Wanna see what was removed?

[Mary23 17]

My insurance is Tricare (Hubby was Military for 25 years)' date=' so their rules are most likely different.

I recommend you have your surgeon take pics of the rashes the skin gives you. Photographic evidence does help!

I am nearing week 4 since my surgery. I cannot lift anything heavier than (lol) my purse (basically 5 pounds), but I can drive (automatic transmission only) as long as I feel up to it. I also am not allowed to bend over. Right now, I am unemployed, so my focus has been healing.

I began wearing regular clothes again after all my drains were removed. Because of the binder, I am only wearing loose clothing. I wore loose dresses for about two weeks post op. (maxi dresses are fabulous!) I already know I am down a size, but because of the binder and how tender my tummy is right now, clothes shopping will have to wait!

my superpower is......[/quote']

So did tricare pay for the surgery? Please thank your husband for his service and thank u too! We did 22 years

[Jerrie Ann 57]

Yes. They paid 100% for both my RNY and my skin removal. Lots of documentation was needed though! I had to follow their rules to the letter as well! All well worth it!

my superpower is......

[Mary23 17]

Yes. They paid 100% for both my RNY and my skin removal. Lots of documentation was needed though! I had to follow their rules to the letter as well! All well worth it!

my superpower is......

Good info! They paid fot my band and rny when the band failed. Ty

[Kristi 195]

My insurance is Tricare (Hubby was Military for 25 years), so their rules are most likely different.

I recommend you have your surgeon take pics of the rashes the skin gives you. Photographic evidence does help!

I am nearing week 4 since my surgery. I cannot lift anything heavier than (lol) my purse (basically 5 pounds), but I can drive (automatic transmission only) as long as I feel up to it. I also am not allowed to bend over. Right now, I am unemployed, so my focus has been healing.

I began wearing regular clothes again after all my drains were removed. Because of the binder, I am only wearing loose clothing. I wore loose dresses for about two weeks post op. (maxi dresses are fabulous!) I already know I am down a size, but because of the binder and how tender my tummy is right now, clothes shopping will have to wait!

my superpower is......

We have tricare as well. Hubby retired after 20 years in the Army. But we have standard because we don't live anywhere close to a base.

Curious to know if the pics have to be taken by the doctor or if you can self document? I've been taking some as they go because I don't want to have to go to the doctor every time I have a rash

[Jerrie Ann 57]

I had my gastric surgeon do the documenting. And he's a good 2 hour drive from where I live! BUT I always seemed to have something going on with the skin on my stomach whenever I'd see him, so it was logical for me to let him just document it!

[aayers88 31]

This is all so interesting to me!

I'm 7 months out and I get rashes under my breasts (not as frequent) and rashes near my groin area due to my flab. I went to my surgeon for my 6 mo Appt and they said my pediatrician needed to document everything (I think it was because they would be the ones to prescribe ointment or whatever) my doctor said that I should wait at least 6 months when I'm not gainin or losing anymore weight. So I was thinking that I would build up a case and go to my PCP every month for the next 3-4 months and by spring I would start looking into getting my insurance to cover this whole thing. I just don't know where to begin.

You said what procedure you had - is that just the removal of the skin part? What's the different between that and a Tummy Tuck? I think if I'm getting rashes under my boobs too that could be covered too.

HW 332; CW 236; SD 02/28/2013; GW 175

[Jerrie Ann 57]

It will all depend on your insurance....what will and won't be covered.

The difference between the panniculectomy (what I had done) and a Tummy Tuck is that they only removed the loose skin. They did not touch my boobs (although I do need a new pair of those). My surgeon did not do much "tucking", but he did repair another hernia and reposition my belly button, while flattening my tummy!

My advice is document document document!

[aayers88 31]

Yeah...every insurance is different. But the other thing I'm wondering is how long did it take from the beginning of you documenting things until the time you got approved

HW 332; CW 236; SD 02/28/2013; GW 175

[Jerrie Ann 57]

My insurance required me to wait 18 months

[sassy14 178]

Hi! Did you wait 18 months after surgery or after weight loss stalled? I have had the dreaded rash in the folds of my abdomen and my dermatologist is documenting it for me. I can't wait to get rid if the hanging tummy.

[Jerrie Ann 57]

18 months after RNY. I followed what my insurance required. I had my bariatric surgeon document it all because my insurance would only approve the panniculectomy if the documentation from either him or my primary care physician.

[TinyMamiOf3kids 1,280]

Is it possible that you can take a photo of how flat your tummy is now?

[Jerrie Ann 57]

I am still swollen (and will be for a while yet) from the surgery.

[nursejb 38]

I am still swollen (and will be for a while yet) from the surgery.

Hows your recovery going, even with the swelling is your stomach flat

[SoccerMomma73 1,867]

So, TMI, but can you wear normal panties and not have your gut hanging out the leg holes???? I mean, really, I don't care so much if it's totally flat, I'm tired of having to stuff it in my clothes to keep it from flapping in the wind :/

HW 312, pre-op (RNY) 255, current weight 198