Any honest plastic surgeons in Cleveland????

It has been a long while since I have visited these pages...but I knew this would be the one place to turn where I would be understood and heard. I had a D/S in 2002 and lost 264 lbs! Now I am ready for the next part of my journey...an abdominoplasty! I have Medicaid, and I have been pre approved for a 15831 which is Excision, excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue, including lipectomy, abdominoplasty. The problem is this...so far 3 very dishonest surgeons tried to tell me this was just a panniculectomy NOT an abdominoplasty. But I have a copy of the Medicare procedure code preapproval list! But they do not know I have it. And it says right here in black and white that a code 15831 INCLUDES an abdominoplasty! I just had one's office tell me today...well...the panniculectomy (removal of the hanging tummy skin only) is PART of the code 15831...and that she guessed that an abdominoplasty is also part of a 15831 BUT the doctor will only do the panniculectomy for a 15831...that the rest of it I'd have to pay extra for! What the heck? Is every plastic surgeon a scam artist? So far they have all been flustered that I actually have a copy of the codes and definitions. But I believe in being an informed consumer. Can anyone recommend a doctor who is good and not a scam artist? I am frustrated beyond belief....

Dear Shirdena, I am from the Cleveland area (Garfield Heights) and I wonder if you could tell me the names of the surgeons you went to and how you liked them otherwise. What I am thinking is this... insurance barely pays them anything. I don't know what you can do about it. I am just looking into plastics myself and it is very hard to know who to trust about anything. I don't know anyone from around here that actually had PS and that makes it harder. Sorry that I am no help at all. Allison

Dear Shirdena, I am from the Cleveland area (Garfield Heights) and I wonder if you could tell me the names of the surgeons you went to and how you liked them otherwise. What I am thinking is this... insurance barely pays them anything. I don't know what you can do about it. I am just looking into plastics myself and it is very hard to know who to trust about anything. I don't know anyone from around here that actually had PS and that makes it harder. Sorry that I am no help at all. Allison

Hi, Did you try Dr. Steven Goldman at University Hospital? He comes to our support group meetings there. Everyone that goes through the bariatric program at University Hospital usually goes through him. And Congratuations on your weight loss! Sue 320/138/130 goal