Insurance approved for Panni removal I have questions?

I have BC/BS and they have approved for me to get my pannus removed but denied the abdominoplasty.  So will I be happy with the results or is it better to wait till you can afford to upgrade to something better? My surgeon wanted to do some lipo and moving of the belly button but I guess that won't happen because of denial. Unfortunately I dont have the financial means to pay any out of pocket.  Also how long do you need to be off work for panni removal?  I am a phlebotomist so not to physically taxing.????

Congratulations on your approval!  I also have BCBS and they approved my abdominalplasty last August.  Whether you would be satisfied with just the panni removal is something only you an answer.  I know for me it was not an option, I would not have been satisfied with just skin removal.  If you could stand the extra skin and wait until you can afford the whole tummy tuck, then I would say wait, but if your extra skin bothers you the way mine bothered me then I would go ahead and have the panni removed.

Good luck in what ever decision you choose.  I took 8 weeks off of work, but I had extended tummy tuck and bl/ba along with lipo of flanks and thighs.

Good luck

Sherline

Thank you for your reply, how much out of pocket did you have to pay?

I had my TT out of pocket, because I figured my belly would do the overhang thing. I don't think I would be happy with just the panniculectomy done. So it cost me $3500 vs $6500, because they did the pannic (insurance) at the same time.

I just had the panni removed last week. I am very very happy with my results but I opted not to keep my belly button which gave her the ability to take of an extra few inches and pull the skin down tighter. It is all what you can live with. I had little to no pain after the procedure just sore and a lil hunched over. I would say you could go back to work in less than a week if you had to, but I would give it two to make sure your drains are out, those could be a pain at work.

Hi there!  I had a panni removal last year and an anchor cut TT this year.  I would have to say it depends.  If you have a lot of skin and fat above your belly button - the panni will probably disappoint you.  

I won't go into the whole crappy story - but my panni removal last year was supposed to be a TT - I paid approx $5K out of pocket to upgrade.  The TT part wasn't done and I was very unhappy with just the panni.  I went to another surgeon and was able to be approved for a TT based on the scarring complications and issues I had from the skin and fat left after the panni removal.

All that to say that you make want to think about doing it in stages, have the panni done then go back for the TT. 

Good luck to you!!!!

I had a panni removal done first (covered by insurance) because at the time there was NO WAY I could afford the TT myself.  The PS did NOT do the mons lift even though I ahd told him I would pay for that separately, so I had another surgeon do that.  (I only mention that because, if you have a lot of extra skin in that area, you should be sure to find out whether that will or will not be included when the surgeon does the panniculectomy (technically, they are not supposed to include it, but some do).) 

I had a reverse TT (it had to be "reverse" because I had already had the panni done) because I had too much extra skin above the waist... the "muffin top" effect was really bad once my lower belly was fixed.  So, as someone else already mentioned, I think it depends on hjow much extra skin you ahve ABOVE the belly button.  (I kept by belly button, BTW, but it is about an inch and a half lower than it used to be.)

Lora

Forgot to mention that I was only off work 2 weeks for the panni removal.  (I also have a job where I sit a lot.)  I had minimal pain other than the first couple of days (although the ends of the incisions were tender for several weeks). I also did still have one of the two drains for the first week back at work, though.

Lora