Question:
How many hours of surgery does tummy tucks take? How many hours are you under

anestheia? I have BCBS and have a hernia. What is the likelihood of my insurance paying for a body lift or abdominalplastry? Thank you for your information.    — Judy W. (posted on March 3, 2003)

March 3, 2003
I had a Full abdomenplasty with hernia and muscle repair a little over 5 weeks ago. My insurance paid for all of it. I had documentation of rashes under the panni and my PCP wrote a letter for my P.s to send in to the insurance company. My surgery took about 3 and a half hours. Good Luck Missy
   — Missy M.

March 3, 2003
I had a full abdominoplasty and liposuction on my upper arms. I was under anesthesia for 3 1/2 hours. You probably stand a better chance getting the insurance to pay for an abdominoplasty then a body lift.
   — Patty H.

March 3, 2003
I would say your chances of getting the TT are really good. I don't know many who have had the whole body lift covered. But, I was able to get my thigh lift covered and I hadn't heard of anyone doing that until after I had mine done. I am thinking that if you could show rashes under the "cheeks" so to speak, you might have a chance at getting it covered. You might also ask your surgeon how much "extra" it would be if the insurance were covering the abdominoplasty and you paid the extra for the body lift. I had inner thigh lift, full abdominoplasty, and a small hernia repair and it took 7 hours. I don't know how long each procedure took though.
   — cindy Q.

March 4, 2003
Time depends on how much work they have to do to your muscles - and you already know you have a hernia. I had a tummy tuck that was unusually extensive. They also did some lipo to my backside at the same time as they were using an incision alot like the beltectomy (sp?) which after they removed the fat, tightened up the skin 100%. Anyhow, I was in surgery for over 6 hours. In fact I think it was a little over 6 1/2 hours.
   — Shelly S.