Question:
TUMMY TUCK SURVEY. NEED YOUR IMPUT.
I am looking into having a TT and I am just wanting to do a poll and see what you guys answers are. This will give me a better idea of what I am in for. #1- How did you sleep once you were home, in a chair or bed? #2- How long were you off of work? #3- How long till you were able to go to the store and walk around? #4- How long till you were able to ride in a car, lets say for an hour? #5- How is your scare now, is is bad/good? #6- Finally, how much did your TT cost you? Thanks ahead of time for these answers I havent been to see a Dr. yet and I know he will have all my answers but I's like to know from differant people what your expericances were. Thanks — DBXX (posted on May 18, 2004)
May 18, 2004
#1- How did you sleep once you were home, in a chair or bed? I slept
sitting up and then propped up on lots of pillows for about 5 months, but I
had lots of complications. #2- How long were you off of work? Three
weeks, but I pushed it. It should have been more like 5-6. #3- How
long till you were able to go to the store and walk around? Did it in 2
1/2, but again pushed it -- needed clothes to go back to work. #4- How
long till you were able to ride in a car, lets say for an hour? Within a
week, no problem. #5- How is your scare now, is is bad/good? It's
still red and raised. #6- Finally, how much did your TT cost you?
Covered by Cigna after an appeal.
— jen41766
May 18, 2004
Here's my input. #1 - I slept in bed for the most part. But I also did
not sleep for long periods of time and would be up all hours of the night
as it hurt less to sit. Basically I'd sleep for a few hours and then be up
and then back to sleep etc.
<p>#2 I was off 2 weeks and then started going back slowly part time.
I found that I could work for about 3 hours then I would need to go home
and lay down for about 2 hours and then I could come back for another
couple of hours. It took me till week 5 before I actually consistenly
worked 8 hour days.
<p>#3 I was walking in the hospital the day after surgery. I
actually went visiting and shopping 6 days after surgery but then I paid
for it. I was feeling great that day but that was the last time for a few
weeks.
<p>#4 I had to ride home from the hospital which was an hour drive.
I took pain meds right before I left the hospital and was able to make it.
I had to visit the doc quite a few times in the first 6 weeks so I got used
to the ride pretty quikcly. I actually bought some nice chair cushions
that I got on clearance and I would sit on one and put the other behind my
back. This did help a lot.
<p>#5 My scar is coming along great. I am 3 months PO and have had
my share of problems but it's all coming together now. My surgeon used
glue to close the skin which is giving me a great finish - just a line. No
staples marks etc.
<p>#6 My insurance cover the full extended abdominoplasty. The
hospital charges were about $19,800. Insurance paid 90% because the
provider has an agreement to take a 10% reduction. The surgeon's fee was
$5094. He also got paid at 90% because of their agreement. I actually had
a lower body lift and I paid for the lateral thigh lift portion. My
out-of-pocket was $3400 for the hospital and $2547 for the surgeon. The
strange part was that the total hospital bill was $36,000. They determined
that a little over $16,000 was associated with the lateral thigh lift. But
because they offer a cosmetic surgery package the rest was a write-off.
They charge $600 per hour for the OR and $250 per hour for anesthisa doc
for a total of $850 per hour. They figured the lateral thigh lift portion
was 4 hours. Just goes to show how much mark up there is if they can take
$16,000+ of charges and only charge me $3400 and you know they are still
making money or at least breaking even. I was in the hospital for 3 days
but fortunately all of that was billed to the abdominoplasty. The even
stranger part is if I had to pay for it all myself it would have been right
around $21,000 as my surgery was over 10 hours and the 3 nights. Yet the
total charges added up to $41,000+. The was way more than my WLS which
ended up just over $26,000.
<p>I am actually going in for phase 2 of my abdominoplasty on June
7th and this will also be covered by insurance. They approved doing it in
two surgeries from the start. Due to strange anatomy it could not all be
removed in one procedure. Hope all of this helps some.
— zoedogcbr
May 18, 2004
1) I had my TT 4/19 and am still sleeping in the chair or propped up on the
couch. I have tried to sleep a couple of times in the bed on my back - but
that's not the way I like to sleep. 2) 2 weeks. Should have stayed off 3
but financial reasons would not allow it - I think I would be better off if
I had given myself that 3rd week. 3) I would say I was doing pretty good
about getting out and about in maybe 4 days. 4) One position in the car for
an hour - couple of weeks. Haven't had to ride for an hour but for me just
1/2 hour was tough. 5) From the groin area to Hip on both sides are great
and no problem from day 1. Area above the groin is another story. After 4
weeks, I am still red and have stingy pain. Lots of irratation in this
area. 6) I know the quote the PS gave me was 7500, I don't know yet if the
insurance has paid the full bill or if the PS is going to bill me the
difference.
Christine
— bbjnay
May 18, 2004
I am 4 months post-op from a belt lipectomy, BTW. <br>
#1- How did you sleep once you were home, in a chair or bed? I slept for a
month in a recliner, which I did NOT do after lap RNY.
<br>#2- How long were you off of work? I could work on my laptop from
home, but I didn't have the energy to do THAT for about a week. Went to
work at two weeks post-op, but I am able to take a little nap when
needed.... and I eased back half days for a week.<br>
#3- How long till you were able to go to the store and walk around? Um, I
was able to go to ONE store one week after getting home... but the mall?
Try three. I could be out for an hour or so, but I got tired very
quickly.<br>
#4- How long till you were able to ride in a car, lets say for an hour? No
biggie there. Since I was sleeping upright, it was nearly the same thing.
In fact, I remember falling asleep when my husband was driving up home from
Target - two weeks post-op, and very short shopping time, maybe 30
minutes.<br>
#5- How is your scare now, is is bad/good? My scar looks great. I always
put on a good lotion after showering, as my surgeon recommended. It is a
thin light red line... I would call it a pencil line. I had disolvable
stitches and I could sometimes feel them with my fingers. But it's all
good.<br>
#6- Finally, how much did your TT cost you? My insurance paid for it all,
since I had met my deductible. At Jan 20! Sad... I was quoted a cash price
of $8,750 if insurance didn't cover. Thankfully they did, because my
insurance co. was billed close to $30,000.br><br>
<br><br>
I would highly advise talking with more than one doc. Some will work harder
to get you approved, and it is good to know the person doing this well in
advance.
— kultgirl
May 19, 2004
Hi, I just wanted to say, thanx for posting your questions, and thnax for
the answers. I also am looking into a tummy tuck w/hernia repair. I have
submitted papers to my Ins, although it doesn't look good. Thanx again,
Patricia 9-30-03 rny 314/188/190 past goal!!!
— pateblkbrn
May 19, 2004
My TT was April 1st. #1) I slept in my recliner for the first week, then
in bed propped up with pillows, about 4 of them. #2) I work a school, so
during spring break, I went back to work 12 days later. Was ok, had to use
a stool at the counter I stand at for about 3 weeks. #3) I could go to the
store about 6 days into it, but only one. #4) My ride home was 1 1/2 hrs.,
so that was easy. Only hard getting in and out. Take your time! #5) My
scar goes all the way around, and at first I felt like Frankenstein, but
now, at 7 weeks out it is amazing how much better it looks. I am following
my doctors orders of no sun for 1 yr. I want my scar to be a minimal as
possible. #6) I was a self-pay. I figured my insurance covered my wls
100%, I could pay for this. I didn't want to go through the fight. So, my
extended TT, lipo at hips/upperthighs, breast lift with implants, basicly
the works from the upper thighs up, $10,092.00! Well worth it!!! Hope this
helps!
— Julie H.
May 19, 2004
Gosh, everybody thank you so much for your answers that really helps me. I
am really trying to figure out how long I will have to be out of work. I
am sort of self employed so I can take off a few weeks but once I go back
to work I walk alot with my job I am in and out of stores contantly. Like
on an average I might visit 9 stores a day most of my stuff is in and out
but I guess I will have to take it easy and maybe just split up my days
after a few weeks off. I am posting another question regarding differant
types of TT please if you guys can check that one out to that would be
great.
Thanks
— DBXX
May 24, 2004
To answer your questions - 1. I slept in bed. 2. I was off work for 3 weeks
but could have went back to work after 2 weeks - 3.I was able to walk
around after about 3 days 4. I was able to ride in a car after about a week
5. The scar is non-existent. I can barely see it and it hasn't been 2 year
yet. 6. My tt was covered by insurance but the PS cost was $4200.
— Patty H.
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