LBL and some lipo, 3/7/18

Have not wanted to put out there until all approved... But it is going to happen. Insurance approved 360 lbl and some lipo on thighs. I am super excited. I am 3 years out from surgery and maintaining a 95 pound weight loss. I am 5'2 and weigh 133. Anthem blue cross is my insurance company and are picking up the entire bill expect for deductible.

That's fantastic, Bonnie, Congratulations! Can you tell us a bit about what kind of documentation you needed to get them to cover it? I have no expectations that my insurance will cover mine, but I'm always curious when someone manages to get theirs covered.

Well, you pretty much just won the lottery

Yes! Leah at Dr Michaels told me I have to have a rash. Nothing else will work. Then only Pannelectumy (spelling?) would be covered. That would cut cost of LBL from $11k down to $6k

I was hoping a backache could be covered for the pannelectumy part ...that is legitimate pain I suffer with and my insurance said it would because interrupts sleep and always tossing side to side to take pressure off back. Leah asked Dr. Michael's and he says it would not go through. Figuring he knows.... done so many of these. Right now I figure out of pocket for all. Will discuss again in April when I go for consultation.

I recommend that you call your insurance company and ask them what their requirements are. For example, mine will cover NOTHING, regardless of medical need.

I will private message you...

Hi there,

I attended the obesity help conference in October of last year. I worked with the doctors offices who attended the conference. They took pictures and submitted all codes to insurance. I have a PPO. In 2015 or 2016 in the state of California Kaiser Medical was taken to court by a gastric bypass patient who was denied ps and was told all ps was cosmedic. Kaiser lost the case and since then in California it has been easier to get approval for some of the surgeries. I was denied 2 times before approval. It took 3 months to get everything approved.

Update on LBL and thigh LIPO

surgery was 3/7/2018

i spent one night in the hospital. Healing is coming along fine. Was off the pain meds in 4 days. Drains were in for 9 days. Only set back i am allergic to the tape being used over the stitches so i now have a ton of water blisters along my hip line where the compression binder sets. So now i have medicated pads on those areas, i am wearing a tank top under the binder to keep the binder from touching the blisters. The doctor has said he as seen it before and not to worry. Will post some pictures in a few day.

Congrats, Bonnie!