How much???

As I have discussed before I was interested in looking into my options when it came to plastic surgery for the excess skin I have after my extreme weight loss.

Earlier this week I entered a very Zen doctors office to learn of my options. I feared that I would be pushed away, told to come back when I loss another 20-40 lbs. What I was not exactly prepared for was the cost.

I met with the doctor after speaking with her office manager, who showed me numerous before and after pictures on different procedures for patients with weight loss. I had already done my research so I knew what the doctor was capable of and all of her credentials. What I needed, what I wanted to know was what my options where.

Finally it was time to sit in with the doctor. I sat with just my bra, socks and paper thong (yes Paper) while she pushed, poked and prodded my stomach. I learned I have excellent (not just good, but excellent) ab muscles and that I would make a great candidate for surgery.

We discussed my options and decided that a simple tummy tuck would be my best option at this point. I'm not looking to be a super model and this is the only area that truly bothers me at this point. I was starting to get excited, feeling like finally I'm seeing the reward to the end of this journey.

After my consultation with the doctor I was ushered back into the office of her office manager to discuss pricing. I sat stunned at the price, I hadn't been told, but had already caught a glimpse of it sitting on her desk.

$12,000

Here's the clincher....

Insurance does not pay for anything. I have spent years dropping the weight to improve my health, to lessen my burden for the future in my health and nothing!!!

They won't even help with hospital bills or if I have any complications. Because it's seen as elective, something I can live without because it does not complicate my life. Well guess what, body image does affect the life of many, me included. It affects many different aspects of life, from moral to physical health.

And they still don't pay.

So I'm stuck in this dilemma, where the heck do I find $12,000? I've lost over 100lbs and now I'm stuck with the harsh reminder everyday of my past. I did this all on my own, with hard work and a lot of blood, sweat and tears; I never once looked into gastric bypass or other surgical intervention to loss the weight, something in which my insurance company would have had to pay for. But yet they won't pay for the hard work I have put in, when so many people decide for an easier way out.

Note: I'm not saying that weight loss surgery is necessarily easier, but when you compare the two choices, one provides a support crutch while the other requires full mental and physical control.

This is how I see it...

If a customer for insurance is presented overweight they should be allowed two options:
1) Weight loss surgery (gastric bypass, lap band, etc.)
2) Plastic Surgery to remove excess skin if the insurance does not pay for weight loss surgery

Seems fair, gives the customer a choice between getting results either now or later. Not now or never!

So now I'm stuck with finding $12,000.