Guilt and plastic surgery

 I believe that California has laws that say insurance must pay for plastic surgery.  So while you may have to fight for it it should be covered, well as long as you have insurance.  Diana Cox was a great source of info about this and while she was banned you may be able to find out more info by posting on the main forums.

As another guy speaking, I have no problem admitting that plastic surgery will be in my future.  It's the last part of the journey to restore us to normal.  While I am not at my goal yet and starting to look good with my clothes on, one day I'd love to take my shirt off at a beach.

Ha! Funny you should post this.. while I was typing my response and copying Diana's old link! 

Hey, thanks for the hint about CA insurance.  I do have insurance, and a pretty good one too, overall.

It's funny.  I've lost so much weight, but I still could never take my shirt off at the beach right now.

I consider it reconstructive myself.. and California law may not see these operations as "cosmetic" but legally as reconstructive as well.. interesting info you may want to look into:

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/3518359/Californians- needing-Reconstructive-Surgery/   As far as me, I plan on saving as much as I can for it, but will take out a loan as needed, when I decide the time is right. It will be a while, number one- no money for it, and number two- I want to be completely weight stable before and give myself a little time too, not ready to hop on a table again too fast... much higher risks of complications post PS (the kind we get) vs bari surgery.

I was wishy-washy about it too, then went with a friend for her post-bari PS consult. When you go from very MO to a low-normal BMI, some of us have a ton of skin.. that's not cosmetic surgery, where you improve upon a normal looking body part, it is truly reconstructive.. 
The skin also gave me some head issues last time I was smaller, so for me.. I may not decide to live in my skin sack.. if it becomes a big issue again and causes me mental pain, it's gone. This is not even considering the fact it causes issues fitting properly into clothing.
 

Jo -

Thanks so much for replying to this thread.  Your words are especially important to me.

I'll continue to learn what I can about CA-specific laws.  

Is being weight-stable really imporant for surgery?  Obviously, I'm nowhere near weight stable today, since I haven't even hit goal.  Regardless, I want it sooooooooo badly.  I want a magic wand that will let clothes fit on me correctly.

Good point about the head issues.  Thanks.

Many PS want their patients at a stable weight for about a year, but many will do it on someone sooner, or not even done losing.. it's $$, so they will rarely refuse. Personally, imo and in the PS I talked with just recently- the closer you are to goal, and staying there (whatever goal may be for your body) the better the end result will be.

You are still trading excess skin for plenty of scars and some long term (months) swelling.. but I'd hate to get plastics at either too much above (more slack skin if my body decided to drop lower than expected- it happens!) or have the opposite, hit a low weight, get surgery and then have some regain.. though 10lbs wouldn't likely hurt, but still.. and your skin will change a bit once the fast weight loss is over.. while it won't likely change a LOT, there are some shifts and improvements that happen once you hold steady for a while, mine did years ago. Unfortunately for me- not enough to rule out surgery, but I was also weight lifting a lot, and that made some real changes to the way my arm-skin looked. Something that bugged you now, may improve enough that you may consider leaving it alone rather than deal with the pain and expense. 

Wise words, thanks.

If I were you I would definately wait until I was sure I was done losing weight before getting Plastics.  For me it would be too disappointing to have the plastics done and then lose more weight and have the same problems all over again.

A lot of medical facilites offer financing options.  You may want to look into that.  I figure if I'm willing to spend $200 a month on a car, why not be willing to spend $200 a month on my body?

Anyway, good luck!!

Look at the cost of plastic surgery as an investment in your future. 

Use the money for a vacation and you'll have memories, photos and a t-shirt.
Use the money for the surgery and the benefits will last for a lifetime.