Question:
How are you funding your plastic surgery?

Hi all, I have lost 190 lbs and I am saggy and baggy. It is doubtful that I will get my insurance to pay for any PS work b/c I am not having rashes or other problems. It is just very unsightly and I have a hard time with clothes. I have a consult with a very good surgeon on 12/13/04, but I have no finances lined up for any procedures. I have rough estimates on cost, but I am just curious about how all of you who are self pays handle this cost? Any ideas would be helpful. I used my home equity last year to renovate our house, so that is not available. Thanks for your input!! Jennifer 360/170    — thecobles (posted on October 22, 2004)

October 21, 2004
Hi Jennifer...This is what I did.....A few months before my PS consult I went to my family DR and complain about my back and rashes. I made sure that it was documented a lot. So when it was time to get approval for PS it can be medicaly proven that this needs to be done. My first letter was denied...however my Dr called the Dr that review my case and it was approved on the spot...because of rashes and back pain. Lay it on thick....My ins paid for breast reduction and lift and tummy tuck my out of pocket was $100 for the surgery center. Good luck to you. sarah 303/125
   — sarah C.

October 21, 2004
Sarah gave good advice, for someone that is having rashes or back pain. But I'm in the same boat as you, no rashes and no pain. I guess it depends on the ins. company, but mine did approve me for excess skin removal just based on my photos the surgeon took. That being said, just removing the skin is not going to satisfy me, so I'm having a lower body lift and breast lift+implants. I'll have to pay the difference. I get a bonus each year at work, and we'll be getting a tax return, so both of those will be applied. I've been looking at cosmetic surgery loans, Capital One looks like the best and I'm familiar with them so it's not so scary borrowing money from an established bank like that. However, I have not been able to get in touch with anyone that has actually used them or some other finance company. The website is: http://www.amerifee.com/cosmetic-surgery-financing/ if you want to check it out.
   — Ali M

October 21, 2004
My insurance paid for a panniculectomy, I never had rashes or pain documented. i had one minor yeast infection in my belly button I treated myself and never went to the doc for. All BCBS cared about it seemed was how far the skin overlapped my pubic area and that I had lost a huge (130#) amount of weight from the gastric bypass. I don't know if I am just lucky or what, but for both plastics and WLS, I let my doctor do the paperwork and stayed out of the way while they were doing it other than to call and check the progress of the claim with the ins company. I did have a full lower body lift and brachioplasty, and I paid for the difference by working many extra hours and borrowing on my retirement. I am now maybe going to take a 2nd job to pay for thighs.
   — **willow**

October 22, 2004
Have you been reading my mind? My insurance company just informed me that they will cover the basic panniculectomy but will wait until after the surgery to decide if they will cover the additional abdominoplasty (muscle tightening), go figure. I will still have the abdominoplasty but if they don't cover it, then I will use my home equity line of credit. I also have a gredit card that has a high limit, so I could use that as a last resort. There are several web sites that offer plastic surgery financing-- you might check them out. Good luck!
   — lizinPA

October 22, 2004
My insurance paid for my breast reduction and hopefully for my up coming Panni. I am paying for my arms and neck lift. I will go to Capital One Medical Fee plan and see if I can qualify, I took a part time job to save some extra money, and if I do not qualify for loan at Capital One, garage sales, ebay, sale what I can, and the money from my part time job. We do have a small savings account that I will also rob.
   — cindy

October 22, 2004
It is me again, I forgot to add, that I will also use money from my tax return, and my husband is going to cash in some of his vacation time for some money. He is a sweetie, but he has two weeks to sell back to his company, and then he will only be able to take one week vacation to help me out at home after my ps.As a very last resort, borrow from family.
   — cindy

October 22, 2004
I'm using my home equity line of credit. The interest is only 4.5% versus 9 or 10 on a credit card or 18 or 19 with one of those plastic surgery finance companies. On top of that, the interest is tax deductible. Also Any costs about 7.5% of your gross income should be tax deductible.
   — Jim F

October 28, 2004
Jennifer: I decided that I needed to find a way to fund my PS without going into an additional debt, so I started doing Mary Kay, after work and on the week-ends! I have taken all my profits and put them into my PS fund! email me if you want more info! [email protected]
   — abran