body dismorpic disorder and plastic

has anyone heard of getting plastics approved because of BDD? I'm seeing a shrink right now and i'm wondering if that is a medical reason to have plastics approved.....I think i heard that mentioned once before, i don't know. Maybe it's wishfull thinking. Thought i'd ask.

I can't imagine any insurance company agreeing to pay for plastic surgery for someone admittedly with this disorder. I would think that this disorder would simply keep a person coming back for another surgical fix to what they, in their mind, think is broken or imperfect.

Honestly, I would think any plastic surgery would be deemed off limits by your psych. until the BDD was under control for an extended period of time. Are you finding that to be the case?

Have you been diagnosed with BDD?  I'm interested to hear your replies; I have a friend with this disorder.   I don't know for sure but I would think it would be the opposite, as BDD patients aren't pleased no matter what their body shape is, they'll always find a fault (at least that's how it was explained to me by my friend).   I totally feel for her.  She works very, very hard to be pleased with herself to even leave the house.   She's beautiful, inside and out; I just wish her mind could believe that.  

I can't imagine a bigger excuse to DENY surgery.  Rewarding a patient with this diagnosis with plastic surgery would be a nightmare not only for the insurance company, but also the patient.  There would be no satisfying the patient with such a diagnosis.

If I had that diagnosis, I would want to keep it OFF the record.

My insurance states that psychological issues do not constitute medical necessity.

Red

I've never been diagnoised with BDD, nor do i really think i have it, i'm just trying to think of reasons to get insurance to pay for a surgery I think they should pay for anyway. Everyone knows that plastics is the 2nd step in this process, so if they agree to the 1st half, they shouldn't fight the 2nd. But oh well. I'll have to find another way!

Rashes, back pain, problems with mobility, sexual dysfunction, skin breakdown, yeast infections, and hernia are all things have I seen folks on these boards have used to document medical necessity.

I would get in touch with your insurance and find out what they will accept as medical necessity.

Red

Red, what kind of sexual dysfunction is acceptable, mine or his?  or both? cause we can't keep "on topic" once all the floppy, flapping, noisy skin slappin starts happenin.  It's like a whole lotta people chimin in on the scene!!   Can I get covered for not being able to have sex???!!!  Have you ever heard of such a thing, truly??

When the panni is very large and hangs down too far the girlie parts get hidden.  So really what I have read is about someone who had a very large long pannis and the sexual dysfunction was secondary to the hanging pannis.   You know it really all depends on your insurance plan. 

Think of it in terms of preparing a case for submission.  You have to research what constitutes medical necessity and then you have to document that you meet that definition.  You should make a list of the ways the hanging skin effects you and all the ways the hanging skin makes you sick.  One list should back up the other.  Then start getting those issues treated as medical conditions and get them documented in your medical records.  Never, ever try to self treat anything that is connected to the excess skin.  If you self treat you will not have the documentation necessary for insurance.  Whatever the issues most insurance want to know it is an on-going issue that is not resolved by less invasive treatment.  So that means going to the doctor over a period of time.  Dr. LoMonaco has written a couple of articles on getting insurance approval.  You can find them on his website.    http://www.drlomonaco.com/plastic-surgery-patient-resources. shtml

Red

What ya'll said.  And what Red said.
 
The non-physical stuff (rashes, infections) is justa  harder sell these days. That does not diminish the psychological and sexual issues' importance, it's an insurance thing.