Plastic Surgery Here I Come! :)

HI everyone...I have a date for my tummy tuck...after 3 checking out different plastic surgeons, I have been approved for my abdominoplasty (with an anchor cut) THe surgeon is Timothy Schurman here in DSM. I will have it done Wed November 16th and I am very excited. I need to have it done before Jan. becuase we've already hit out out of pocket max..because we had baby Katie. I am not 100% sure that we're done having kids but from what I've been hearing around here, its getting harder and harder for my insurance to approve the entire tummy tuck. I heard back from insurance within 2 weeks (Blue Cross Blue Shield)...I was really impressed. Any advice? Jes how are you doing...I looked at new pics. Deb

CONGRATS!!!! Deb. I'm on that same journey. I also have BCBS but I was not as fourtunate as you. TheY approved the breast lift and reduction because of the complaints about my back. In the same letter they denied the panniculectomy. I am seeing Dr. Cherney and I wonder if it has anything to do with how they presented it to the insurance company???? When I wrote my letter of appeal the insurance coordinator from the Dr. office called and said it was good enough (I had help) she was going to send it in. I guess with all this said can I ask how your Dr. presented it to the insurance. I also have to pay for the muscle repair out of my own pocket. BCBS told me it could be 30-60 days before they have to rule on an appeal. Thanks in advance for your help. Blessings DeAnne

I think this is why I chose my doctor...I asked a lot of questions even before I gave the go ahead to turn it into insurance. The fist two I saw said the same thing....only approve the panni, but need the entire thing done...muscle work extra...blah blah blah. So my sister who is a surgical nurse at Lakeview started talking to the plastice surgeons there and a few said they would get it approved by insurance and some said no...maybe not. So I chose her favorite and he was confident from the first sentance of getting it approved quickly and having the surgery before Januray. He said a lot of doctors don't really think its justified or some bill out twice..he said he thinks its morally wrong to charge extra for the muscle because they are in there anyway and it only takes 10 minutes, and gastric bypass "open " patients have already had muscle tightening when they close you up. I did not have any documentation of rashes from other doctors...just what I told him in the interview...I was very nervouse I would not get it approved...but everyone in his office was so confident about getting it approved within a month. Good Luck and I pray you get approved!