Tummy Tuck questions

lellow · 07-21-2008, 03:33 AM

I already have an 'apron' and I haven't lost any weight yet. I've had 4 kids so have an overhang that already develops rash and is unsightly. I was saying to my DH yesterday that when (not if) I reach goal weight after being banded, I would like to have a tummy tuck. He has agreed completely, so now my research starts on this part of my journey to a new me.

I have a couple of questions though I hope someone would be able to help me with:

Is a tummy tuck covered by private health insurance? I'm with HBF and I am certain that cosmetic surgery is not covered. But if it is a result of weight loss and child bearing, might it be considered medically necessary?
If it's not covered, roughly how much would one expect to pay for a tummy tuck in Australia?
Is a tummy tuck something you do only once you're at your goal weight? Or just before? Or after you've maintained your weight for a while?
Do you need to find a plastic surgeon who specialises in banded patients?

I have more questions but can't remember them all right now. If we need to fund this ourselves, we need to look at saving now. If HBF will cover some of it if it's deemed medically necessary, then is it worth having my skin issues documented from now?

TIA!!

Jachut · 07-21-2008, 03:53 AM

I'm not a lot of help since I havent had a TT and dont need one, but I have been to see a PS re a breast lift (in Melbourne) and he gave me generalised info which quited $8,000 to $10,000 for a tummy tuck.

Of course private health insurance will cover your hospital costs but in general not the costs for your surgery, unless there really is a pressing medical reason why you need to have it done and then, as I understand it, only a panniculectomy might be covered - which means they will cover the cost of lopping off your apron but not necessarily the cost of an aesthetically pleasing tummy tuck with muscle repair. But that depends on your fund.

Your surgeon will probably allocate a medicare item to the procedure if you have rashes and such, but its not a lot either. It bites, these guys charge more than double the scheduled fee sometimes, I went to the gynae last week, it cost me $160 for basically five minutes, in which I got a referral for an ultrasound, and then I got a measly $65 back for it from medicare this morning, grrrrrr.

You can have it done before you get to goal but you'd want to be pretty close. YOu dont need a person who specialises in banded people necessarily, but the best course of action there woud be to ask your band doctor who they recommend.

Good luck!

lellow · 07-21-2008, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jachut

the best course of action there woud be to ask your band doctor who they recommend.

Actually that's great advice Jachut, thank you. It's not something I'd thought of. I actually see my LAP-BAND® surgeon on Wed so might mention it and see if there is someone he personally recommends. I bet he gets asked all the time.

$8000 - 10000 is about what I expected the cost to be, and my DH has already said he would rather I did it right -ie an aesthetically pleasing tummy - so he knows I'll be happy with it long term. My other concern of course is that I have a rather large tattoo under my belly button, which will likely look wierd after a tummy tuck, but I don't think this would deter me to be honest.

It's great that you didn't need a tummy tuck. As for me, I suspect it's a foregone conclusion already.

Chickie · 07-21-2008, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lellow

Is a tummy tuck covered by private health insurance? I'm with HBF and I am certain that cosmetic surgery is not covered. But if it is a result of weight loss and child bearing, might it be considered medically necessary?
If it's not covered, roughly how much would one expect to pay for a tummy tuck in Australia?
Is a tummy tuck something you do only once you're at your goal weight? Or just before? Or after you've maintained your weight for a while?
Do you need to find a plastic surgeon who specialises in banded patients?

1. Depends on who you are with, and if it is considered medically necessary. With a letter from my GP to a reconstructive surgeon, my fund paid for a good chunk of my TT.
2. If my fund an Medicare had not paid anything toward my surgery, I would have been up for roughly $10,000
3. I waited till goal. I still ended up losing more weight after, but I didn't end up with new excess skin.
4. Nope. A good reconstructive surgeon will know how to deal with someone who was MO, and banded.

She Smiles · 07-21-2008, 07:30 AM

I saw a Plastic Surgeon earlier in the year and was quoted $20,000 for a full body lift (they pull you tight and smooth all the way round). Thats including the anesthesiologist. My fund NIB wouldn't cover a cent and medicare would only cover $90. I even had item numbers for it and medicare wouldn't cover it. Needless to say, I didn't get the surgery and am living with my body as it is!! My band Dr recommended the PS I saw, and the PS showed me pics of previous massive weightloss patients he'd worked on and he did great work. He had no reservations about working on me with my band. The PS told me I'd have the best results if I was as close to my goal weight when I had the surgery.

My advice - start saving now!

vez · 07-21-2008, 10:02 AM

After reaching goal weight and maintaining this for 3.5 years i decided to get my upper arms, stomach and breast done. This set me back $27000, I was covered by medicare, medibank private but still had an out of pocket expese for $18000. This was well worth it and would only suggest you go to a good plastic surgeron. The result very from each one and i only went with one that I knew had good results and had a good reputation.

mss · 07-21-2008, 10:10 AM

I was talking to my lb surgeon today and he suggested that I wait until my weight loss has plateaued before getting a tummy tuck but that I could start talking to plastic surgeons about it now. I have an appointment on wednesday (yay for cancellations) and can tell you what I find out then. My surgeon is planning to repair a hernia I have at the same time.

mss · 07-24-2008, 12:03 PM

I saw a plastic and reconstructive surgeon today and this is the quote he gave for an abdominoplasty
total fee $4500
est. rebate $890.20
out of pocket $3609.80
medicare no 30177

I am with HBF (top cover) and the rebate is both medicare and HBF included.

I was reading the HBF website yesterday and they don't cover hospital fees for elective cosmetic surgery I don't think. I need to see if I (hopefully) misread this.

The above costs are only for the surgeon, not for the anaesthetist or the hospital stay - he said that for me it would be a week in hospital.

edited to add.... oh I would be having a hernia repair at the same time so I might get some of the hospital stay covered, I need to go and talk to someone from HBF.

I wouldn't be getting this done for 6 months or so as I am going over east for a while so I have some time to save some money. The surgeon said it is best if the person is at their goal weight and not planning to lose too much more or to get pregnant in the future.

Sunwyse · 07-24-2008, 03:03 PM

If they won't cover it, look around at other insurers. They have to accept any waiting time done with other insurers.

mss · 07-25-2008, 04:31 AM

Thanks for that Sunny. I will start researching.

lellow · 07-25-2008, 09:24 AM

I actually did speak to Dr Watson about this when I say him on Wed. He believes that I will definitely need a tummy tuck if I already have an apron from having kids, but doesn't believe it will be covered by my insurer (HBF). He's given me the name of the PS he recommends and suggests I speak to him early-ish so get some ideas, so I may just do that.

But first, to lose 30 kgs!

Though today I completely fell off the wagon after a whole day at work and then coming home to a sick toddler. I made him a big bowl of oats, which he refused to eat. He only wanted my low-cal chicken soup and veg. So he ended up sharing a bowl of chicken soup with me, and coz my tum was still growling, I then ate his bowl of oats as well.

I don't even feel guilty about it because I'm tired and cranky. But it makes me even more grateful that after the band, I won't have to fight the hunger on top of everything else, or even be able to eat more than I need.

lellow · 07-25-2008, 09:52 PM

mss,

which PS did Dr Watson send you to? I'm wondering if it's the same one he recommended to me?

mss · 07-28-2008, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lellow

mss,

which PS did Dr Watson send you to? I'm wondering if it's the same one he recommended to me?

I haven't talked with Dr Watson yet about this. My other surgeon referred me to a Dr Vijayasekaran at the plastic surgery centre at SJOG - subi.

Who did you see? I want to get a couple of opinions before I make any decisions and I can see it taking a year to save up the money.

lellow · 07-28-2008, 07:47 PM

He's recommended Dr Bruce Allbrook, and I've emailed Dr Allbrook's rooms to find out if he would see me for a consult now, despite the fact that I still have 27kgs to lose. If I don't hear back from him today I'll call him.

Dr Watson reckons he's the one plastic surgeon he would happily recommend, too.

lellow · 07-29-2008, 02:49 AM

I spoke to Dr Allbrook's receptionist today after she replied to my email, and she suggested coming in to have a chat with Dr Allbrook, so I now have an appt with him on the 24th of Sept.

I'll ask Dr Watson for a referral when I see him for my first fill, and then toddle of to get Dr Allbrook's opinion. Though sight unseen, his receptionist has given me an approximate cost of $6500-$15000 out of pocket with a straight TT on the bottom end of costs, and a lower body lift being the most expensive.