they made a note in the letter saying that I should know a result of rabid weight loss from gastric bypass is excess skin. So that insurance coverage for skin removal is not usually approved. So when it becomes time I am banking on that usually! haha I read a lot on here that people do not get it covered, but I also remember a lady who worked at an insurance company saying that people never ask so they won't ever know...so when it gets time I am going to think it will be worth a shot.

My insurance specifically excludes any post-WLS plastic or reconstructive surgery... so the answer is no for me.

depends on the insurance - more often than not, people get denied... and more often than not, those that are approved have fought several appeals and put in a lot of work over a lot of time to make it happen. that said, there are some exceptions but they're exceptions, not the rule! each insurance is different, obviously, but merely asking your insurance if they do it is not always the best route. my insurance company said it probably wouldn't be covered when i initially called to ask. fast forward to me deciding to see the plastic surgeon anyways and deciding i'd just finance it... my surgeon insisted he'd like to try to submit even if the chances weren't good... i agreed but said only for my tummy cuz there was no way in hell they'd do anything else... he disagreed so i said do what you want.... he submitted for breast lift, double panniculectomy (upper & lower pannus - not all ppl end up with two separate areas but i did) & medial thigh lift. i'm thinking yea right........... approved. all 3 procedures. it's so true you just don't know until you try to submit for it! really depends on how the weight comes off, how your skin retracts, what your rashes/irritation is like, etc. keep documenting things... see your doc about any issues & give it a whirl once you've stablized weight! good luck!!

I ended up using a surgeon that did not accept any insurances (although I am sure you can personally submit the costs afterwards) but I needed more than just a tummy tuck anyways.  As a side note, I have heard of people doing some interesting things in order to get their insurance to cover it!!!

Honestly, it is worth living in the gutter to have the skin and fat cut off!!!!!  I LOVE my results.