I guess I have been on a losing and gaining roller coaster for the past couple of years. I have sagging skin in my lower abdomen already and I haven't even had the VSG yet! I also have the horrible extra skin under my chin, I've had it for years and I'm only 38. I hope that when I lose weight it diminishes or disappears I hate it, I am very self conscious about it, it makes me feel old.

Anyway, I know there will be a lot more loose skin in my lower abdomen after surgery, and I know it will be a problem for my back. Even now I have lower back pain when I walk too much...I don't get why insurance (Medicare and Medicaid) doesn't cover this excess skin removal since it basically completes the process of weight loss. Just having the weight loss surgery alone doesn't help if you're going to be left with a huge flap of sagging skin that is not only going to weigh you down, but also cause you pain and extra fatigue making it much more difficult to work out. This skin does not easily go away by working out only either. Not having enough money for skin removal and being stuck with this problem can also lower your morale; it defeats one of the purposes the surgery.

Some companies do cover the lower skin removal if it's deemed "medically necessary". It can cause pain and rashes and other problems. Check, yours just may

I feel your pain. I'm pre op and already have area's that 'sag' granted they still have lots of fat lol but they already sag so I know they will sag post op. I've yo you dieted for a few years and I'm sure it has effected it. It's mostly my arms i worry about. I'm sure I'll have some sag on my belly too, unfortunatly that's the nature of the beast. I would rather be smaller and healthy with some sag then this weight with no sag. And like Star said some insurance companies do pay for plastics. I do know Medicaid will pay for a pani removal if it is deemed medically needed. I'm not sure I would qualify for that but we'll see. Just take it one step at a time. I know it's daunting when you think of going through all this and still not having your body be what we want it to be, but like I said I would rather be healthy with skin then unhealthy like I am now with fat.

I hope I am covered but if not I'm still having the surgery because I agree I really need the weight off.

I have Medicaid and its covered if necessary like PP said.

Correction: I have a managed health plan provided by Medicaid. Same thing to me, but might be considered different depending on who you are talking to.

my insurance company paid for the skin removal, i paid the extra for the cosmetic part. if i didnt have the money i would have been happy just to have the skin gone. my advice is if you get rashes make sure your doctor knows. they will ask for his notes and will run a check to see if you were ever prescribed antifungals