Plastic Surgery

Hi everybody i was just wondering if anybody has had any plastic surgery and how long you should wait after you had your gastric bypass.Are there any insurance companies that will pay for it?                                               Thank You                                                   Darlene

Hi Darlene, I've not lost all my weight yet so I'm not to the point of having to make the decision of having plastic surgery....but I certainly think about it.  I have friends that have gone through it...some with good results....some, one in particular, with bad complications.   It's certainly something to think long and hard about....as it's still a major surgery.   I'm going to guess that every plastic surgeon has their own guidelines of how long you should wait after gastric bypass to have the plastic surgery but I've heard 6 months after reaching goal as a guideline by a plastic surgeon that came to our support group as a guest speaker.    As far as insurance paying for it.....good luck!  I think you have to prove that it is medically necessary.  So if you have a hernia that needs to be repaired, they might pay for the tummy tuck at the same time.  Or if you need a breast reduction for back pain....they might pay for it.  But just for cosmetic reasons.....I don't know that any insurance company will ever pay for it.  I think a lot depends on the insurance you have, the specific policy you have and the medical documentation you have to support your need of the surgery.    

I waited a year my Dr made me I had to lose 70% of my body weight to have it done I had a TTUCK & it was not hard on me at all my tummy still swells & I had it done in June ,my freind is not a year out & has lost a lot over 180 & her tummy is hanging below her knees & the dr told she needed to have it done because the weight pulling on her & then when she lose more might have to have it refixed ,my insurance did pay I have tricare & it was Med related I was breaking out under my hanging skin the best thing is to start having the dr write in your files rashes & problems you are having & that will help with the insurance alos good luck

I have been out 2 years.  I am having mime TT and Breast Reductions tomorrow 11/15/07 at 8:00 in the morning.  My insurance is paying for my BR, but I have already paid for my TT.  The surgeon asked that i waite 18 months after gastric bypass before he would do it.  If you want the insurance to pay you need to start to work on your symptoms and get with you dr.

Thank you all so much.                      darlene