The complete financial guide to excess skin removal surgery

February 12, 2024 | 6 min read Uncategorized

There’s so much to celebrate after a serious weight loss journey—newfound health, confidence, and a dramatically different lifestyle. But even after working hard at losing weight, pounds and pounds of heavy skin can stick around and cause both physical and psychological pain.

Thankfully, excess skin removal surgery can eliminate 15 pounds or more of weight and help you conquer all of your weight loss goals. Below, you can find out how to get skin removal surgery covered by insurance, as well as other ways to pay for the expensive procedure.

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What is excess skin removal surgery?

Excess skin removal surgery, also known as body contouring, involves various procedures which include lower and upper body lifts, thigh and buttock lifts, panniculectomy, and more. These procedures are performed after major weight loss to target the extra skin folds on the body such as the legs, stomach, and arms.

Eliminating extra skin after weight loss can improve your comfort and the way clothes fit on your body, as well as make exercising easier.

Facts to know about excess skin removal

161,948 tummy tuck procedures were performed in 2022.
In the same year, the demand for upper arm lifts grew 23% and lower body lifts increased by 28%.
9,421 thigh lifts were recorded.
Eyelid surgery, which removes excess skin, fat, or muscle from the upper or lower eyelids, was in the top five procedures.
48% of all tummy tuck procedures were on people aged between 40 and 54.
The second most in-demand procedure for men is a tummy tuck.

*Statistics are from a 2022 report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, which represents plastic surgeons in the United States and Canada.

Excess skin removal surgery costs

So, exactly how much does skin reduction surgery after weight loss cost? These are the average costs for the most common plastic surgeries for loose skin after weight loss, according to the 2022 Plastic Surgery Statistics Report:

Tummy tuck: $7,215
Lower body lift: $9,449
Upper arm lift: $5,490
Thigh lift: $6,378
Breast lift: $5,817
Buttock lift: $6,372

There may also be other costs to consider, such as anaesthesia fees, facility and material costs, and prescription costs.

3 ways to pay for skin removal surgery

Surgery isn’t cheap. However, there are several ways to save money or even get your surgery paid for in full. Here are some methods of paying for skin reduction surgery.

Insurance

Not every insurance company will pay for skin removal surgery. You need to be able to prove that the surgery is medically necessary and will significantly improve your health and quality of life.

Talk to your doctor: Speak to a doctor about why the surgery is medically necessary and document the steps you’ve taken to overcome your medical issues to show surgery is truly a last resort. To qualify for insurance, your doctor will need to provide a record that states your excess skin has caused skin rashes or skin ulcers, back problems, or is generally inhibiting you from participating in normal, daily activities.
Decide which type of surgery is best: Most insurance companies consider an abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, a cosmetic procedure and will not cover it. On the other hand, a panniculectomy is usually labelled as a reconstructive procedure, which insurance companies are more likely to pay for. Speak with your doctor about which type of surgery is best for your needs, taking into consideration what your insurance company is most likely to cover.
Work with your insurance company: Find out if your insurance will pay for all or a portion of the surgery. Have the correct insurance code for your surgical procedure handy so there’s no confusion about the procedure you’re asking about.

Bundle surgeries and pay in cash

Some hospitals and plastic surgery clinics offer small 5-10% cash discounts for paying in cash upfront. Also, many clinics offer discounts if you get more than one procedure done at the same time. Always do your research to find out if there are any other ways to save money.

Crowdfund to cover costs

Thousands of people have turned to crowdfunding to get help paying for out-of-pocket medical expenses or to avoid medical bankruptcy. When insurance coverage fails or you need to raise funds quickly, crowdfunding can be a lifeline.

You might be hesitant to share your weight loss story publicly and ask for financial support. But if you’ve worked hard to shed extra weight and live a healthier life, you’ll likely find that your family and friends will be excited to support you through this final leg of your weight loss journey.

How crowdfunding has helped fund skin removal surgery

These are just a few people who asked their networks to help them pay for skin removal surgery and received an outpouring of support:

Miss_itty_britty skin removal fund

At 23 years old, Brittany embarked on an incredible weight loss journey that changed her life. But after losing over 300 pounds, she was left with folds of extra skin that caused her pain, discomfort, and limited her ability to lead a fulfilling life. After her claims for insurance coverage were denied, Brittany turned to crowdfunding and raised over $11,500 to remove her excess skin.

Jesse’s excess skin removal surgery

Jesse weighed 700 pounds and hadn’t left his house in years when he came across a bodybuilding website that sparked something in him. He decided to change his life and lost nearly 400 pounds. The quick and dramatic weight loss left him with pounds of excess skin that caused pain when exercising and gave him serious rashes. Unable to afford the $20,000 surgery, Jesse launched an online fundraiser and smashed his goal, raising $20,755 for the life-changing procedure.

Help Casey fund his skin removal surgery

Casey was on the show My 600-Lb Life and has lost over 595 pounds, but he now wants to take the next step in getting all of his excess skin removed. Ethan started a GoFundMe on Casey’s behalf and has raised over $18,000 to help Casey with the cost of skin reduction surgery.

Find financial relief for weight loss surgery today

You’ve worked hard to lose weight and get healthy—and you deserve to feel confident and healthy in your new body. If you don’t know how to pay for your skin removal surgery, GoFundMe can help. You can create a fundraiser in minutes, and our sharing tools make it simple to reach out to your network.

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