Insurance approval for plastic surgery following extreme weight loss?

[FlowerGalTX]

I am planning to have a panniculectomy 1 year after I meet goal as I already meet all of my insurance's criteria to pay for this procedure and don't anticipate this getting better after weight loss surgery as I've had two c-sections and three pregnancies and have gained weight. Maybe I'm too pessimistic but I don't see that area changing the way I want it to and shrinking up.

I'm also seriously considering having some sort of breast contouring done simply because I don't think my breasts will go back to the way they were before my weight gain. A few years ago I went in for a consult for a reduction / augmentation. Insurance said I needed to lose weight before they would considering paying for a reduction/augmentation procedure. I'm 34 so my breast tissue is still pretty dense and even at such a large size I'm not really sagging. I'm just not sure what weight loss will do to the "girls" and don't want to look deflated.

My question is -
Has anyone actually got insurance approval to pay for procedures to reduce the excess skin, etc.?

There are all sorts of how-to sites that go step-by-step on how to seek approval that I've seen on Google searches but I simply do not know anyone personally who has had insurance pay for their procedures following weight loss surgery.

[JoyESS1]

My good friend lost 218 lbs and was successful in having insurance pay for her excess skin removal. She had an established history of cystitis in the folds of her skin and a chronic yeast infection underneath the various folds. Her doctor was able then to demonstrate the medical need. My doctor says to come to him w every little skin problem after surgery so we can document it all. Hope it helps and you obtain your desire.

[Disappearing teach]

I am concerned about this too. My doc is fantastic. He has said that if there was a "chronic" problem afterwards he would have to take care of it.

[Dee Leshuz]

I'm totally planning on reconstructive surgery after WLS...have been researching it for years.

[aurora4124]

First, FlowerGal, I'm jealous. I'm only 31 and I about look like the women from whatever African tribe where they LIKE their women with saggy boobs! There's plenty of filling, but they surely point down.
My surgeon's office says right in the seminar that they end up doing a stomach recontour on almost all patients. I believe they said they usually clear it as hernia-related, from the excess weight pulling on the incisions. I too was wondering about the breast lift, because I will definitely be wanting that done! My poor husband!

[FlowerGalTX]

Anna, I'm pretty sure that is what mine are going to look like after I lose weight! lol

My husband and I had a great conversation about plastic surgery the other day and I was surprised to learn that he feels that plastic surgery after WLS should be "medically necessary" (I believe this as well). We set a $5000 budget for minor procedures or accompanying procedures that insurance wouldn't cover like abdominoplasty/abdominal sculpting.

[Monica_Lynn]

I too will be setting up a fund for plastic surgery after major weight loss. I have heard some insurance may cover removing the excess skin after weight loss but your breasts are on their own

[k_jo35]

i just talked to my PCP on friday, he said to make sure to call him about any rash and stuff so it can all be documented and he would make sure my insurance convers it ... he also made it possible for me to have breast reduction 6 years ago too so.. i cant wait!!

[Rae]

Good thread. Not sure how I feel about skin removal but great information if I get interested I will already be ahead by having this documented.

[buddyd11]

I just hope that as a man I dont have to have my man boobs reduced lol....Hopefully they will just go away and not sag too. YuK!!!! my poor wife wont like saging man boobs lol. Good luck ladies and if I can offer some real support to yall ( no pun intended ) I would love my wife no matter what her boobs looked like. Im sure your spouses/life partners feel the same way about you.

[Grace]

I think I'll be using Spanx for a couple of years but after that I will consider getting the girls lifted. Hubby has already said he will support what I want and money wise... we will figure it out. My boobs haven't been up high since I was 20 and had my second child. It would be really cool to have nice ones in a few years at 55

[trs111]

I haven't had surgery yet, but I always wondered if excess skin removal would ever be covered. I was hoping to hear about more approvals. Oh well, I guess I'll eventually have to start a boobie lift/skin removal fund. Lol

[jerzeygirl]

I'm thinking of getting my boobs lifted since they look like "tube socks" at the moment. I went to a 42 C bra after surgery and now I'm not even filling out the C cup and I'm a 38. I'm 62 (on Friday) and still want to have "perky" boobs. I'd also like some liposuction on my inner thighs and stomach area and then I can live and die happily...lol.. Continued success to everyone. FlowerGal, you look fantastic!!

[Msvetrn]

I'm thinking of getting my boobs lifted since they look like "tube socks" at the moment. I went to a 42 C bra after surgery and now I'm not even filling out the C cup and I'm a 38. I'm 62 (on Friday) and still want to have "perky" boobs. I'd also like some liposuction on my inner thighs and stomach area and then I can live and die happily...lol.. Continued success to everyone. FlowerGal, you look fantastic!!

Come with me in July to Dr Lara in Mexico!!! I am having the tummy tuck and "maybe" my implants removed and replaced with one size bigger to give me a slightly perky look but not like a twenty year old as I am 58!! Several gals I know, including my daughters, tell me to leave my boobs the way they are because they still look good. Funny, when I gained weight, the Cup size didn't get bigger, so there is no excess skin. I will decide when the time comes and will also value Dr Lara's opinion on that.

[PConde]

i just talked to my PCP on friday, he said to make sure to call him about any rash and stuff so it can all be documented and he would make sure my insurance convers it ... he also made it possible for me to have breast reduction 6 years ago too so.. i cant wait!!

This is excellent advice. I found out my own insurance (Kasier) will cover the excess skin removal after 1 year of steady weight loss with a medical need. Also I have been docuementing rashes too. Im 6 months post op and have lost over 80 pounds. The excess skin is motha...