Need plastic surgery!

How hard is it to get your insurance to pay for a tummy tuck or arm lift?  I am about two years post op and have ost about 80 pounds. I am health link ppo.  Where do I begin the process with my lap band doctor or a plastic surgeon. HELP!

I asked the WL Surgeon for a recommendation.  Didn't use that one, found two others.  BUT the process for me started with the Plastic surgeon.  My insurance is paying for the panni removal..not a TT.  I am having hernia repair also....so ultimately it will be a TT, but charged to the insurance according to the other two codes.  I was approved on the second try.  The first time I was denied because it had not been 18 months since WLS.

My understanding is that my arms will be at my expense, that the insurance will not cover those, quoted $6600--surgeon, hospital, all inclusive.

GOOD LUCK!

Dr. Lomonaco has written a couple of excellent articles on getting insurance approval.  They are posted on his website http://www.drlomonaco.com/about-houston-cosmetic-surgery.sht ml

Pretty much if your policy will cover at all they want documentation of medical necessity.  They want to know the excess skin is making you sick.  For this reason do not self treat any skin issues.  Go to your PCP and get it documented everytime you have a rash or other issue.  If you self treat you will not have the paper trail and documentation that the insurance company is going to look for.  You want to document that the issues are persistent and not responsive to less invasive treatment.

Red

Blue Cross paid for my tummy tuck and arm lift 5 years ago.  My plastic surgeon and I submitted about 50 pictures of sores and rashes I had in the rolls of skin on my belly and in my arm pits due to skin rubbing.  I also sent in copies of all prescriptions from my pcp for creams to help with the rashes.  I also included a letter from my gastric bypass surgeon and pcp.