Question:
Military - Need Surgeon/Plastic Surgeon for TT & Hernia

I am currently in Germany (hubby is Army) however we are moving to NC this summer. I had open rny last July. Around the time we will be moving this summer, I will be in need of having my hernia repaired and am hoping to find a military plastic surgeon who can do the TT at the same time in the NC area. I know that my pcm here can/will write me a referral to any doctor in the states who can do this for me. Should I have my pcm write me this referral before we leave here or will Tricare reject this referral after we come back to the US and enroll in Tricare there? Does anyone know if there's a military doc in the NC area who can do this? I'm so confused as to how I should handle all of this. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.    — jewelf1 (posted on February 7, 2002)

February 7, 2002
I was told by my PCM after my surgery (performed by a civilian surgeon), that I would probably not be able to have Tricare cover a TT or any other type of plastic or reconstructive surgery because they look at it as cosmetic. Only if it is medically (by Tricare standards) necessary. Hope this helps you out.
   — Tere F.

September 30, 2002
Well I finally got my answer. I am now Post-Op Abdominoplasty here in NC. My plastic surgery was done at Womack Army Medical Center so I didn't have to deal w/Tricare at all.
   — jewelf1