questions for surgeon

I am having a second consult with my surgeon on Friday for my panni removal in May.  My fault really, but during the first consult I didn't really ask any in detail questions, as I wasn't sure insurance would cover it.  Cost wise - insurance doesn't make a huge difference as I have a huge deductible, but if there were complications I wanted to be sure they were covered.

My deductible is $8500, so my first questions is how much does the panni removal cost.  Some on here said it should be less than that.  I currenlty have $7000 earmarked for the surgery, but can certainly dip into my other savings for more if needed.  If a full tt is $7000, maybe I can do that.

Here are my next questions:

Originally the surgeon stated I could go home same day, but the scheduling nurse said it would be overnight - I need to clarify this.

Will my belly button be removed, moved, redone? 

Originally she stated it would help with the muffin top, but I need to clarify how much help it will be.

Surgery wise, what is the difference between an abdominplasty and panni removal, and can the surgery be upgraded at my cost.  She already checked my muscles and said they didn't need to be tighted, but are there other differences.

Where exactly will the incision be.

Is a binder required and how long does she estimate the drains to be in.


Can anyone else think of any more questions.  I hope to sit down with the secretary and get the costs pinned down as they have already told me the surgeon will not know this.  Hopefully the surgeon will tell me that they will allow me to upgrade on my dime, while still having the panni covered under insurance.

Thanks so much.

gppd luck on your appt.  I just wanted to suggest to you that you really try to do the tummy tuck...it is a HUGH difference and I personally would not want just the panni.  I would pay whatever the difference to get the TT....don't settle!  Those would be the questions that I would focus on.

good luck
Patty

Thanks for the response. I know from reading all the posts here that a full tt is the best option. But if they won't piggy back it on what the insurance will cover, the idea of complicatons afterwards that I will be responsible for scare the hell out of me.

I agree with the previous poster....go for the TT.  If your insurance covers part of it, you would just pay the difference.....the doctors don't care where the money is coming from, just that they get paid.

I am not sure about the panni, but for a tt, they use your old belly button and just reshape.  I guess they don't even move it....everything else around it moves....at least that is how it was explained to me.

I had an extended tt, breast lift/augmentation and lipo done on my legs and went home the same day.

I had a drain for three weeks. 

 I have a second consult today and I am going to ask some of those same questions.  The doctor on my first consult acted like that it was standard to get the insurance to pay for panni removal then charge me for the difference.  That was written on my quote , as a matter of fact.  

From what I understand, the panni removal only involves snipping off the overhanging skin, no belly button involved.  The tummy tuck involves freeing the skin from around the belly button pulling the skin down like a window shade and repostioning the skin with a new hole in it to center the belly button in.  Big difference in the end result.

I will definitely upgrade to that.  I also want to know how complications or unexpected results will be handled.  I also need to remember to ask how the pubic area will be handled as I forgot to ask that on the first consult.

my surgeon reguired me to buy plastic surgery insurance..it cost around 250.00 and would cover any complications.....thankfully I didn't have any!

Patty

Hi Patty,

How does one get plastic surgery insurance?  I have tried to search in the internet for it, but all I get is regular health insurance info.  What is included in the insurance coverage?

Lisa

When I first talked to the surgeon, she told me that she would pull everything down. That is why she said it woud help the muffin top. You can see where I get confused. She talked like the only difference was that she wouldn't do any muscle tightening, and even the scheduler wrote down abdominaplasty on the the chart. If she will do all that, re-do the belly button as well, and just not do any muscle tightening, that might be the way to go.

I just need clarification from her I quess.

So I thought I would update with what my surgeon said.  She was extremely patient with all of my questions, and I left feeling very excited for May.

She said that 90% of her patients go home the same day, but if I am still in pain, or the surgery ran late and I am still in recovery - they will keep me overnight to be safe. 

Regarding my belly button - that's the great news.  She said they take the skin and pull it away from the body - all the way up to the bone underneath the breast, detaching my belly button as they go.  then they pull it down and create a new hole for the belly button.  Basically I will be getting an tt without the muscle tightening, which is fine by me as she felt all my stomach muscles last time and did not feel any seperations.  She said it will definately help with the muffin top as they go up to under the breast.  She did warn me that because I have extra skin on my back, I will probably end up with "dog-ears" on the side.  She said if they are too big they can fix them later, but they usually try to take some fat from underneath out so they are not so prominent.

She also said the incision will be very low, so maybe I can cover it up with undies and such.

Cost wise - they quoted $9500 whi*****ludes one night in the hospital, so cheaper if I don't end up staying.  So I will max out my deductible, but will end up getting it all covered under insurance - so if there are any complications, they will be covered as well.