Prices for Cosmetic Surgery

[Jenn 27]

So I've been researching cosmetic surgery for about 3 years. I started when I was closer to my goal weight with the lapband. I think I was about 220 lbs at the time. The first surgeon I met wanted me to be closer to 200 lbs and at a stable weight for approximately 3 months before proceeding with a Tummy Tuck. After I had our 2 children and breast fed each for about 10 months, I started researching a breast lift. I have a friend who had a tummy tuck and she didn't get her breasts done, even though the dr. recommended it. She is maybe a size 6 or 8 naturally and has a great body without surgery IMO. She had the tummy tuck and now regrets not having her breasts done. So I started researching a lift.

I've met with 4 surgeons, 3 here in California and 1 in Tijuana. One is a plastic surgeon who specializes and works mainly with WLS patients. One is strictly a body man and does mostly tummy tucks and arms and one is more of a breast doctor. The doctor in Tijuana (Cosmed) also does tummy tucks and arms - I'm not sure how his breasts lift are because I didn't research him for that.

The WLS plastic surgeon thinks if I get below 200 then I can get at least the tummy tuck paid for by my insurance. We'd try to get the arms covered as well, but that will be a challenge as most insurances don't pay for it.

The prices I was quoted:

Tijuana - Arms about 2K, Tummy Tuck about 3K

Newport Bch - Breast lift - 11K (yeah right!)

Newport Bch - Tummy Tuck - 11K (again - yeah right!)

Newport Bch - Arms - 10K

The other dr. in Newport - Tummy tuck was about 8K, Arms about 7K

WLS plastic surgeon - TT - covered by insurance (hopefully) Arms - if not covered then 7K

My main concern with my body is my arms. I am a teacher and when I write on the board I can just feel them swinging around - bleck! It's sooo nasty! I have a genetic predisposition to batwings anyway because my mom had them really badly too. So arms are my priority. I am going to try to lose another 20 pounds or so before I have another consult with the WLS plastic surgeon because I haven't seen him in about 3 years.

I'll let everyone know how that goes and what we can or can't get covered by insurance.

Also, pretty much all the doctors told me that if I do a TT and arms, then they should NOT be done together. The TT is a big surgery and I would need my arms to help me get out of bed so I can either do TT and breast lift or arms and breast lift or do all 3 separately.

[chowchows 100]

Great info, thanks for sharing and posting!

[chowchows 100]

Would the reason for insurance covering the TT be because of excess skin rubbing? I have heard that if you can get your doctor to document irritation and rubbing (in whatever region your problem area is) that sometimes insurance will pay for cosmetic surgery.

[Jenn 27]

Yes. Rashes plus I've had two c sections and gained and lost 110 lbs.