Just Got Aetna PPO Approval For Panniculectomy!!

I'm so excited!  Now I just have to find a doctor in Colorado (or Texas as a last resort) that will work with Aetna since there's no way I can pay in full up front and get reimbursed later.

For those that have had this procedure...

Was the recovery difficult?
Did you lost a pant size?
Any advice?

CONGRATULATIONS!! Isn't that awesome? You must be stoked!! Getting money out of insurance companies is like trying to squeeze water out of a stone, I swear. Glad you were successful.

On the boards here I've seen people who lose a pant size immediately, people who stay the same, and people who go up in size. It all depends on the amount of swelling you have, and the amount of skin they're removing. But long-term, if your pannus is large enough for them to approve its removal through insurance, I can't imagine you wouldn't lose a pant size. Maybe not immediately, but as you heal, definitely.

congrats!

Awesome news!!!  You are lucky.  All my surgeries have been self pay - but well worth it.  Would have been nice to not pay as much.

I just had a TT, Pani, breast lift, and implants along with hernia surgery (yes, I had a lot done at once as I have an almost 2 year old and wanted to be down 1 time and 1 time only).  My surgery was Sept 12 so I am approaching 3 weeks.  Recovery was not bad at all.  I have been back to work this week actually.  If this is the only procedure you have then it will probably be a breeze for you.

I did make the mistake of wearing a pair of jeans yesterday.  They fit but I am still swelled and I was VERY uncomfortable.  I am hoping to be down at least 1 size once the swelling is gone.

Best of luck!

Lucky, I am glad to hear someone beat the odds once in a while, I took 3 tries and struck out but oh well.

I know I'm a guy but I wore a 40 inch pair of jeans and I can't even get close to putting those things on right now. I guess I am going to be rockin the SNUGGIE for a while till the swelling goes down.

Yay, very exciting for you. I had my pannis removed on August 19th and I feel great. No muscle work done but have great results. I was down about a week and my drains were removed at 10 days. I went from a 10 to 8.. Love it!!!! Good luck.

YAY!!!

Hello to you and congrats. I also had my procedure approved by Aetna, it was done 8/3. Im a couple of days from 2 months post op and I feel great. I have went down a pant size and recovery wasnt difficult...but i was determined to be able to do things for myself. I will say take your time when recovering though. You can take a look at my pics and kind of see what the change looks like. Hope the info helps.

K.Free

Margaret,  I have Aetna insurance also and am wanting to have a Panny.  What did you have to do to get approved.  What was there guild line for approving it.  Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

Thanks,

Wendy

CONGRATS
I would like to know the same thing. I had aetna when i was approved for WLS and since then had two other insurances (due to employer changes) I know have Aetna again and is currently getting on track with a few things and a couple are cosmetice my breat are heavy and sag. I get chaffing from time to time (seen dermotologist) And pouch hold odor and itches to the point i have had to treat it the scratches (broken skin)I would like to know there guildlines (hmo)as well

Congrats!

I have Aetna Open Access HMO and got approved and had mine done a couple of months ago in July. I am in San Antonio and used Dr Peter Fisher (http://mybariatricplasticsurgery.com/)

I paid up front - but that was because they only approved me for a Panniculectomy, but I chose to have a LBL/BL and had to pay the difference up front. But I didn't have to pay the insurance covered part up front...

Recovery wasn't easy - but managable with pain killers

I kinda went down one size - but my excess skin sat really low (under my waist and on my butt LoL).

Advice - read everything on here, but understand that all surgeons are different and give you different directions for good reasons! Follow your surgeons directions - but use the knowledge you get on here to ASK the questions up front. Mine called me the Question Queen and knew that I would email him lists of questions and have more each time I had an apointment.. LoL