Cost of Plastic Surgery

Hi everyone. Well, I have plastic surgery scheduled. I am going in on 12 October to get the batwings removed and then again on 19 October to get the girls lifted and augmented. Just curious if anyone else has had plastics yet and how much it cost. I am looking at a bill for $14,325 with no insurance coverage. I also want to get the abdominalplasty done, but will have to wait till next spring at least. (Daughter getting married on 29 Feb 08 and can't afford everything all at one time!) Anyways, I am curious to know if anyone else has done the plastics, how the recovery went and any info you can provide. Also, I am trying to get the panni covered by Tricare Prime, but they are approving it. Any suggestions? Anyone had any luck? Thanks, Eileen 337/195 (would like to be less, but happy and able to maintain here!)

Hi Eileen, I haven't had PS - probably never will due to cost (though I'd love a TT & thigh lift), but I know Kim had a TT & the girls fixed up in the spring and it didn't go well. Haven't heard from her in a bit, but you may be able to track her down and see how she's doing since. She had some post-op infection issues. I hope your's goes smoothly and that you're happy with the results. Good luck! Dawn

Hi Eileen, I am in the process of getting approval/denial for Pannilectomy done. I went to see my PS on June 25 and still am dealing with the insurance company. The problem isn't denial at this point, it is just trying to find someone who has the answers. Both the doctor's office and me have talked with several people at United HealthCare and have gotten different answers each time. They put my original paperwork in on July 12 and I called doctor to see if they heard anything around the end of July. Then they put it through again on August 1st. When the end of August came and I still hadn't heard anything, I contacted the insurance company myself. I got a really nice person and she gave me her direct fax line to get things going and have an answer in 72 hours, that was 8/28 and here it is 9/27 and I still don't have an answer. I work for a company that has over 10,000 employees and my boss said to me yesterday, "Get HR involved, may be the threat of our business leaving UHC will have an affect on getting you an answer." So yesterday, I contacted our HR department and will see if they can help get an answer. I just want to know if I'm approved or if I need to go through denial process. The only thing I've been told is that I was denied because they think I've already had the surgery. I have never received anything in writing nor has the doctor's office. It is so frustrating. They also had it listed as comestic and the doctor's office sent in the paperwork one more time on 9/25 to show it is reconstructive. So, I wait and wait and wait for someone to know what the correct procedure is to file the information for pre-approval and to show I haven't already had the surgery. It is the craziest thing I've ever heard of. The thing is, our company pays extra to include these types of surgeries if proof is shown for the need. My PS says and has documentation, that this surgery is very much needed and not just for cosmetic reasons. ARGH!! INSURANCE COMPANINES! Anyway, all this to say, the fight is worth trying to see if you can get approval. I am still waiting, but know that if the insurance company pays, I won't have much out of pocket for having this done. Be prepared for a fight and one more thing...stay on top of the insurance company and doctor's office to make sure they get everything in for you. That was part of the problem for me. I didn't stay on top of things trusting doctor's office to do this. They are extremely busy and you really do have to make a pest of yourself in some instanances. Hope it all goes well in the next couple of weeks for you. I am jealous of the batwings. I hate my arms, but will have to wait to get them done. No funds for that at this time. Lori 298/185

Dawn, Thanks for your reply. Hopefully some that have had PS will reply. Lori, Good luck on getting your pannilectomy covered. I am still working on TRICARE Prime, but not holding my breathe. I called Tricare and they said that the request for the Brachioplasty and for the BL/BA was removed by the PS office and did not go through, but the PS office said that those items were denied. Trying to get to the bottom of that one also. They did send me a letter saying the tummy surgeries were denied for lack of coverage. Not sure if I understand that and have requested more info from my PS office and will attempt to fight that one. I thought I had a shot with the Brachioplasty, because I have had shoulder pain for several months and have issues sleeping because the excess skin pulls on my shoulders, waking me up and causing my hands to go numb. But, I also hate my arms and really feel the need to get all that loose skin removed. I often end up getting one to two sizes bigger in tops to go over my arms, because my waist and ribcage area actually fits into 10 or 12's but need 14-16's for the upper arms. Looks really nasty with short sleeves or sleeveless, but I wear them anyways! As I said, daughter is getting married in Feb in the Caribbean, and I already purchased a sleeveless dress for the wedding! I look forward to wearing it without the huge arms! Unlike your situation, there is no HR here and no one to go to for assistance. I need to go to my WLS again and get more pages from my records to try to bolster my case for getting the panni covered. I actually want the big anchor cut so the upper tummy is removed as well as the panni itself, so I expect to be paying for some of this myself regardless of what the insurance may cover. Eileen 337/195

Good Luck, Eileen I am still waiting to hear. But HR has stepped and is getting some answers. I wasn't satisfied with the first round of answer that UHC gave, so they are going back to find out what happened with the first process and the second, which were within the timeframe of the predetermination dates. It is so confusing and I am angry with UHC at this point. No one wants to admit that they been sitting on this to have it run out of time because all indications show I am an excellent canidate for the surgery to be covered. Well, enough bellyaching (oh, lol) that's funny, isn't it!? Best of luck to you in finding the answers. I hope you have better luck then I have at this point. Lori

Hi All, I got new Boobs because of cancer so it was all covered by surgery. They look wonderful. I might get a tummy tuck but since by pass I have had gallbladder surgery, bladder surgery, Oopharectomyboth ovaries, Mastectomy both breasts,Reconstruction Surgery with Implants. So 6 surgeries in two years. I can wait for the other one. I am at goal weight because I lost so much weight during chemo therapy. I got down to 128 and I am 5"8" tall I am now at 134 or 135. I wear a size 4 or 2 in pants. That is just crazy. When I was in high school I weighed 116 and wore a size 5 never any smaller. I hope you are all doing well. I am waiting for my hair to grow in. My nails are a wreck again and no hair on head, eyelashes, eyebrows, under arms, privates. Miss you all Diana

Hi Diana, How are you doing mentally? Do the docs think the chemo did its job? I sure hope so! Dawn

HI I got my panni removed as well as a breast lift and implants. I had an infection in my breasts and also some problems after from my Panni. I ended up in the hospital for a week after both. I have to admit it was way worse than i ever dreamed of, but i would do it 10 times over!! I am still have a problem with my right breast, it is over a little too far under my arm. You cant tell a whole lot, but if you stare and know the problem, you can see it... My dr. was going to waive his fee to let some fluid out and move it over, but in would have to pay 1700.00 for anestesiea (sp) which i dont have so im kind of stuck, since insurance wont cover plastic surgery side effects. Just be prepared for the long recovery. its really no picnic, but like i said, i would do it over again even with the problem... email me if you want plastics before and after pics.. also, get maxi pads for covering your tummy incision. they are more absorbant and cheaper than gauze pads....any more questions, email me.. [email protected] good luck! Kim

My hubby calls me "his vain LITTLE creature" lol but I had a liftstyle facelift. My face looked like it was melting, turkeyneck, baggy eyes etc. So I had a mini face lift. It's called a lifestyle lift. I couldn't believe the difference. 15 yrs off. yayaya. I went to a family function last week & my cousin thought I was my brothers daughter. It's done with a local like a dentist. your not put under. your awake through out the procedure. The healing time is 1/2, the cost is less($2,000.00)the results are amazing. I'm 53. I'll be paying for it for a yr but I think it was worth it. Brenda

Thanks for all the replies! Dianna, I was wondering how you made out because I haven't seen you on this board much in probably almost a year. Sounds like you have been through the wringer, but that maybe things are getting better. You have been in my thoughts and prayers. Kim, it was interesting to hear that you would do it again, even though you had problems. I am hoping for the best. I take it from your comments, that you went with Saline implants. I have to make my final decision tomorrow morning with my pre-op appointment, but I have decided on silicone implants. Would have like to have gone with the 'gummy bear' implants, but I don't qualify for the study on them. But, I like what I hear about them. My hubby is going with me tomorrow to help decide on size -- he is going with the thought that bigger is better, but I am going in with full C or small D is good. Can't really see myself with less that that. As for facial changes, I have heard of the lifestyle lift, but have decided that my face is doing ok and I don't think I am going to make any changes there. But, it is something to consider. One of the girls where I work has issues with her face and I will let her read your glowing testimonial regarding the lifestyle lift. May be just what she is looking for. Eileen 337/195 / ok with where I am