Question:
Does anyone know of a hospital that will do skin removal for free if you donate?

I want to have the excess skin removed and donate it, but I've heard there are hospitals that will do the procedure for free if you DO donate it? Anyone know anything about that?    — sherrimayne (posted on July 19, 2004)

July 19, 2004
Our skin does't qualify because it has lost it's elasticity.
   — mrsmyranow

July 19, 2004
Urban myth. It costrs a LOT to process donated skin for reuse. So they usde cadevers. That way they use 100% or so of the skin. Even a postie with lots of excess skin doesnt have enough to make it worthwhile for donation. This all from my surgeons groups plastic surgeon.
   — bob-haller

July 20, 2004
Would be nice if it were true, huh?<br><br> When I asked my plastic surgeon that question, he answered, "Is that story still going around?"
   — kultgirl

July 20, 2004
I wish it was true, hon! I'd heard this around here a couple of times, and after I had surgery, my skin got so bad, within a month or two, I knew I would absolutely need skin removed, so I checked into this rumor thoroughly. What I finally found put the myth to rest once and for all. The rumor usually involves Shriner's hospitals and states that they use it for burn victims. I found a site that had an interview with the director of the shriner's skin bank. He said that these are the questions he probably gets asked most in his job, and that the answer was absolutely inequivacably NO. Obese skin isn't appropriate--too much scarring, stretching, too thin, lack of adequate blood supply, and inelastic. Furthermore, there is absolutely no lack of appropriate donated cadaver skin out there, and it is much easier to process. Well, that sure burst my bubble, and I'm sure it did yours too, but I figured everybody out there needs to know so they can start making other plans and saving up! I still don't know how I'm going to get mine covered, but I'm hoping my insurance will pay for at least some of it. After losing 200 pounds, I look like a deflated circus tent, and I still have another 100 or so to go!! HUGS!!:( Christie
   — christied

July 20, 2004
PS- I neglected to mention that one cost-saving method I HAVE heard that works for some people is going to a teaching hospital, where they may be operated on by doctors in training (accompanied by regular doctors, of course) If you're willing to do that, you could maybe start doing some research and find out if there's anywhere like that in your area. It wouldn't be free, but might be considerably less expensive.I've heard as much as half to a third of the usual cost. But remember, however it turns out, you're stuck with it!
   — christied

July 20, 2004
Urban myth. My friend has a lot of excess skin and we spent the better part of a morning trying to find a source that would do the procedure for free if the skin was donated. I do however feel that the extra skin is a result of the surgery and that the removal should be covered, but I guess it will be a while before the insurance companies come to this realization.
   — msg217