I was sleeved July of last year. I've lost about 120 pounds over the last year. I think I'm close to the point of needing skin removal. As the weight has come off, I have gotten sores and open spots on my stomach and thighs. It's gotten to the point that I'm afraid to do any kind of exercise because they get 100 times worse when I sweat and won't go away. I have no clue where to begin to try to get this done since I'm going to try to have my insurance cover it. Unfortunately, I didn't keep up with my follow up appointments with my surgeon because his office is about 4 hours away from me. If anyone has had this done through insurance and can help me with where I would need to start I would appreciate any help!

I'm going through the same as you. I need my doctor to write to my insurance stating that it is medically that I have the excess skin removed to get it done through insurance. I didn't expect this...my body looks awful now after losing over 100 lbs. My room mate even said I look like a sickly person.

I was sleeved July of last year. I've lost about 120 pounds over the last year. I think I'm close to the point of needing skin removal. As the weight has come off, I have gotten sores and open spots on my stomach and thighs. It's gotten to the point that I'm afraid to do any kind of exercise because they get 100 times worse when I sweat and won't go away. I have no clue where to begin to try to get this done since I'm going to try to have my insurance cover it. Unfortunately, I didn't keep up with my follow up appointments with my surgeon because his office is about 4 hours away from me. If anyone has had this done through insurance and can help me with where I would need to start I would appreciate any help!

I, personally, have not done this yet, but at the bariatric surgery support group I go to had a plastic surgeon come in to talk to us about the procedures available and show some photos of people who have had various procedures.

The plastic surgeon brought his insurance specialist with him. She said we should get our primary care physician (PCP) to begin documenting the rashes/sores and then, if possible to see a dermatologist. According to her, if you try the less invasive procedures along the way, it is much easier for her to get the insurance approvals. Although you haven't been to your surgeon, I hope you have been seeing your PCP.

I would also call your bariatric surgeon's office to see if they could recommend a plastic surgeon who has worked with his/her patient's successfully. Good Luck!

in many cases, which doctor you go see will depend on if you are needing an actual pannulectomy OR a tummy tuck. i would start with the surgeon who did your bariatrics. they are all general surgeons first, and if you need a panni they may do it themselves. a tummy tuck though would need a referral to a plastics guy.

in any case, if you are at the point where you have open sores it needs to be dealt with ASAP.

you need to have a record with your doctor regarding the sores and treatments that have been tried. That doctor should say that skin removal is necessary to remedy the problem and refer you to a plastic surgeon. All insurance is different, my ps said that one company even told her that the sores need to be so bad that in patient IV antibiotics are required. Go to your insurance website and look up qualifications for panniculectomy.

My tt/panni was covered 100% because my pain management dr. referred me due to spinal problems. I brought the list of qualifications from my ins. to him and he made sure his referral touched on all points. I also wrote a letter stating the comorbidities that were resolved from weight loss, how exercise is important to keep weight off and how excess skin impedes me.

Good luck, hope it works out for you, too

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm going to start with my pcp and go from there

My plan is to start documenting all the "skin issues" I will be having. I'm starting fairly soon.

I was sleeved 6-26-14

My insurance is clear on panni - must be 18 months out from wls and have issues with skin irritation etc and must hang down a certain amount.

even now with a 40 pound loss I can see the belly will be an issue. The extra skin never went away from my first pregnancy where I gained 60 pounds. That skin just filled with more fat over the years n

So planning to get the process started soon. It's already itchy as heck under the folds. Will be finding a dermatologist soon

I'm not 100% sure if my insurance covers it but I'm hoping they will. I know if it does, it won't fix all of my skin issues. I can handle baggy arms a lot better than I can this. The open sores have been there since before I was sleeved but I never had them looked at in hopes that they would heal on their own as the weight came off. I think my biggest issue is I have no clue what goal weight to shoot for. I have been gaining and losing the same 10 or 15 pounds since about 6 months out. I'm about 70 from my personal goal but I'm not sure in doctors and insurance will go by my personal goal or if it will have to be a set goal by them.

I'm not 100% sure if my insurance covers it but I'm hoping they will. I know if it does, it won't fix all of my skin issues. I can handle baggy arms a lot better than I can this. The open sores have been there since before I was sleeved but I never had them looked at in hopes that they would heal on their own as the weight came off. I think my biggest issue is I have no clue what goal weight to shoot for. I have been gaining and losing the same 10 or 15 pounds since about 6 months out. I'm about 70 from my personal goal but I'm not sure in doctors and insurance will go by my personal goal or if it will have to be a set goal by them.

I think with that said, you should probably go back and see your surgeon.

I'm going to try making the surgeon the last resort. His office is over 4 hours away and financially I can't afford multiple trips to see him if I can get the paperwork done here that I need.

I'm going to try making the surgeon the last resort. His office is over 4 hours away and financially I can't afford multiple trips to see him if I can get the paperwork done here that I need.

I certainly understand that because my rheumatologist is 3 hours away and I have to see her quite often.

I do think they may have more experience in what to say to the insurance company as far as getting you approved.

I certainly understand that because my rheumatologist is 3 hours away and I have to see her quite often.

I do think they may have more experience in what to say to the insurance company as far as getting you approved.

That's what I'm afraid of. I keep hoping if I hold off long enough the surgeon closer to home might start taking my insurance so I can go see him.

The surgeon that did mine wasn't informative at all. I didn't know about bougie sizes or anything until long after surgery so I have no clue what size he used or anything. I know I should have went to my follow ups but on top of the financial problem of getting there, I've also had other family issues that I have been dealing with. My dad has been in and out of the hospital with a heart problem for awhile. They finally operated last week so I can put the focus back on me for awhile.

Both my surgeon and my primary physician have been documenting skin issues with each visit. The bariatric physician has me using Gold Bond Medicated powder for under my belly hangover and under my breasts. My insurance with cover a panniculectomy two years out, if medical necessity can be proven. Howver, it will not cover a tummy tuck....so, just skin and no muscle work. Even on hot days in the summer, the powder helps.

When I do go to the doctor, this will be the first time I've gone about skin issues. I'm hoping my PCP will have some idea of what to do. She has dealt with weight loss surgery a lot so hopefully she's dealt with the after math too.

I think it bothers me more mentally than it does physically. Like I said the sores and everything have been there for years. I just have problems with the whole thing of I've lost over 100 pounds and I'm more disgusted by my body now. Maybe if circumstances were different I wouldn't feel this way. I'm still young, only 23, and single so that gets to me. I can't get the thought out of my head, how can anyone find me attractive if I don't find myself attractive?

I didn't have any open sores or rashes, but my insurance did cover the abdominoplasty. I had a lower body lift, which included that, obviously, and also brachioplasty. Honestly, of all my issues, the abdomen was the least of my problems, but they covered it. Actually, they covered 3 hours of a six hour surgery.

Wish you all the best of luck, ladies with your documentation. I didn't have any issues except the ugly saggy skin that didn't qualify for surgery to be paid by my insurance. Please if that should be the case with any of you, continue on your journey of being the best you, you can be. You have come so far, with losing the weight, please see it though with the needed skin removal. It was life changing for me... I know if there is a will, there will be a way. We only have one life to live. I for one never thought I could have a normal looking body, especially after all the weight loss, but we can, skin removal will remove those sins of the past and give us a fresh start. There are many ways to afford surgery. I have heard people going to teaching hospitals and having it done with P.S. and their interns, others like myself went out of the country. I went to Mexico, just south of the Border from San Diego, and it was wonderful, my surgeon and staff were wonderful and my outcome was outstanding. The costs were about a third of those in the States. There also companies that offer financing for surgery. So please do not give up on finishing your journey....