Question:
I am considering surgery and of course my ins. doesn't cover it

so i have refinanced my house to do this and i just wondered about the skin thing after the weight loss i'm afraid i'll look like a starving elephant with its skin hanging every where and the thing is i will not be able to have plastic surgery. as i won't be able to afford it i go to the first seminar saturday i am so scared i am tired of being so heavy 5'4" and 266 does everyone have to have the ps to look normal?    — donna m (posted on December 1, 2005)

December 1, 2005
Hey Donna! PS is soooo dependent upon so many different things. Different body types, where/how you carry your excess weight, your age. I am 5'3", and started at 265. After 4 months I'm now 195 and things are tightening up nicely. I really don't see PS in my future. Good luck on your journey!
   — pinkwinks

December 1, 2005
since the DS is so hard to get approval, many self pay, and find that they go abroad to brazil or spain for surgery and ps. it is so much more affordable, 12k for the entire cost of surgery in brazil with one of the world best surgeons, come to the ds forum and ask about self pay there, ask about the ds too, its harder to get and the results are easier to live with,too.
   — walter A.

December 1, 2005
since the DS is so hard to get approval, many self pay, and find that they go abroad to brazil or spain for surgery and ps. it is so much more affordable, 12k for the entire cost of surgery in brazil with one of the world best surgeons, come to the ds forum and ask about self pay there, ask about the ds too, its harder to get and the results are easier to live with,too.
   — walter A.

December 1, 2005
I don't know how true this is but I heard if you had a lot of access skin that insurance should cover it beings that it is dangerous to have skin hanging. Maybe you could ask your ins. if that is true or maybe someone else might know.
   — KRISTEN267

December 1, 2005
I just had the surgery 3 1/2 months ago and worried about the same thing. I needed to get the surgery before I could think about anything else. I have lost around 50 lbs. and have noticed some sagging but I started working out and lifting weights and things are starting to tone up nicely. Worry about one thing at a time because you can only do one thing at a time i.e. get the surgery,lose the weight,then consider plastic surgery. Like was stated above if you have issues with skin hanging and it is causing health issues since insurance paid they will more than likely cover the plastics. Since you are going to self pay for the surgery you will more than likely have to pay for the plastics. Plastics are only done if after 18 months from surgery and that you have a exercise routine down.
   — 1968 Loser

December 1, 2005
Wow, what insurance do you have? Why wont they approve you for WLS?
   — candymarie3

December 3, 2005
Your need for PS depends on a lot of things, you will never know until you lose the weight. My start weight was 266, but I'm 5'7"; I have some extra skin on my tummy, but it's not too bad. The only way I will have PS is if insurance decides to pay for it with my hernia repair, otherwise, I would rather spend the money elsewhere. Also, the extra skin on me didn't appear until I was at or very near goal. If I were to gain even 5 pounds, it wouldn't be visible. Ask yourself if you would rather live with extra weight or extra skin.
   — RebeccaP