I don't imagine I'll ever be able to afford or get plastic surgery, but I imagine I wish I could. I'm sure I'll have loose skin somewhere.

Just curious. I know it's different based on where you live, but what was the quote you were given and for what procedures?

Does anyone know under what circumstances insurance would cover plastic surgery? I have heard that some will cover it but I am not sure what the conditions have to be. I have lost 140 lbs with about 90 more to go, and already I have a lot of loose skin. I will definitely need some nip and tuck and lift and refill!

Garber, my surgeon and I had conversation about this at my last appointment. Most of the time, if insurance companies will pay for anything, it's the tummy tuck and occasionally a thigh lift, provided that there is a history of skin infections from the folds of loose skin present in both areas. It really varies by insurance company, but my surgeon said he's had the greatest success at getting approval for his patients by having good data on their skin infections, etc. (so we documented the little red, raw patch that had appeared below my saggy tummy tire). Even for those of us who are strength training regularly, I think some skin is inevitable, so hopefully the insurance can help with at least those procedures.

We had a plastic surgeon come to our support group last night. This is what he told us.

1) Get your PCP to document the EVERY rash you get. If you don't have that documentation, don't even go see a plastic surgeon if you are expecting insurance coverage of anything.

2) Most insurances will only cover getting rid of the apron effects of the abdomen. Some will cover the similar issues that carry around to the back.

3) If you are a runner and can prove, again with PCP documentation, the thighs are being irritated due to loose skin they MAY cover that.

Anything else is on your own dime. Facelift up to $14000, Breastlift, basic was about $6000 - 8000, same for the thighs and the buttocks.

Oh, and what is covered is not a Tummy Tuck. This only covers skin tightening with loss of belly button in cases of extreme WL. A tummy tuck, they attempt to either rebuild or retain the belly button and they also tighten the abdominal muscles while in there. Note to the ladies still in child bearing years, this is not recommended if you are considering having children still. The muscle tightening will make for a more difficult pregnancy and the pregnancy will undo that work.

Also to be understood, the skin removal is not a really painful process and, except for thighs and butt, heals fairly easily and quickly - serious about those exceptions- the tummy tuck, he emphasized, HURTS!

His cutoff is 6 hours of operation. He also will do only two items at a time, and they have to be on the same hemisphere. No back or butt and abdomen at the same time because the two procedures would work against each other. (He would have to leave the butt looser to allow for the tightening of the abdominal skin.)

So in a nutshell, that is what we were told last night. I am certain there are regional and or doctor variances. The key to it all is to work with your PCP to document everything/anything that may be related to this and bring that documentation to the plastic surgeon with you.