Estimate on cost of a tummy tuck? - Page 4 - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

CanuckDiva · 04-17-2009, 02:28 PM

Hi Sherry,

This is what I had done and the prices:

T/T - 6,300. + 5% tax
Breast lift - covered by insurance but I think it was about 3,800.
lipo - 1,000. (under arms near breasts so they don't go weird-shaped) + 5% tax

Upcoming
Flanks/around the back (for completion of lower body lift) - 5,000.
Thigh lift - 5,500.

Total cost: 21,600. + 5% tax = $22,680. My cost: $18,690. This was in Canadian dollars too so for some US residents near the border doing a self-pay it might be worth it to come here...

Best,
Kimberly

suebry05 · 04-17-2009, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanuckDiva

Hi Sherry,

This is what I had done and the prices:

T/T - 6,300. + 5% tax
Breast lift - covered by insurance but I think it was about 3,800.
lipo - 1,000. (under arms near breasts so they don't go weird-shaped) + 5% tax

Upcoming
Flanks/around the back (for completion of lower body lift) - 5,000.
Thigh lift - 5,500.

Total cost: 21,600. + 5% tax = $22,680. My cost: $18,690. This was in Canadian dollars too so for some US residents near the border doing a self-pay it might be worth it to come here...

Best,
Kimberly

interesting- do you mind if I ask how did you get your insurance to pay for the breast lift but not others?

I know I would love a lift and I dont think I will need anything else - but we will see....

ClaudiaJ · 04-26-2009, 12:06 PM

Hello everyone

I don't know if I just missed it but I haven't seen anyone suggesting for a plastic surgery abroad. Well, its much affordable compared to the US but the quality is just the same. In Argentina, an all-inclusive package costs around $4300 only. In the US, just the medical procedure would cost an average of $5000.

I just thought I'd share the idea here.

deputymauldin · 04-26-2009, 02:29 PM

I have't had any plastics doe but my friend did. Her results were awesome and he didn't charge very much. Check him out. This is where I will be going.
Los Angeles Cosmetic Surgery from Dr. Robert Yoho

Grumpy_Old_Man · 05-06-2009, 12:21 PM

Yikes! I am pre-surgery, and have lost 80++ lbs, and already have some skin flap issues, but nothing really bad. In Canada I am told unless your family / GP can document a medically necessary reason for the plastic surgery you will not qualify for it under our health coverage (government). That said I did hear of people who contacted burn centers and "offered" the skin for skin grafting.

Has anyone heard of such an option? Surely in the USA there are major trauma centers where they are screaming for skin tissue for grafts! It is killing two birds with one stone, and seems too obvious and sensible to be true...

MiladyB · 05-06-2009, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy_Old_Man

Yikes! I am pre-surgery, and have lost 80++ lbs, and already have some skin flap issues, but nothing really bad. In Canada I am told unless your family / GP can document a medically necessary reason for the plastic surgery you will not qualify for it under our health coverage (government). That said I did hear of people who contacted burn centers and "offered" the skin for skin grafting.

Has anyone heard of such an option? Surely in the USA there are major trauma centers where they are screaming for skin tissue for grafts! It is killing two birds with one stone, and seems too obvious and sensible to be true...

I work in a Burn Center that is part of a major trauma center in the state of Michigan. At least for the state of Michigan this isn't an option. All skin donation has to go through a skin bank and there are very few that will take donated skin from a live donor. The reason for this is that for temporary skin grafts (which skin donations are) you need a thin layer of skin. You also need a pretty significant amount. Most skin banks have found that it is just too costly to use skin from a live donor. In our Burn Center we do use a lot of cadaver skin and pigskin. In the long run its just more cost effective because ALL donor skin is only a temporary skin coverage. Ultimately the patient still has to have a graft from their own skin.

I have heard of a few skin banks in the US that will accept skin but they are few and far between plus they won't cover your surgery in order to use the skin.

Grumpy_Old_Man · 05-06-2009, 02:34 PM

Oh well there is a thought down the drain. I was almost certain I saw a news cast of a gastric patient having done exactly that here in our city...but I could be wishful thinking... I don't recall how long ago it was, a few years ago I am pretty sure, but this fellow had a large flap that hung way down past mid-thigh, and they had a segment on the local news about how our government health plan would not help him, but that they got around it via the donation to the burn center... I shall have to make some inquiries here to be more sure. Hopefully I am a little more elastic (but I fear not).

MiladyB · 05-06-2009, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy_Old_Man

Oh well there is a thought down the drain. I was almost certain I saw a news cast of a gastric patient having done exactly that here in our city...but I could be wishful thinking... I don't recall how long ago it was, a few years ago I am pretty sure, but this fellow had a large flap that hung way down past mid-thigh, and they had a segment on the local news about how our government health plan would not help him, but that they got around it via the donation to the burn center... I shall have to make some inquiries here to be more sure. Hopefully I am a little more elastic (but I fear not).

Jim, here is an article you may find interesting. As I said, there are a few skin banks in the country that do this but it is pretty limited and it isn't the most cost effective in regards to skin donations.

Finding hope in donations of 'excess' skin - The Boston Globe

Here is a link to a skin bank that does take living donations:

http://mtf.org/donor/living_skin.html

JudyKelly · 06-15-2009, 05:18 AM

It depends upon how much surgery you need, who does it and in what setting. Some surgeons charge less than others and does "quickie" work.

CanuckDiva · 06-25-2009, 12:02 AM

My insurance covered it because technically it was a 'breast reduction' but literally the reduction was really the skin taken off which amounted to a breast lift. That's how I got it covered... here breast reduction surgery is covered under gov't insurance as long as the patient has had irritation, neck/back/shoulder pain - therefore, there is a medical reason to have the reduction.

Hugs,
Kimberly

Quote:

Originally Posted by suebry05

interesting- do you mind if I ask how did you get your insurance to pay for the breast lift but not others?

I know I would love a lift and I dont think I will need anything else - but we will see....