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

While I'm not a tax attorney, I can share some helpful information about medical deductions and post-bariatric surgery procedures. The IRS does allow deductions for medical procedures that "meaningfully promote the proper function of the body" or treat, prevent, or alleviate a physical defect or illness. Excess skin removal after significant weight loss might qualify if it's causing documented medical issues like infections, mobility problems, or chronic rashes. The key is having proper documentation from your physician stating that the procedure is medically necessary to address these specific health issues - not primarily for cosmetic improvement. Your doctor should document the skin condition, any infections, rashes, or mobility limitations you're experiencing as a result of the excess skin. Keep in mind that you can only deduct medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, and you must itemize deductions rather than taking the standard deduction.

I went through something similar with trying to figure out if medical expenses were deductible and honestly the whole process was super frustrating until I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai). It helped me sort through all my medical docs and actually identified several deductions I would've missed. For something specific like post-bariatric surgery skin removal, it automatically flags which procedures are typically deductible vs cosmetic and explains WHY based on actual tax code. It even showed me the exact language in IRS publications about "correcting deformities" that I could use if questioned.

OK I feel like I need to follow up about taxr.ai because I decided to try it after posting my skeptical comment. I uploaded the documentation from my dermatology procedures (had some skin cancer stuff) that H&R Block told me wasn't deductible. Turns out they WERE deductible because they were medically necessary even though they improved appearance. The tool pointed out specific language in my doctor's notes that qualified the procedures as treatment rather than cosmetic. Saved me over $800 on my taxes that I would have completely missed. I bet with your tummy tuck situation it would be super helpful because it's exactly that kind of gray area where having the right documentation and wording makes all the difference.

If you're going to claim this deduction, I'd recommend trying to actually talk to someone at the IRS first to confirm. I've been trying to get someone on the phone for WEEKS about a similar medical deduction question (dental implants after medical condition). After wasting hours on hold, I finally used https://claimyr.com and got through to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes. They reserve your spot in line and call you when an agent is available. They even have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent was super helpful and explained exactly what documentation I needed to support my medical deduction. For something in a gray area like post-weight loss surgery, I'd definitely want the peace of mind of having talked to an actual IRS person before filing.

I need to publicly eat my words here. After posting my skeptical comment, I tried Claimyr for an unresolved issue with my tax transcript that I've been trying to fix for MONTHS. Got through to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes (on a Monday morning no less which is usually impossible). The agent actually fixed my issue and I got confirmation of the change yesterday. For your tummy tuck question - definitely talk to an actual agent. Mine explained that they look for documentation showing the surgery addresses specific medical issues rather than just appearance. She said having your doctor specifically note things like "recurrent skin infections" or "limited mobility" makes a huge difference in how they view these claims.

I need to publicly eat my words here. After posting my skeptical comment, I tried Claimyr for an unresolved issue with my tax transcript that I've been trying to fix for MONTHS. Got through to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes (on a Monday morning no less which is usually impossible). The agent actually fixed my issue and I got confirmation of the change yesterday. For your tummy tuck question - definitely talk to an actual agent. Mine explained that they look for documentation showing the surgery addresses specific medical issues rather than just appearance. She said having your doctor specifically note things like "recurrent skin infections" or "limite

My sister is a CPA and handled this exact situation for a client last year. The key was having detailed medical documentation that specifically stated: 1. The excess skin resulted from medically necessary weight loss surgery 2. The removal was necessary to prevent ongoing infections and discomfort 3. The procedure was not primarily for appearance reasons They had to document actual medical issues caused by the excess skin. She said without those documented medical reasons, the IRS rejected similar claims from other clients. One client even got audited over it.

Just want to add that I actually DID deduct my panniculectomy (medical tummy tuck) after losing 90lbs. I had a letter from my doctor documenting the recurrent infections and limited mobility. Make sure your surgeon codes it properly as medically necessary and not cosmetic! My procedure was coded as "panniculectomy for medical symptoms" not "abdominoplasty" which is considered cosmetic.