Plastic Surgery and Tricare

I have Tricare Standard. Does anyone know if they will pay for plastics?? Arms, tummy, legs and breasts.

I have been on OH for a couple of years now and over that time I have seen many posts about Tricare paying for some plastics. I think it is pretty much a given if you can document "medical necessity" they will do the tt. However, I have seen posts about LBL, and breasts being done too. Those procedures I think are pretty hard to get Tricare to pay for. My advice to you would be to post your question on the main board and find a plastic surgeon that has been successful with Tricare before. Also if you have a larger military treatment facility close by with a plastic surgery department-- it seems people have been fairly successful with getting some "reconstructive" work on post/ base. Good luck and let me know how it turns out for you. I have tricare standard and will probably be looking at a TT myself in the next year. Red

Catherine, So far Tricare Prime has fully covered tummy tuck with butt lift and breast reduction/lift...medically necessary is the key words with pictures unfortunately. In a few months I will be working on thigh lifts but don't need arms and have never seen any posts it has been covered though if its documented medically necessary I would imagine they will cover it. I am four months post op tummy and 3 weeks post breast. I would imagine Tricare Standard will cover same with your 25% co pay. My surgeon only does "one" procedure at a time so I had 13.00 to 25. co pay per surgery....my surgeon wouldn't even hear of doing any combined.

What was the medically necessary criteria for the butt lift? And please keep me up to date on your thighs. I have only lost a little over 60 pounds but my 53 year old legs already look awful! Red

Hi Red, My surgeon gave me three options for tt surgery...hip to hip, up and down scar in middle or circumference which went hip to hip then turned me over and did hip to hip across my butt meeting in center. I asked if it would lift my butt and he slapped his two hands on my cheeks and said yep it will so that was my choice immediately. I never saw the request that went to Tricare however when I got the approval I called and asked what the procedure approved was, the lady I spoke to used the words medically necessary. When I was having my breast pics taken same surgeon said they would not cover just a lift and he wasn't sure if I had enough cc's to remove and still have a good size...well I went in a 34DDD and I am still the same size three weeks later. I'm glad he was able to reposition them and kept them full however I was hoping for a D. I didn't even have an excuse for a new bra. I went to see my bariatric surgeon this past Monday and asked him about my thighs and he told me just to let the PS know I am finished loosing and want my thighs done and he will get the message so I plan on doing that when I see PS for 3 mon visit...I did give him several warning I wanted thighs lifted...I thought they were droopy before I gained weight then lost it after gastric bypass...I had lipo in 85 on inside thighs, I was about 112 but hated my thighs. They were never smooth after the liposuction..not the same surgeon. By the way I asked the bariatrric surgeon if my ins would cover thighs and he shaked his head yes. PS is in same office as my RNY surgeon so I am sure he marked it in my records as well. I actually did not know they were together when I chose each one, it was very enlightening knowing I picked two heads of their departments and very happy they were covered by Tricare Prime.

I am glad to here that Tricare Prime covers plastics? I am working on getting WLS paperwork in order now. I see the Surgeon on Nov 29. I doubt if I will get the surgery before the end of the year. I am hoping to have the surgery in January if everything gets approved. I am located in Panama City, FL