Hernia and pannus removal? - ThinnerTimes

Emerald · 02-20-2007, 10:20 AM

Hey everyone -

It has been a while since I have been on, but I need all of your expertise desperately!

My husband Mike has turned up with a hernia 3 years after his surgery. He just found out last week. Since he lost 180 lbs he definitely needs to do something about all the skin, but our budget is just not going to allow for a lot of plastic surgery right now.

I had read in various posts about how they will sometimes do pannus removal at the same time as the hernia repair? Is this something that is included because of the hernia or additional?

We have Blue Cross California Care. His doctor has been less then cooperative about helping him document the skin issues and has just referred him to plastic surgeons that are not even in our insurance plan! At this point we are prepared to switch dr's, if that will help. So here are my questions:

1. What is your experience with the surgeon doing pannus removal as part of a hernia repair. Was it covered by insurance?

2. Does a general surgeon do that? They are referring him to a general surgeon for the hernia?

3. Does anyone have a recommendation for a general Dr., surgeon or Plastic Surgeon that is contracted under Blue Cross CA Care?

This is just so overwhelming knowing that we don't have the luxury of a lot of time, since the hernia needs to be repaired.

Thank you all in advance for your input!

bridgetgirl · 02-23-2007, 01:45 AM

Emmy:

email Pam, she did it.

Blueyz · 02-23-2007, 09:06 PM

Hi Emmy,

I had to have 2 surgeons...one for the hernia repair and one for the TT and skin removal. I was able to get the insurance to cover the hernia repair and the abdominoplasty, but not the pannilectomy(skin removal) My PS surgeon did everything while the hernia doc just was present for the politics of everything (Insurance requirements).

bridgetgirl · 02-26-2007, 10:32 PM

My doc did both, and PPO insurance covered all of it. Did you email Pam? We miss you in East County Emmy!

rainrain · 02-26-2007, 11:11 PM

I got approved for pannus removal along with hernia repair. I have Healthnet with Sharp/Reas Stealy.

Good to hear from you, looks like you've done great with your weight loss. We miss your input here!!!

How have you been???

Rain

pambragg · 02-27-2007, 08:53 AM

Emmy!!!! Where the heck have you guys been??? How are you doing? It seems like you two dropped off the face of the earth! I am sorry to hear about Mike's hernia. I had been scheduled for a paniculectomy and they found another hernia (besides the one I had surgery for the year before) while in there. They were able to "upgrade" me to a actual TT because of that without consulting my insurance company. The insurance covered everything because I had almost 2 years of rash documentation and also the weight of the pannus was causing back issues.
My PCP is the one who put in the referral for a PS consult. Dr Gilbert Lee in Del Mar did my surgery. He and his staff are great. You can look at their website if you'd like. It is changesplasticsurgery.com Take care and I'd love to see you at a support group sometime soon!!! Hugs to both of you.