Lara, Im praying for you! did you already submit to the ins co? MY fingers are crossed that you get approved.........i have heard your more then likely have a better chance of getting approved for a pnniceloctomy over a abdominalplasty.......so i tried the abdominaloplasty first and if i got denied down to teh last try then i would have turned around and started one for a panni..........just wanted to save myself money.........my ps if only panni was covered would have charged me 1800.00 out of pocket to do the full abdominalplasty which i would want .i cant see just having below the belly button done i have a role of skin above my belly button and i want my muscles tightened. so it would be worth teh extra $ Good luck to you Stephanie

Beth, I went to 3 ps. and then picked the one i liked best. we talked about a breast reduction and abdominaloplasty, he submitted all the paper work. i got approved for the breast reduction but denied the abdominaloplasty. so i went aheah and had the breast done. then i appealed the abdominaloplasty.and got denied again. I wasnt sure on what i needed so this time i called to appeal and the appeals nurse told me to read my reasonings for denial.........which was proof from dr. treating rashes(6 months worth) photos of rashes and hanging skin,and a personal letter( i think just so they get a feel you arent doing it for cosmetic reasons) and i reappealed on may 2nd got a call the 5th i think for a date for the 9th ..i couldnt do the 9th i still had to develop my photos and send them so we went with the 16th for th ehearing over the phone (as my ins co is in pa) it was my pcp whom is treating my rashes and myself and the medical panel of 7 ppl. i got the call the next day with an approval. I would say to you shop around for ps and have your rashes on record..and that you have been using home remedies like powder antibotic creams and support hose /panties and hen the dr will give you prescription strnght meds i had bactorban and lotrimin. and got lil or no relief. and thats what ins co want to see.........that you have been medicated and have recieved no relief............you need to find a ps taht will work with you............Good Luck to you...........Keep us posted on how you make out. Oh and for a dr to tell you you wont get approved how would they know all ins co are diffrent.....if you fight it to the end and can provide them with what they need then you will win..proving it medically ness is the game! Take Care Stephanie

Congrats on your big successes. I'm hoping to eventually get to that 145 mark too ~~ my body isn't cooperating right now, but I'm working on it!! Whenever I get leg cramps it's because of not enough calcium. Before surgery when this happened I would drink more milk -- guess now it's yogurt and cheese for me. Best of luck to you! Janie

Wow, congrats! Yes, PLEASE tell how you worked through the insurance! What insurance do you have? Reading your post gave me hope!!! Aimee

Stephanie- How wonderful! Tell me - how did you go about the process of getting your information submitted to insurance? The surgeon I saw said she wouldn't even submit my case - that it wouldn't get approved. -Beth