Hi everyone, I am in the pre surgical testing phase, but I am really concerned about excess skin after the weight loss. Can you share your experiences with how much you've lost, how long its been since your surgery, and how you have dealt with excess skin? I will not be able to afford surgery to remove it probably ever and I'm afraid it will put a real damper on my experience if its bad enough . Thanks!!

I have some excess skin but its not bad. I can hide most of it. Working out with weights is a must to minimize excess skin. Although, you might still have some in the end.

I would check your insurance first before you say you will never be able to have the skin removed. Some insurance companies will pay for skin removal only (not plastic surgery which incudes lipo and ab tightening). Its called a panniculectomy. A panniculectomy involves the removal of excess skin and fat; whereas a tummy tuck involves the removal of fat and tightening of the abdominal muscle. There might be a clause in your insurance plan that will say they will pay for a panniculectomy if the surgery you had resulted in another complication like rashes and blistering as a result of skin rubbing together such as in a belly hang. But it must be documented so as soon as you get a rash go to your PCP and have them documents it each time then submit for approval. There are different levels of belly hang, 1-6, i think, 1 being slight and 6 being at the knee area.

I unfortunately dont qualify so my insurance will not pay but I am thinking about getting a loan to pay for my surgery though my doctor's office or pulling it out of my retirement account (worst case) or both. I have time so I am saving up a little each month. Also check with your bariatric surgeon, they usually have a list of doctors they recommend and sometimes its cheaper. Also you have 2 years before you will be able to get plastics anyway. The 2 years to save up! Dont give up hope...Good luck.

Thanks