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Insurance coverage for breast lift in severe case?

SkinnyKathy

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SkinnyKathy    99

SkinnyKathy
Posted

I have lost 200 pounds with the lap band, 34 more to go to get to my current goal weight. I am starting to look into plastic surgery options. I had a panniculectomy after I lost 80 pounds because I had such a severe pannus. This helped quite a lot as I had constant rashes and exercise was difficult. I am pretty sure that I will need a full lower-body lift with a T-incision, probably a inner-thigh lift, maybe brachioplasty although I can probably live with my arms.

But probably the procedure I need more than anything is a breast lift. My boobs are in very sorry shape, ladies. They were pretty saggy when I was at 433 pounds, and now that I have lost weight I have gone from a G or H cup to barely a D, sometimes a C cup. And they hang down almost to my waist. My nipples point straight down. It is not a pretty sight! And a lot of that C/D cup is skin. I literally have skin on skin inside my bra, as I practically fold my boobs into my bra.

So I am trying to figure out if there is any chance of getting insurance to cover a breast lift. I might also want implants, which I figure there is no chance of insurance covering, but I wonder if I can make any argument that this is reconstructive surgery rather than cosmetic surgery? I have Anthem Blue Cross PPO for insurance. Any insight or advice would be most appreciated.

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SkinnyKathy    99

SkinnyKathy
Posted

I'm going to provide a partial answer to my own question. I found this link Post Weight Loss Surgery in Sacramento: Fees, financing & Insurance which says:

"Some insurance companies will cover breast reduction surgery for women if the nipple sags at or below the bend in the elbow"

Ding ding ding! We have a possible winner here! It doesn't say whether the criteria is the inner bend or the outer bend in the elbow, but in my case, my nipples hang at least a full inch below the bottom of my elbow when I bend my arms up. If I put on my pants before my bra I sometimes get my nipples caught inside my waistband, no kidding!

Anyway, I have a consultation with my plastic surgeon scheduled for next week, but I wanted to see if any of you ladies had any information.

Kathy

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Go To Topic Listing Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

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    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KimBaxleyWilson

      KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.

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