excess skin removal: it's happening!

I posted last week that I was denied by my insurance for panniculectomy and abdominoplasty to remove the excess skin.  I was really devastated at the time, because I really want to be rid of this skin. Not only is it a reminder of so many years of being overweight and being harassed at school mercilessly, but it's just plain uncomfortable. I've been working out hard and consistently for almost 6 months now, and no amount of exercise will take this skin away. It's been stretched beyond it's limits and is worn out. So, the only other option is to pay for it myself.

I lived in dread for five days, worrying that it would be so expensive that it would be forever out of my reach--I'm not willing to take out a huge loan that will take years to pay, and I'm also trying to pay off my debt.  Well, I got the call Monday and the quote was WAY less than I thought it would be.  I was fully expecting $20,000.00 or more, which is why I didn't want to take a loan. Nope:  $7,000.00.  Seriously.  I was flabbergasted! The receptionist explained that the fee covers the panniculectomy and a full abdominoplasty with lipo, as well as the anesthesia (I should hope so! LOL).  I then asked how long the hospital stay is. She said it's out patient. WHAT?!  I can't even imagine coming home the same day knowing what they do for those procedures. Also the location of those procedures; we use those muscles for just about every move we make during the course of a day.  She said that I could stay overnight if I want to, but the hospital stay is expensive. And it turns out that even with insurance, people are typically home the same day.  Times have changed from when people were in the hospital for a week with the most minor surgery.

I asked about appealing the insurance denial; however, the receptionist explained that we can't appeal because my employer has specifically excluded plastic surgery from the policy, even in cases where it's medically necessary. I'd have to appeal to my employer directly and convince them to have the insurance pay. I've only been there for a little under two years and the quote was WAY less than I thought it would be, so I'm not going to do that.  If this was life-saving surgery, or maybe if I was having more complications than I am AND it was $20,000.00, then I might consider appealing.  But I don't feel like that's the right thing to do in my case.

The receptionist wanted to schedule me for the surgery, but I have a lot going on at work between now and the end of the year, and we're also short-staffed right now. There's no way I could take that much time off from work right now. I'm planning on February.  That gives work a chance to settle down and also gives me time to save money and prepare for the process.

I'm completely over the moon that I'll be able to have the surgery!  Finally, the light at the end of the tunnel is near.