Hi all, Tonight w...

Hi all, Tonight was support group meeting for me, and a PS presented info about different kinds of PS, how they were done, the results, and other miscellaneous info. Included in his talk was a section how very few insurances were covering PS, and how MEDICARE would NOT cover anything at all, period, end of story, no arguement accepted, no medical necessity accepted ... nada. My insurance coverage is Medicare/AARP, and prior to that moment tonight, I'd been under the (apparently mis-)conception that medical necessity and mitigating factors (like my hernias, my lipomas, etc.) would be taken into consideration, and that at the very least, a panniculectomy (removal of the abdominal pannus or "apron") was almost a guaranteed coverage, while anything more than that (my legs) would have to be fought for ... but that medical necessity, again, would be a deciding factor. According to this PS, that is just not true. There is no Medicare coverage for plastic surgery in any way. I don't think I have to tell you all how discouraged I felt by the time the meeting was over. It truly upset me because I've so much skin hanging everywhere, but most terribly on my abdomen and legs. I left the meeting feeling rather hopeless about ever being able to be "free" of all this extra skin. I'm still at least 70-80 lbs from goal, and would have to spend some time with stabilized weight before PS could be considered, but I wanted to know my options and how to begin to plan. Tonight it seems there are no options, unless I find a bag of money on the street or win the lottery or etc. Just wanted to put this out here and hear anything you all have been told. I don't want to just accept this surgeon's word as gospel until I've done some research, but ... that's what all I heard tonight. So ... consider me "disappointed and discouraged" right now. Myra

Hi Myra! ((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))) I am going to the OH Convention in Pittsburgh next week. There will be PS seminars/speakers there. I will gather as much info as I can and let you know my findings. Huggs, Ruth

Oh Ruthie, I wish I was going with you!! Living in BFE-SE MO like I do, I don't think they'll ever have one near me ... if they'd only have a St. Louis one! Thanks for scouting what info you can, I hope you find out this PS didn't know his facts. Have fun!!! and (((hugs))) Myra

I have a friend that lives in St. Clair, MO and she calls it BFE too!! I wonder if BFE means the same thing to you as it does to her! I wish I had company going with me too Myra, but it wasn't meant to be. You would think they'd have an event in the Philly area! Oh well, 'tis a short plane ride away. I will be in touch!

Ruthie ... if her BFE starts with Bum and ends with Egypt ... then yeah it means the same thing I think my daughters brought *that* lovely phrase home from college one time and I guess it stuck with us ... we all think this is BFE - SE (Southeast) MO (aw well, y'all all know I live in Missouri) Have fun at the event, and tell us all about it when you get back. (((hugs))) Myra

Myra, Have you ever seen the magazine "WLS Lifestyles"? The current issue features an attorney who wins plastic surgery appeals after WLS. She herself did it. Anyway, might be worth looking into. Lori

greetings myra i don't have any advice for you about how to get PS...i have no idea how i'll ever accompli**** either! my insurance wouldn't even pay for WLS -- i took the money from my retirement account to pay for that -- so i don't even dream that they'll pay for any skin removal. i just wanted to tell you not to get discouraged by the skin. some years ago, i did optifast to the tune of losing 195 lbs. the skin overwhelmed me then. i saw a plastic surgeon, but had no way to pay for it. i got so consumed and horrified by the skin - i felt like more of a "freak" (for lack of a better word), than i had felt when i SMO, so i just resumed eating. gained back the 195 and another 50 lbs. in no time flat. i just didn't realize what the skin was going to be like. i was totally unprepared for it. so i went into WLS knowing that i was going to have this incredible skin situation. and believe me, i DO have skin hanging everywhere! but i'm so much happier and better off without the weight, even with the skin. my life is just so much better -- if i have to live it with this skin, well, at least i feel like i'm really LIVING now. so, please hang in there, and don't let this get you down too bad! deb -252

hi my: took me awhile to jump in here, but i wanted to make sure i posted to this one. i've got globs of skin and fat hanging anywhere you'd care to name. even my forearms look odd. i'm not caring about it too much. i feel so much better. i will be seeing a dr for the rectocele i need to have done - at that time intend to discuss the tummy issue. and i'm thinking that with the girls being triple d, and my having had rotator cuff surgery, they might be able to ok breast reduction. but all of that is in the future. in the meantime, i'm still just enjoying the lighter feeling. and if someone is grossed out by the hanging skin, i guess they'll just have to look the other way. cause i'd rather be shar pei like than jabba the hut like. ya know? take it easy, girl. talk to you soon dorthe

Hey Dorthe! Hope you're feeling better and better! You know, I'm 56 years old ... I never was a pinup and don't figure to try to be one now ... ... but I'd sure like to be able to walk without all the loose stuff on my legs flopping and flapping and squishing and making noise! (They are honestly so very bad.) I could care less about my arms, except in a big wind (don't wanna take flight), and, since my knight in shining yadayada seems way overdue, I'm not even sure I care that "the girls" are trying to hide in my waistband half the time. I would like the apron of abdominal skin off so my back might not hurt so much, though. Truly what had (note the past tense) me so upset was the thought of having to hang on (geez no pun intended) to the abdomen and leg skin. Today, though, I saw my BS for a recheck ... and I talked with him about the information given at the support group meeting. He said that PS was misinformed, that Medicare DID pay for a panniculectomy, and with mitigating factors (like hernias, lipomas ... both of which I have) WOULD pay for *moderate* upper abdominal skin removal in conjunction with repair/removal surgeries. So ... there you have it ... two surgeons from the same hospital giving out two different sets of information regarding the same topic. If that isn't just typical! My perspective on this is better now. It's a bit like WLS ... I knew that if I was meant to have it, a way would be provided ... and that happened. So ... if I'm meant to be able to get the skin removed ... there'll be a way somehow. Otherwise ... I totally agree with you ... I feel so much better I'm just grateful for that. (((hugs))) Myra