Denied, 2 days later approved for PS

What a week. I got denied for my Tummy Tuck on Thursday. I did a telephone appeal and today I got a letter saying THEY WILL cover the Tummy Tuck & hernia repair. WOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!! So that will cut the cost of the more extended plastic surgery by about 3,000. I am so happy. Weight is not budging from the 136. My loss seems to really have come to a standstill. But I will keep using my tool to try and get to the 120 mark. Happy Holidays

Congrats Mary! First I must say you really look GREAT! You lost about 25 years on your appearance! I see that you also started out as a lightweight. I want to know the secret of how you were able to get your TT covered by Insurance. I too want a TT and would hope insurance would cover it. Did you have any presenting symptoms? Did you have to document anything? Could you please give me the specifics on everything you did from beginning to approval? I am going to make my appointment with the PS and want to know what I need to tell him, etc. I would have to have the surgery in the summer since I am off from work the summer and it would give me all that time to recoop before school starts up again in September. Is your insurance covering the entire procedure? Thanks a bunch Hugs Marianne

Marianne, Well I would definately start the process now if I were you. I made my first appointment with the plastic surgeon back in July for Nov 4th. So that took some time. I had developed a couple of growths in the fold of my stomach a couple of years ago. Had them removed and they grew back. So I had them removed again in 2002. Well they started to grow back agin. (almost like a wart in appearance). When they told me Thursday I was denied. I mentioned them again even though they had gotten documentation from the dermatologist. So I said in my appeal that since that area stays warm and moist they will surely continue to reappear and if they wanted to pay every 2-3 years to have them removed it was rediculous to not just cover the TT and be done with it once and for all. Well apparently that was enough because today in the mail I got the letter saying that my appeal was reversed and they will cover the Hernia repair and Pannuculectomy. The Pannuculectomy is just the removal of the apron. I have talked to the PS and decided I wanted the more extensive Belt Lipectomy whick cover the tummy, butt, outer thighs, muscle tightening and pubis lift as well as the upper arms and down to that area that hangs over the bra and a breast lift. He suggested no implants as I have full breasts just saggy. He felt the implants would make me out of proportion and I agree. I just want the girls perky again :> So the difference between the Panniculectomy and the Belt lipectomy is around 4,000. So I can save that amount and use it later when I do the thighs. So my total for everything mentioned above including hospital and everything is 14,152. out of pocket rather than 18K. I highly reccomend if you have even the slighest rash, back pain or anything you can point towards the excess skin GO to you dr and report it immediately to document problems. Wishing you the very best Mary

Mary, Congrats on getting approved, I know that helps with the costs... I wish you all the best... Keep us posted.... Debra P