Question:
BCBS PPO of Michigan TT hernia requirements

   — Lisa_Ryan (posted on January 3, 2005)

January 2, 2005
Yes it would be better to wait until your at least 1 year post op and been stable and at goal or at least a bmi of around 30, before bcbs will pay for tt. You could purchase an abdominal binder for support, because you will have to wear one for several weeks anyway after your tt, and I didnt read your profile, but you may also be able to get your muscles tightened as well. Our Insurance is through General motors,I was approved in 2 weeks, no problems, but I did meet their other criteria too. I had a (tt)panniculectomy,muscle tightening, triple hernia repair, and then 1 month later I had breast reduction. Good luck, Rosemary
   — wizz40

January 2, 2005
there is not a weight loss requirement for the hernia repair. However for the TT there might be, IF there is coverage for it. My plan was to have both hernia and TT done at the same time but my body had different Ideas. My intestine became entrapped in the hernia and I got a bowel obstruction and had to have emergency surgery to repair the hernia. The pain from the obstruction etc was the worst imaginable. Needlesss to say I was not prepared and did not get to have the TT under these circumstances. One thing I wish I had known sooner was that when the general surgeon fixed the hernia he put in the mesh so that the intestines could not slip thru the muscle defect, but did not repair the defect in the muscle. My plastic surgeon said that was in fact normal and acceptable, but I wanted the muscle repaired and it never occurred to me that I would have a hernia repair and still be able to feel a gap between the muscles. So I ended up paying it out of pocket when I had my LBL. If I had known previously I would have discussed it in more detail w/ the general surgeon rather than assuming I knew exactly what would be done. Ask lots of questions and have them describe exactly what they will be doing and ask them to draw a diagram if necessary! I do feel I had better results from my LBL by having it later as I had lost more weight and was in better physical fitness going in to it. I would not want to have a TT and then lose a lot more weight as you will get saggy skin again if you do that and not be happy with the results. The bottom line is , altho I would have rather had it all in one surgery, My ultimate goal was to have the best results possible.
   — **willow**

January 4, 2005
I was told I had an incisional hernia at my 1 year anniversary check up. I had lost 120 lbs. I chose to have surgery three months later and am so glad I did. I was told at my one year anniversary to try and get down to goal first but I was so unconfortable, hated being on weight restriction, wearing a binder I decided to have the hernia repaired and have the tummy tuck later. I started losing weight again and tons of inches everywhere. I still have more to lose and the tummy tuck will be done along with other PS when I am closer to goal. I ve seen too many have PS and start gaining weight back.
   — debmi

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