Has anyone had plastic surgery?

Did your insurance cover it?  If not, how expensive was it.  What's the down time?  I'm ready to start looking into the prices and hopefully insurance will cover it. 

Thanks!
Carrie

Carrie,

My mother recently had her second round of plastic surgery - arms.  Last year in October, she had a circumferential lift, and ended up being down for about 10 weeks.  This year the surgery was much less invasive, and she started back to work this week after surgery on 12/2.

I don't know for sure about her costs, but I do know that her insurance did not cover any of it.
In spite of that, she is incredibly pleased with the results, but I do think she may be done now.

Best of luck - my only advice would be to make sure you find a plastic surgeon you are VERY comfortable with, because it seems like you get to know them pretty well during the process.

Congrats on making it to that point on the journey where you're ready to take this next step!

John

My understanding of it is that plastic surgery is pretty much cosmetic and insurance doesn't cover cosmetic.  If it is to remove a pannis that causes problems, rashes etc and there is a medical "need" to have it removed the insurance company "might" cover it.  I understand you have to document rashes etc....  I plan to visit a plastics surgeon sometime but it will be a while.  I know with a pannielectomy you will not be left with a belly button...who cares???  Not me...no bikinis or belly rings anyway and you'll get rid of what some refer to as a "lint trap"!!!  Good luck.

a bit OT.....

Carrie we would love to see you at the dinner if you can make it.  Shoot me a line.

Hi there!  I had a panniculectomy two years ago.  My insurance covered it.  However, they had refused it three times before, because the doctors coded it as an abdominoplasty.  My plastic surgeon was very suprised at the fact that they covered it, even as a pnniculectomy.  I was not left without a belly button however, it is very low. Sometimes I wish he'd taken it, just because it has always given me problems, like yeast infections in it.  I told him he didn't have to leave it, but he wanted to try, so he did.  I didn't have any problems recovering from this surgery.  Was cut from hip to hip and glued back together with stitches on the inside.  It wasn't as painful as a full tummy tuck, because the muscles didn't come in to play.  Would I do it again?  Heck yes!  I can't tell you the difference in my self-esteem after I didn't have that slab of skin hanging down to my knees.  He removed 13 lbs. of skin.

Hugs,
Marsha

I am just starting to look into plastics myself. I am sure my insurance UHC will not cover any of it. Some ladies at work have actually gone on medical vacations to Costa Rico and had their surgeries done. They both said the care they got was wonderful.

I did get a quote of about 8900 for a LBL, thigh lift, BL w/augmentation. This is from a surgeon in Costa Rico and it is all inclusive with exception of round trip airfare. Have to spend at least 10 days there.

I will still be waiting at least another 5-6 mos before I am ready to proceed.

Carrie I had a complete medical tummy tuck on November 5, 2008. My insurance covered it all. I was not allowed to lift or clean house for the six weeks and then I was allowed to clean house no lifting...now I am over 8 weeks post op and I still have lifting restrictions plus I have to wear and abdominal binder for a few more months.
The pain is the worst you will ever have...then when the nerves start to wake up you know it big time it hurst big time! I was told to expect some awful pain and I got it....plus I will tell you from first hand experience  make sure you take a stool softner and alot of fiber cause I didnt and I popped stitches from straining