Slimmy, if you pay private without health insurance it will cost between $9,000 to $20,000, depending on where abouts in Australia you are in and what Dr you see. For those in private health cover, the out of pocket expenses are betweeen $1,500 - $4,000 ish again depending on the Doctor and location.

As far as loose skin, that really depends on the individual, it helps if you loose slowly and excercise to tone as you go. Also depends on how much weight you loose. There is some belief in 'other' weight loss circles that if you drop your BMI low enough for at least a few months, then increase your weight eating good healthy food that you can get rid of the loose skin. I think it is too indidivual to say anything for definite.

However, the way I look at it is would I prefer to remain fat and unhealthy with ever increasing related medical problems or loose the weight and maybe have to deal with saggy skin that at the very least I can disguise inisde my clothes (at 37 I don't expect to wear a bikini ever again anyway!). So don't let the thought of loose skin stand in your way or sabotage your wl efforts, deal with it if and when it is a problem.