My WLS was about a year and a half ago, and I am scheduled for an extended tummy tuck, breast lift, and arm lift in early November 2018. I had lost weight on my own back in 2005 and knew I would have skin issues, and here we are. Last time after several consultations I allowed the cost of surgery to derail all of my efforts and instead gained the weight back because filling the skin back in was far less expensive than cutting it off. Unfortunately I wasn't thinking big picture, just had an emotional reaction to the grossness of my skin. Now I'm going to bite the bullet and cut that mess off of me, and hopefully I can live "happily ever after".

It is a horror that insurance companies don't recognize the emotional and psychological impact of significate weight-loss. I can't imagine living my life with this extra skin. I thank God that I am in a financial position to pay for this surgery out of pocket.

Good luck to you!

I just spent the last several weeks zig-zagging on the decision to have plastic surgery, and after catching a few glimpses of myself in my home security camera, I went ahead and scheduled surgery. Now I'm just waiting for my surgery date to arrive (11/05/18), and time is moving very slow. :(

I'm having and extended tummy tuck, breast lift, and arm lift. I'm also very concerned about the pain following surgery, which is why I tried to get as much into the 1st surgery -- just in case I refuse to put myself through a 2nd surgery! LOL!

I wish you all the best, and am looking forward to your updates as you move through the process. We're here for you!

Sydcel

Hi there,

i have anthem/blue cross in CA. My surgeon was able to get 360 lower body lift, TT, with muscle repair, and liposuction on thighs covered by insurance. It is all about the codes your surgeon uses for the paperwork sent to insurance.

I signed up just to respond back to you :)

I haven't had BL but after losing right over 110lbs w/ WL drugs, I had a TT, panni removal and arm lift, and now at over 130lbs lost looking into a thigh lift, I thought I might be able to shed some light.

You'll be fine w/ anesthesia unless you've had concerns in the past, which they sould go over thoroughly with you in pre-op and again right before they put you under. I was born w/ two heart defects, the amount of times I've been put under is astonishing.. you'll be fine :) that's the easy part!

As far as migraines, mention it to your anesthesiologist because sometimes they can use a different kind of drug. not all the time but its worth a mention. They might also be able to give you something preventative before you wake up for that.

My scarring wasn't terrible but I had wound vacs on both my arms which made wearing any compression garment impossible and they were very painful. But after two weeks the scars were almost completely healed..still scars but healed. They scabbed, the scabs fell off and they were healing beautifully before the month was up! I had some open wounds right on my pelvic bone as that is where the panni was taken off. The doctor saw me every other day for two weeks or so just ensuring it didn't get worse and I was on antibiotics to cure it. I took a full 6 weeks from work, but I had a terrible boss, terrible working environment and I couldn't work from home. Otherwise, with all the surgeries I had, 4 weeks probably would have been enough. I had flanks done as well as arms and lower and upper abdominal.

For me, the pain was no joke and I have a HIGH pain tolerance. A few tricks I learned:

Have everything within reach b/c your arms will hurts, use straws so you don't have to lift cups so often and don't let ANYONE pull on you (like to help you up..).

Keep your strength up by making soups w/ bone broth (may need to add regular broth for salt..) but its full of protein and healing properties, as well as pineapple. Try to eat as balanced as the pain meds do not help in the bathroom department. Get a raised toilet seat (I didn't and wished I would have).. it will help so much!

There's so much more but this should really help for now.. make sure you have help for at least the first week if not two!

good luck!

It should be considered reconstructive because obesity is classified as a disease, but.. insurance companies suck. Ultimately, whether it's covered or not will all rely on your specific insurance requirements.