To tummy tuck or not to tummy tuck... - Page 3 - ThinnerTimes

HeatherT · 07-24-2006, 01:22 PM

i have come to grips with my tummy & not caring now to have anything done with it - but i hate the BOOBS they are saggy shrivled up yucky looking to me i want my boobs back - does ins ever cover boob lifts to put them back where they belong? i just want to be a solid c again....

sdgrrl · 07-24-2006, 08:16 PM

From the 2 consults I got for ps, I remember them speaking of financing available. If I had insurance paying for at least 1/2 of the deal, I would consider financing the rest. Or have your ps claim to have found a couple of hernias around the incision site. They cover that. The boobies are generally not covered, even with rashes--except if they culture out to be staph, which is not a good infection to have, as it is a strong infection and can be passed from body part to body part, and even from patient to patient. Also, if you have back problems they'll be more likely to pay for it.

IMO I would do what it takes to get a full abdominal plasty. It's wonderful to have a totally flat belly and have those muscles be back the way they're supposed to be. Just like the wls is the establishment of a valuable tool for getting rid of our weight, abdominalplasty finishes the job by giving us a firm buff abdomen to keep in shape rather than having to do it all on your own and still having that sexy apron slapping your thighs when you try to run.

Everyone has different priorities in their lives, and I recognise that a flat belly is not everyone's most important goal. I just know what a difference it makes for me to not have that skin apron in the way of everyone.....and be sure to shop around! Not all plastics docs charge the same or do the same kind of work. I got lucky with my doc because one of my coworkers had a tt with Dr. Umansky. She showed me her scar, which barely shows, and told me how compassionate he is. I actually knew the wife of a "big" plastics man in town, and went to him first--hoping to get friend prices. He did lower the price considerably, but when I went to see Dr. Umansky I mentioned to him that I had gotten a quote from the other doctor and how I worked with the dude's wife (she is a radiologist), so they gave me professional courtesy pricing. When I told Dr. Umansky what the other doc had quoted me, he discounted his price by like $500 and asked me if that was enough to convince me to see him. It was, and I am SO glad I did. I couldn't have asked for a more comfortable, uneventful surgery. I was glad to pay him the money, even though every dime came out of my savings.

I have since referred several of my friends to him, and they all said he was the nicest, most attentive surgeons they have ever met. His father is Charles Umansky, who is also a ps but is getting ready to retire and give the business to his son. If anyone is interested, lemme know and I will get his phone number for you. He seemed fond of me and I think he would go the extra mile to a referred patient by me. Remember that I worked in the medical field for 20 years and have seen more than my share of shister docs--he is not one of them.

I should send him this glowing recommendation--I give credit where it's due, and also say it like it is when service is less than satisfactory. Anyone who wants his number, pm me and I will be delighted to give it to you.

sdgrrl · 07-24-2006, 08:20 PM

From the 2 consults I got for ps, I remember them speaking of financing available. If I had insurance paying for at least 1/2 of the deal, I would consider financing the rest. Or have your ps claim to have found a couple of hernias around the incision site. They cover that. The boobies are generally not covered, even with rashes--except if they culture out to be staph, which is not a good infection to have, as it is a strong infection and can be passed from body part to body part, and even from patient to patient. Also, if you have back problems they'll be more likely to pay for it.

IMO I would do what it takes to get a full abdominal plasty. It's wonderful to have a totally flat belly and have those muscles be back the way they're supposed to be. Just like the wls is the establishment of a valuable tool for getting rid of our weight, abdominalplasty finishes the job by giving us a firm buff abdomen to keep in shape rather than having to do it all on your own and still having that sexy apron slapping your thighs when you try to run.

Everyone has different priorities in their lives, and I recognise that a flat belly is not everyone's most important goal. I just know what a difference it makes for me to not have that skin apron in the way of everyone.....and be sure to shop around! Not all plastics docs charge the same or do the same kind of work. I got lucky with my doc because one of my coworkers had a tt with Dr. Umansky. She showed me her scar, which barely shows, and told me how compassionate he is. I actually knew the wife of a "big" plastics man in town, and went to him first--hoping to get friend prices. He did lower the price considerably, but when I went to see Dr. Umansky I mentioned to him that I had gotten a quote from the other doctor and how I worked with the dude's wife (she is a radiologist), so they gave me professional courtesy pricing. When I told Dr. Umansky what the other doc had quoted me, he discounted his price by like $500 and asked me if that was enough to convince me to see him. It was, and I am SO glad I did. I couldn't have asked for a more comfortable, uneventful surgery. I was glad to pay him the money, even though every dime came out of my savings.

I have since referred several of my friends to him, and they all said he was one of the nicest, most attentive surgeons they have ever met. His father is Charles Umansky, who is also a ps but is getting ready to retire and give the business to his son. If anyone is interested, lemme know and I will get his phone number for you. He seemed fond of me and I think he would go the extra mile to a referred patient by me. Remember that I worked in the medical field for 20 years and have seen more than my share of shister docs--he is not one of them.

I should send him this glowing recommendation--I give credit where it's due, and also say it like it is when service is less than satisfactory. Anyone who wants his number, pm me and I will be delighted to give it to you.

Cinerbelle · 07-24-2006, 08:22 PM

Hi Donna,

I wish it was time for me to have PS...but I have a way to go. I did research your Dr. earlier today and found his and his Father's website. The before/after pictures look great! I will definitely be keeping his name in my PS research for future use.

sdgrrl · 07-24-2006, 08:30 PM

I should go to the website and see if any of the pix are of me--wouldn't THAT be a rush--to be published on the web with those scanty little "thongs" they give you. Believe what you read about him--he's an overlooked gem.

Cinerbelle · 07-24-2006, 08:32 PM

OMG!! Can you imagine looking at the pictures and seeing your boobies staring back at you. That would be too funny!

rebelg66 · 07-25-2006, 08:27 AM

I talked with UCSF yesterday and found out that, in the auth. girl's words, they consider a panniculectomy and a TT the same thing. I wasn't clear on that and asked and she said that what they do is bill the ins for the panniculectomy and DO THE FULL TUMMY TUCK!!!!!!

I was so happy I almost cried!!! This PS surgeon at UCSF is the one that my GB surgeon reccommeded. I had seen her in April for a consult and she was just awful with her attitude and seemed to be discouraging me from even getting anything done. One of her statements to me was that my skin was in very bad shape and I shouldn't expect perfection. I realize that, but it was her attitude when she said it that hit me. It was as if she just thought there was no hope for it to do any good, so why even try. I told her that I didn't expect perfection just some improvement. Then she was asking me how I would pay for it if my ins didn't cover the whole thing and I kind of thought that she shouldn't be concerned with that and felt like that was prying a bit. Not to sound harsh, but as long as she got paid I don't think it should make any diff where the money comes from. Well, I had gone to this other surgeon that was wanting the $5,000 on top of the money being paid by my ins for the panniculectomy because of that whole experience at UCSF. This one I recently saw was so positive and felt that he could get rid of all the scars and get such wonderful results and thought his auth people could get full aproval from my ins. So I tried with him. Anyway we have seen that story unfold in here.
The way I am looking at this PS surgeon at UCSF, with the not so good attitude, is that maybe I caught her on a bad day and if that isn't the case most of the time when I see her I will be out of it and won't care what her attitude is like. My GB surgeon is reccomending her to all of his patients and said he went to a symposium given by her and has seen her work in person and is VERY impressed with it, so who am I to complain about attitude? And besides all that I should not look a gift horse in the mouth and thank my lucky stars that it is going to be covered 100%!
The auth girl on the phone said that my ins requires 3 months stability at 100 pounds weight loss. I am just about there (2 pounds away) and she said that was close enough and I need to get the weight recorded and start the count down. I will probably lose more over the next 3 months too since I am still losing and haven't reached goal. So I may be looking at Oct. for my PS!!!
Such EXCITING NEWS!!!!

Hunnyblonde · 07-28-2006, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebelg66

Will ins. cover a breat lift if you are getting heat rashes or fungal infections under your breasts? I don't get them very often but occasionally.

Monistat has a new product out called Powder-Gel to prevent chafing. I found it in the femine hygiene section. I use it everyday under the girls and in my apron crease. Works GREAT and feels so nice. Don't know if it will prevent fungal infections but heat rashes definitely.

Even though it's advertised for women, I'm sure any men with chafing problems could use it too...maybe the unscented variety.

rwright · 08-03-2006, 06:21 PM

try this web site for financing the rest of the surgery.
doctorssayyes.com

rebelg66 · 08-03-2006, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwright

try this web site for financing the rest of the surgery.
doctorssayyes.com

Thanks! I got 100% coverage from my ins. for the TT, but I will certainly keep this address for when I get (to steal a cute one) the girls lifted and fluffed!