Current Events > Does it cost a lot of money when people lose a bunch of weight and have to get

(+) Yeah! (+)

all the extra skin and stuff removed?? I'm checking myself into a weight loss center at the end of the month so I was curious. :v Like, if I lose 200 pounds am I gonna have to get all my skin fixed?

Well, I guess it depends on what you consider "expensive", but the costs are in the tens of thousands if it isn't covered by insurance.

bigblu89 posted...

Well, I guess it depends on what you consider "expensive", but the costs are in the tens of thousands if it isn't covered by insurance.

will insurance usually cover it?

It depends on how long a person has been overweight, their current age, overall health, and genetics. Some people can lose the weight and not have it that bad but most people are going to have it to some extent.

I went from 380 to 230 @ 5'10" and have it pretty bad. I've gotten a few estimates and to take care of everything without traveling is going to be between 25 and 40k USD out of pocket. It will be cheaper if I group surgeries together, like doing arms and chest at once, but that can yield subpar results, not to mention requiring a longer, more painful recovery. Doing it piecemeal is less risky with better results but more expensive.

I don't have insurance but insurance, as usual, is very dodgy about when they'll cover it. It is more likely to be approved if the loose skin leads to infections or otherwise causes severe physical problems but that's not a guarantee either.

I assume so, but the cost of staying overweight is greater.

Plumeofdusk posted...

will insurance usually cover it?

Usually not, because they consider it cosmetic.

But on rare occasions, they will. Personal anecdote, but I had a friend who had diverticulitis, and it caused her to lose close to 100 pounds in a VERY short amount of time. I'm talking 3-4 months.

After her recovery, part of her surgery was removing the excess skin from her stomach area, and it was partially covered by insurance becasue her doctor convinced the insurance company that it was a mandatory medical procedure.

I thought it also depends on how fast you lose weight as well. The faster, the more excess skin stays on. But I could be wrong.

Arcanine2009 posted...

I thought it also depends on how fast you lose weight as well. The faster, the more excess skin stays on. But I could be wrong.

Yes and no. Each individual is different. Some men have no elasticity problem with their skin shrinking. Others, will still have the folds. Men are less likely to have them than women but it's hard to know ahead of time.

To TC, if you aim at a moderate amount per month. You may avoid the most of it. Need to be consistent. It's a lifestyle journey.