Question......

How did you get your plastic surgery approved by your insurance company.....I have so much skin already I just want to plan ahead....Any advice would help and I know I have to wait a year or so....

You would need to contact your insurance company and ask them what they cover and the requirements. All policies are different and will depend on your individual policy.

Mine said "medically necessary." Well, I have infections and scarring under the panni, and on my back upper thighs from dragging skin so the LBL was covered. I also wound up with a chronically pulled/torn chest wall muscle from empty skin dragging, which got me covered for BR/BL and brachioplasty.

Seriously, the surgeon and breast specialist who diagnosed the muscle problem were surprised, so don't hold your breath, but DO keep good documentation.

Can we document infections ourselves or do we always need to be seen by a doctor? Just curious since the copays add up.

That depends on too much for me to answer! 

In my case, I kept my PCP informed (kept a written diary of itching/scratching/odors), and saw him when I thought I need a prescription for something to deal with infections.  He kept records of what I sent him, and used that.  BUT he's been my PCP for 25 years and knows that I don't cry wolf (not that you would, but for some doctor/patient relationships, there could be that possibility).  As far as the BR/BL/brachio, that was 2 visits to the breast specialist at my ob/gyne, along with another diary of aches and needing to be strapped up/down/sideways for pain control.

Your mileage may vary.

It doesn't matter what any of us here did, you must find out and follow what your insurance company requires.

I had to visit my PCP 3 months in a row for her to write in file that I had rashes and I had to be prescribed special ointment/powder that had to be purchased at the pharmacy. In addition my plastic surgeon sent in photos of my hanging panni. This was the pound of flesh (so to speak) that I had to pay to ensure my insurance covered the cost of the panni removal part of my LBL. I wish I could have just kept a diary and sent that in to my PCP, but my insurance company would have ignored that.