On March 8th I went for my consultation, 2 weeks later ,I received a letter as well as a phone call that insurance will cover the procedure. It is set for 5/21( I had to finish this semester first.) I will try to keep everyone posted and if at all possible post some pics. To date I have lost 112lbs with the assistance of my best friend ,Mr.Band. My plastic surgeon informed me that everything from the belly button down will be gone --- oh my that's alot. PS I have GHI HMO

Wow, Pat! That is an impressive weight loss. Good luck with the PS. I'm sure you'll be lookin' better than ever in no time at all. Don't forget to post us some pictures, we always like to see the results. Quick recovery and little pain.

If you don't mind me asking, and maybe you posted it somewhere else, but how did you get the insurance to cover it? Did you have a rash or something....any helpful hints would be much appreciated!!!

If you don't mind me asking, and maybe you posted it somewhere else, but how did you get the insurance to cover it? Did you have a rash or something....any helpful hints would be much appreciated!!!

Yes how do you get this sort of thing covered ?

On March 8th I went for my consultation, 2 weeks later ,I received a letter as well as a phone call that insurance will cover the procedure. It is set for 5/21( I had to finish this semester first.) I will try to keep everyone posted and if at all possible post some pics. To date I have lost 112lbs with the assistance of my best friend ,Mr.Band. My plastic surgeon informed me that everything from the belly button down will be gone --- oh my that's alot. PS I have GHI HMO

Congratulations. I dream of having this done. My belly swings.

My understand of insurance is that they will cover a procedure like this if you can prove that the skin will cause/is causing a medical problem, like rashes or tearing. The panni procedure is only skin removal, where as a tummy tuck includes muscle tightening.

Congrats on getting your surgery!

Unless it is excluded, generally PS is covered if deemed a medical necessity, but that is not easy to prove and will take a lot of medical documentation. The trick is to truly have a medically necessary reason ("rash" really isn't it) that the skin must be removed, or it will be classified as a cosmetic procedure.

My insurance company covers medically necessary PS. I'm probably a few years out from it and already starting to gather my documentation.

Approval will also be determined, in part, by the aggressiveness of the surgeon.

I started my documentation very early on with my surgeon ,every month I went in to get a fill I told him about the redness and rash that was under my Right side of my belly. My PS told me that he will tighten the muscles as during the consult he felt a separation in my stomach muscles. I do know that I am getting a incision from hipbone to hipbone and will have 3 jackson-pratt drains . also when I had my PS consult the surgeon took pictures of my abdomen, the rashy area and sent them with the letter to insurance company. hope this helps.

Lucky you! I want a rash, lol. Really, you must very excited to be able to have this done!

I got my approval letter a couple of days ago!! No hassle at all. The PS wrote a letter saying the panni was causing me backpain and balance problems and sent in some pictures (that's what did it, I'm sure! Some skinny little underwriter was so horrified at what that belly looked like that she stamped "approved' on there in red letters and put a rush order on it!!).

Anyhow, they said my out of pocket would be $220. The surgeon is getting his father to assist (I hope he's a surgeon, too!!) and I'm scheduled for July 13 (I don't have time til then).

Gayle you are too funny...I needed that skinny minny comment today.

Ana

A rash won't do it hugh? Well, wait until August in Texas, don't take a shower for a week, and then snap some pics. (ewwwww!)

An easy way to develop a rash is to "forget" to rinse liquid soap off the area that needs skin removed. Instant rash. ~Mandy

An easy way to develop a rash is to "forget" to rinse liquid soap off the area that needs skin removed. Instant rash. ~Mandy

Haha. This is hilarious! I love learning new ways to scam the insurance companies! I can't wait until I get banded, get skinny, and get my own PS!

Dont dry under the folds will be a basis for the start of a moist hot area and waaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaa(in a short amount of time) you will get a wonderful yeast infection....painful but easy to take pictures of and get a trail.

I did not do any of that I even used cornstarch powder to help keep it dry. REally if your skin is always in contact with other skin in a warm,moist place ,yes an infection will occur. but you really don't need to harm yourself by not rinsing soap or no showering,(just think of your friends and family )9 days until everything from the belly button down is gone