Question:
hanging arm skin

I HAVE PPO BS. HOW CAN I GET THE SKIN REMOVED THRU INSURACE?    — ROSIE408 (posted on March 4, 2010)

March 4, 2010
It will depend on your policy. There are a lot of different policies within your insurance company and even though your workplace has the same policy as a different workplace your workplace may have specific exclusions. So the first thing you should do is call your insurance company to see if it is covered and if so what are the requirements. If you qualify you need to ask them what steps you need do in order to have the proceedure covered and don't forget to ask what surgeons you can go to. I rarely see arms covered since most insurance companies will only cover a proceedure if it is medically necessary.
   — Caribou ME

March 4, 2010
Have you had any other plastic surgery for skin removal, if so was that covered? Your profile doesn't indicate how much you've lost or if you are at goal - so remember, you need to be at goal, and generally should be in maintenance for a year or more before having plastic surgery. To my knowledge, insurance will only cover plastics if there is a medically necessary reason - even for abdominal and thigh skin removal - there have to be well documented medical reasons, repeated incidents of rashes and infections that come back over and over again, SOMETIMES the abdominal skin can exacerbate back pain and that can be used as a reason to have the skin removed. But there little that hanging arm skin can interfere with medically. I did read a post here on OH awhile back where it was causing psychological issues because the person couldn't wear the right size shirts because the sleeves didn't fit and that helped her cause. I agree, start by talking to your specific insurance carrier and find out what their policies regarding the surgery is (brachioplasty is the correct term I believe) and then go from there and see at least two highly recommended plastic surgeons. In the end, prepare yourself for the possibility that this may be something you will have to save up for or finance - and you ARE worth it. If you have come this far and done the work to get the fat gone - why not get rid of the loose skin. I still have 80ish pounds to go, and I find my "bat wings" disgusting in the mirror and I'm dreading short sleeves this spring/summer. And don't get me started on my stomach, abdomen and thighs. But all things in time. As Eggface calls herself "Frankenbarbie" - I'm not looking forward to the plastic surgery (OUCH!) - but the thought of wearing clothes that fit properly, and thighs that don't rub together and not having a perpetual rash between them - that all sounds too good to be real! And if I have to take out a personal loan to acheive arms that look ok in short sleeves and the ability to tuck in my shirts - I'm worth it after ~30 years of hiding behind FAT and being the funny friend. Good luck and God Bless!
   — Diane324