lisa I have a ? for u and one for Sherri

Lisa did you call somebody thru tri care to find out about them covering all that, or did you go reading through all of the mumbo jumbo they have.   I have read it all once but it was a while ago. If you did call somebody then could you tell me who I should be calling, thank u


Sherri, Dr Diaz was telling me who they usually referr people to for the plastics but I couldnt remember the name of the one that you used, and the ones he mentioned didnt really ring a bell. I know there was a jones in his list but I thought yours started with a b.  Could you refresh my memory on who u used.  Thank you

Ulisha
The doctors office did it for me,but i did call the 877 tricare and i just ask them what they would cover just in case .
The thing about tricare is they are really helpful and kind i could never read thru the mumbo-jumbo it would take for ever,you can also check the plastics board some of them had tricare,but my doc made my job easy,they were looking for rashes and odors and etc.
Good luck sweetie

thank you lisa! I will probably just call them some time tomorrow and talk to them.  When I read the whats covered on line it said:

Panniculectomy (tummy tuck) performed in conjunction with an abdominal or pelvic surgery when medical review determines that the procedure significantly contributes to the safe and effective correction or improvement of bodily function. So I would be having surgery for the hernia, which like dr diaz said it doesn't absolutly have to be done right now but it will eventually need done, because it would get bigger at some point, just that if i did it at this time it wouldn't have to be a bigger surgery. Since I told him it does bother me still, I would think that would fall into the catagory for approval.  OOOH heck who knows lol I will find out though for sure cuz I want this done!!!

Sweetie
My panniculectomy was done with my hysterectomy but they did find the hernia and i have a friend that is having it done in Franklin because of a suspected hernia.

Sherri had Dr. Bergman, who is also in practice with Dr. Grasse. I had a consult with Dr. Grasse, but couldn't get any of it approved by insurance. She was great though.

Thank you Linda! I was thinking it was something like that but I didnt want to say it and not be right.  Dr Diaz even went ahead and filled out everything I need if I got it approved and decided to go ahead with it, so let keep our fingers crossed!!!!

Ulisha,

I am so sorry that I didn't notice this thread soon & reply. As Linda said, I had Dr. Bergman. Her staff were the ones who had submitted my stuff to my insurance (Anthem) and the panni portion of my plastics was covered by insurance. I paid to have above the belly button does as well (also for my thighs). Alot of it all depends on what the pcp/Diaz has down as the history of your issues. For me, my thighs were more of an embarassment than a hazzard. Someone else I know, their thighs and arms are both a physical hazzard and causes alot of pain from the skin pulling. They have to wear a long sleeve shirt to cook just to be sure that the loose skin doesn't get too close to a stove's flame. With this person, I am betting that their insurance will cover for their arms & legs (as well that it should!!). I did have rashes from my panni though so my insurance covered it. Dr. Turkles office refused to even try to submit anything to insurance at all...and her prices were ~double as Dr. Bergman's. Hmmm..pay twice as much for a snobby ? I don't think so.

I have either heard of, or, experienced it for myself, negatives about most of the other area plastic surgeons with the exceptions of Dr. Bergman and Dr. Grasse. Both also work well with other surgeons. Dr. Bergman will be working with Dr. Gupta to get my abdominal wall closed up. And I can tell you right now that the bottom dollar is NOT what drives their office. Dr. Bergman teamed up with Dr. Gupta when the mesh was put in over my hernia. Insurance only paid her ~$100. Beyond that, she has never charged me a penny more for all my extra visits that I have had to have over the past 19 months. Dr. Bergman even came and saw me while I was in the coma & ICU...the pcp that I had at the time whose office was there at St. V's never bothered.

I'm very happy with the work that Dr. Bergman did. I'm sure other will tell you the same thing. Marianne loved her. Dawn love Dr. Grasse. More importantly though, they stand by you if things don't go 100% right either. That really means alot.

Sherri

ps...Jones is Dr. Jones hubby. I'm not surprised that he would recommend him since he's partners with Dr. Rosie Jones. The things I've heard about his bedside manners aren't very good...especially considering what his wife does for a living.