Can I deduct a tummy tuck after my gastric bypass surgery on my taxes?

You're asking a really good question here. The IRS generally doesn't allow deductions for cosmetic procedures, but there are important exceptions that might apply in your case. Medical expenses are deductible if they're primarily for the "diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or for the purpose of affecting any structure or function of the body." The key here is whether your tummy tuck is considered medically necessary or purely cosmetic. Since you mentioned your excess skin is causing infections and rashes, you have a much stronger case. The IRS specifically states that procedures that improve appearance but also meaningfully promote proper function of the body can be deductible. Get your doctor to document that this procedure is medically necessary to prevent ongoing skin infections and improve body function - this documentation is crucial if you're audited. Remember that you can only deduct medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, and you need to itemize deductions rather than taking the standard deduction.

Before I had my gastric bypass surgery and subsequent skin removal, I was overwhelmed trying to figure out all the tax implications. That's when I discovered https://taxr.ai which completely simplified everything for me. I uploaded my medical documentation and bills, and it analyzed whether my procedures would qualify as deductible medical expenses. The tool confirmed that my skin removal surgery was likely deductible because it was done to address medical issues (recurrent infections, mobility limitations) rather than purely cosmetic reasons. It even helped me understand exactly what documentation I needed from my surgeon to support the deduction. The most valuable part was that it showed me how to properly claim these expenses on my tax return and estimated how much I'd actually save based on my income. Honestly saved me hours of research and worry.

I was skeptical about taxr.ai at first too, but I decided to try it after my panniculectomy (similar to a tummy tuck but specifically for removing the hanging skin apron after major weight loss). I uploaded my medical records and bills, and it immediately identified that my surgery would likely qualify as a medical deduction because my documentation clearly showed recurrent skin infections. The tool even pointed out specific IRS regulations and previous tax court cases about similar surgeries! When I took all this information to my accountant, she was impressed with how thoroughly I'd prepared. We claimed the deduction (around $15,500) without any issues. The system saved me nearly $4,200 in taxes that I would have missed otherwise because my accountant initially thought all "tummy tucks" were considered non-deductible cosmetic procedures.

If you're having trouble getting a straight answer from the IRS about whether your procedure is deductible, you might want to try https://claimyr.com. I spent weeks trying to reach someone at the IRS for clarification on a similar medical deduction question and kept hitting dead ends with ridiculous hold times. Claimyr connected me with an actual IRS agent in about 45 minutes when I had been unable to get through for days on my own. I was able to ask specifically about post-bariatric surgery skin removal and got clear guidance directly from an IRS representative. They explained exactly what documentation I would need to support the deduction. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - totally changed my perspective on dealing with the IRS. Instead of guessing or relying on potentially outdated forum advice, I got an official answer specific to my situation.

I owe everyone here an apology. After dismissing Claimyr as sketchy, I actually tried it last week when I was desperate to resolve an issue with my medical deductions before filing my taxes. I had been trying to reach the IRS for THREE DAYS with no success. Honestly, it worked exactly as advertised. I got a call back in 37 minutes with an actual IRS agent on the line. The agent confirmed that skin removal after significant weight loss CAN be deductible if it's treating medical issues like infections or mobility problems. They told me exactly what documentation I needed (doctor's letter specifying medical necessity, before/after photos showing functional improvement, and detailed billing showing the specific procedure codes). This saved me from potentially missing out on a $9,000 deduction. Sometimes it's worth admitting when you're wrong!

My wife had a similar situation with excess skin removal after weight loss surgery. What made the difference for us tax-wise was having extensive documentation from her dermatologist about the recurring fungal infections she was getting in the skin folds. Her primary care doctor and surgeon also documented how the excess skin was limiting her mobility and causing back pain. We deducted the surgery (around $12k) on our 2023 taxes. We did get a letter from the IRS asking for more information, but once we sent in all the medical documentation, they accepted the deduction without any further questions. The key is really distinguishing it from a purely cosmetic procedure. Make sure your doctors are specific about the medical issues being addressed.

Has anyone used TurboTax to claim this kind of deduction? I'm wondering if their software flags this as a potential audit risk or if there's a specific way to enter it.