PLASTIC SURGERY HELP

Ok .. It is time for me to start researching PS . I know I am 10 months out but dang it all .. one day this skin has got to go . And the sooner I start researching it the better . For those of you that have gone thru this .. how in the world do I get started . What does the insurance pay if any . If you do not mind sharing how you paid for it .. or how you got started I would appreciate it . I know I can share this with you all , as you all have always been so supportive of me . I can not begin to tell you how depressing this is . My body looks fine with clothes on , but when the nekedness appears , I cry .. I have never been vain .. but this skin is so unattractive .. and Is really heavy .. to me . I want to be able to wear belly shirts.. a nice bathing suit .. and not get stared at when I do . When I go to the gym and swim .. OMG the people really stare at me legs .. I really do not give a crap but I do notice they stare ... Here is a list of all that I want done .. yes is a wish list .. Boobs-- I need some or at least a lift . Arms- I got bat wings bad .. and some little things that stick out behind my underarms .. these got to go . Butt- It looks like the rear end of a sharpei dog . Thighs- More skin than the hide of a good California Cow . Tummy - Suprisingly enough I have very little overhang . But I can tell that what is there is pulling on my old hernia scare . The walking I think helped to tone this up . But would be nice to be flat . I posted on the plastic surgery forum .. but not to many had posted there in a while . I am looking to you all for guidance . I just want to feel good about this new body . I really think that PS should come with the WLS . Thanks to all . Natalie

The only thing that I've done so far was had lipo done on my arms. I was told that I would have better results of a brachioplasty if lipo was done first. I paid $2400.00 cash (I have a super nice dad who paid). I have my consultation for tumy tuck with hernia repair in July, but I also want a lower body lift so that my tush isn't so saggy too. But, I also want to have my boobs lifted and finish off with the brachioplasty. I hope my tummy tuck gets approved since I have a hernia (usually insurance will pay for that part), and then I would have to pay the difference for the lower body lift. I do not know how much it will cost. I am going to try to send off for approval for the boob lift because I get rashes so much and they hurt like hell. I have an excellent plastic surgeon, and his fees are high. Whatever I have to pay out of pocket, I will probably borrow from my dad, and pay him back. It's earier than a loan from a bank. My thighs, well, I'll deal with them for now, I hear that surgery is the most painful. Tricia

I'm in the appeal process. My insurance requires at least six months of documented attempts to deal with the itches and rashes caused by excess skin with topical solutions. My dermatologist wrote a very detailled letter listing the seven or eight different meds she has tried and none of which have worked. I need stomach, breast and thighs and will consider myself very lucky to get stomach and breast. My thighs are so loose they are folded over, but apparently theny never get approved. Good luck

Here is my post from the other day I will share with you. sorry i didn't post it here for you all to see. I had my consult just waiting on insurance to approve... March 28, 2005 (160lbs) Hey Family, I went to my plastic surgeons appt/consult today. I am going with Dr. Frederick Works of Atlanta Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Consultants, P.C. in downtown Atlanta. After seeing him and his staff there is do doupt in my mind I have the best surgeon for the job. Now I want to share in detail my appt cuz with all these posts on PS I have not heard this and was surprised from this info. I knew to get what I wanted I would have to come out money BUT I was not anticipating coming out of money for my TT..... Now Come to find out insurance only pays for Paniculectomy(sp?) that is removal of skin NOT muscle tightening. So to add muscle definition which is what I want for sure. It will cost me out of pocket. In addition a Abdominalplasty not only stretches muscle but also relocates the bellybutton, and includes invisible pantyline closure. Appearently the insurance's Paniculectomy is skin removal only so if your bellybutton goes then its gone and they dont pay for it to be relocated, unless you get a doctor that will do it free of charge. FYI Now I can also do my breast lift and implant at the same time and he can extend the incision off to the side to remove my skin from the sides and under arm folds. You know the ones that hand all over and under the bra strap. YUCK!!!. So this is 3 procedures he can do at once he thinks(If my blood loss is to great then the skin on the sides near the bra strap may have to be postponed) Okay here is the breakdown. Now If I can get these all done in 1 procedure that would be great cuz I wont have to pay for anisthesiologist this go round for most of the procedure. Abnioplasty $4,900 (if paniculectomy is covered by insurance) Mastoplexy $3,200 (breast lift) Implants $900 OR/Anesth $320 (for the additional surgery time not covered by insurane) ------------------ Total $9,327 Now he took $600 OFF the cost of the Abnioplasty(stomach tightening) since I would be getting the Pani @ the same time. A discount lets say. Sounds good to me. I was planning on about $15,000 so this is a happy number for me. Now I am a single mom 2 kids and NOT RICH!!! So this is a task for me. But this is what I want done and I will sacrifice. I plan on taking a loan God willing plz pray I get it. But I thought this price was remarkable considering his reputation and well, re*****t, this is a GREAT price I thought. Make sure you get the procedure codes the doc is using for approval and call the insurvance company and see if they cover it and stipulations. the Diagnosis code is different and can be used for both the pani and abdominalplasty. But my co-worker got an approval for a Abdominalplasty and has to come out of her pocket nothing. I dont know if her doctor is just eating up the cost though cuz we have the same insurance. Anywho hope this helps... So those whom got the TT did you have to pay? Did you get the muscle tightening if you did, or not. This is wear I was confused cuz I was not expecting this extra fee. But the price is still good regardless. Okay that is the 411 on me. Dr. Works said I was a perfect candidate for the TT and thinks that will go well. I had the letters from my PCP and Surgeon so I am good there. Hope this helps some and hope some can shed light on it as well.

I had my abdominoplasty on 3-23. I also had a hernia repair. Fortunately ChampVa insurance is pretty good about covering panniculectomy and hernia repair after gastric bypass. My doctor sent it in to my insurance company that he did a panniculectomy (technically he DID remove the extra skin) and as far as the abdominal tightening goes he considered that a part of the hernia repair, to prevent future hernias as well because of the damage to the tissue that holds my muscles together. Now we didn't exactly TALK about how he was submitting it to the insurance company but I know what he told me about the procedures he was doing... and I saw a copy of the letter and paperwork that went to the insurance company. He didn't really lie, but he definitely used some loopholes to make sure it all went through. I am still on Lortab and Valium daily. I usually don't go for the painkillers but the Valium has been great for my muscle spasms (while my muscles are waking up). I'm up and about and not having any trouble moving around. I still walked a bit hunched over but this is getting better and better. My tummy is flat though Monica