Will my Insurance Company Cover Brachial Plasty?

   It has become very difficult to get this approved, and even panniculectomy is not as easy to get covered as it once was.  You may want to consider a few surgeons in your area who perform alot of body contouring procedures to determine what financing options may be available.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

It's not unusual for massive weight loss patients to develop significant amounts of excess upper arm skin. Under these circumstances, it would be extremely unusual for an insurance carrier to cover the cost of an arm lift procedure. Most insurance companies would view this procedure as cosmetic in nature. Faced with this reality, it might be appropriate to explore other options. In some cases, financing this type of procedure may be a  consideration.

Sorry, but arm lifting surgery is generally not a “covered procedure” by insurance companies that I know of.

Arm lifting surgery can be an excellent operation for the right patient.  The ideal patient has loose skin/adipose tissue of the upper arms ( sometimes patients called the area “bat wings”),  especially common after significant weight loss.  This operation is best done when patients have achieved a long-term stable weight.

Understandably, one of the main concerns/downsides of the arm lift surgery is a resulting scar. Careful planning of the operation is critical  in executing the operation and determining the final position of the resulting scar.  In my opinion, a scar that ends up along the very lower border of the upper arm is the best tolerated scar,  since it is hard to see from the front or back when a patient's arms are by his/her side.

You may find it attached link helpful as you do your research.

Best wishes.