Excess skin

APRIL IS NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH.
Be someone's Hero.............if you are getting that excess skin cut off, don't forget to donate it. And not just that excess skin. Don't forget to sign up to be an organ donor, too. My little grand daughter, Jayli, passed away at 28 months, while waiting for a new liver.

Sorry to hear about your grand daughter. I am an organ donor, but didn't know you could donate excess skin. If I get to the point of PS, I'll definitely remember it.

I'm also going to call my ps to see what they say about it.

most skin on someone overweight has been stretched too thin to donate unfortunately. :(

has anyone heard of donor recipients insurance paying for the skin removal?

Insurance will not pay for skin removal because there is no expense associated with it. The cost associated with the skin removal (packaging, shipping, paperwork, blood work, etc.) is entirely paid for by the organ foundation processing the skin.

If this interests you, ask your plastic surgeon about it - some plastic surgeons like myself are doing it. Contrary to popular belief, skin from weight loss patients IS SUITABLE for donation (it is not too stretched out!). It was not possible a few years ago, but new technologies make it possible now. It is not made into the type of skin used for burn victims...rather, it is used as internal tisse during reconstructive surgery (large hernias, breast reconstruction, etc.) It is used in place of synthetic mesh.

Donating does not effect your operation at all, and does not add any operating time. The only "inconvenience" is a 20 minute phone interview and some blood draw (when you are asleep in the OR).

The organization doing this calls it their Living Skin Donation program.

Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation

Of course, by law nothing of value can be traded for human tissue.

thanks for your replys