17yo DD wants elective surgery!

[foltzy]

Your poor dd. I was 22 when I had my breast reduction. I was a size H. Back problems, indents in my shoulders from the bras. My insurance paid for it but I think like $100 that I had to pay in co-pays.

Find a new doctor if this one won't help you. No one should be in that kind of pain.

 

[lastminutemom]

I would have the dermatologist write a letter and see if the chiropractor will as well (this one is less likely to cooperate, I suspect). If PT is required, start it and after a few weeks, when it makes no difference,the therapist can write a letter and call the insurance company and notify them that there is no hope of improvement with the therapy so it should be discontinued.

This should speed up the process.

 

[mrsklamc]

I don't know why the insurance thinks going to a chiro or physical therapy is MANDATORY to be considered for coverage? It wont make her breasts any smaller!

No but it might help SOME people and it would be irresponsible to do the surgery without even trying these first. I know insurance companies are all about the $ these days but any surgery, even common ones, is a BIG deal and if there are safer alternatives that might help they should be tried. Doesn't sound like that's the case with your DD, but that's the reasoning behind it.

 

[Bets19]

I agree with many of the posters... Contact your Health Insurance carrier. You will most likely require medical records from all the doctors involved. this will show how this is affecting your daughter medically. I am surprised your surgeon's office has not offered to help. Be persistant. It may take a little time to go through the process (depending on your carrier) but if what you have said is all documents I would be surprised if it is not approved.
Best of Luck to your daughter.

 

[Pigeon]

I have a colleague who had it covered. She had severe back and neck pain. She did have to try other things first, but eventually she was approved by the insurance company. It's been great for her--pain free for the first time in many years.

 

[marie1203]

OP we are trying to do the same and I contacted the insurance company a few years ago. They would not approve me because of my age at the time, they asked me to wait a few years. Mine are not as big as your daughter (DD) but I am short. I been to the chiropractor many long treatments and while it helps it doesn't take it all away. I am waiting until the holidays are over and I will try to get it done some time next year. If the insurance denies us I would be going to my Uncle's clinic to do it for a reduce price because I can't wait for them to be gone. Good luck I can only imagine why your poor DD is going through

 

[happygirl]

My beautiful dd wants a breast reduction. There is nooooo way we can afford the $12K-$15K it will cost. She has talked about this surgery for 2 years now. We have been to the surgeon who says there are "some" instances" when insurance will cover it but he cant guarantee me it will be covered. If I had the money I would do this for her in a second!!!! My heart breaks for her every day! Shopping for clothes is a nightmare! Forget bathings suites! Bras run me around $80 each and they look like your grandmothers bra!!! White, tan, black - nothing cute, frilly or sexy for sure!!! I dread prom season in a few months!

Has anyone else gone through this procedure and had it covered? What did you do to make it happen?

I really want to do this for her......

You want your teen daughter to have a sexy bra??

 

[RitaE]

You want your teen daughter to have a sexy bra??

oh please!

She's just saying that she'd like for her daughter to have clothing choices like all the other teen girls are wearing. Maybe glamorous is a better choice of words but whatever. We all know what she means. It's prom - she wants her daughter to look nice and more importantly, feel nice.

 

[happygirl]

oh please!

She's just saying that she'd like for her daughter to have clothing choices like all the other teen girls are wearing. Maybe glamorous is a better choice of words but whatever. We all know what she means. It's prom - she wants her daughter to look nice and more importantly, feel nice.

Yes, I would say it was a bad choice of words for sure. We all don't know what she means I guess you can read minds.

 

[RitaE]

Yes, I would say it was a bad choice of words for sure. We all don't know what she means I guess you can read minds.

Yeah sure. Let's just piss all over the Mom who is really upset over what has to be a very emotional and difficult situation for her daughter - because she used the word sexy. Gasp. Bad bad Mom, we should all just pile on and make her feel even worse than she already does. right?

I just have to ask, when you came up with the name "happygirl," where you going for irony there or something?

 

[crazelion]

I know my doctor has recommend have medical breast reduction. I am have one this summer. I am pay for it out pocket too. Mind is cost me 7,000 dollars and I don't have health insurance either. But I have found out that there is financeing and they take credit cards. That is how pay for it.

 

[JerseyTink]

First, speak with all of her doctors and ask them for a letter of medical necessity for the reduction. In order for the insurance company to approve the procedure the size of her breasts must negatively affect her activities of daily living and her overall health and well-being. The more letters you have, the better so speak with her chiro, derm, family doctor and any other doctor she sees. Once you have the letters in hand, call the insurance company and ask if you could receive pre-authorization for this procedure. Explain to them that her doctors have recommended the procedure and you have letters explaining the severity of her problem. They should be able to give you some advice as to how to ensure their coverage of the procedure. I hope this has helped and all goes well for you and her.

 

[angierae]

I had a breast reduction in the summer of 2010 and it's the best thing I've ever done. My DD16 has asked if she can have one too, and I've told her that if she loses the weight she's trying to lose right now and she doesn't have any drop in size, then we will definitely look into it for her.

Call your insurance company and find out exactly what the requirements are, and do them. I know it sucks - I had to spend $600 on six weeks of physical therapy that did absolutely NOTHING, but it was a requirement. You can also get your insurance to pre-approve it so you don't have to worry about whether or not it will be covered once it's done.

I cannot stress how much this surgery is NOT ELECTIVE. My quality of life was miserable, I couldn't exercise, even walking on the treadmill for any length of time hurt. I have permanent shoulder grooves, I had rashes under my breasts.

I will DEFINITELY take my daughter in to get a reduction if her breasts do not change size when she loses this last 20 pounds (which are melting off of her at this point, so it's not like I've set an impossible goal.)

 

[Minnesota!]

my bff had it covered. severe shoulder pain and incredible indents on her shoulders from the straps from the weight. She had 4# removed total. She is much happier now...

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

I just have to ask, when you came up with the name "happygirl," where you going for irony there or something?

 

[carone0318]

I had a reduction also. My one word of advice is if she is the slightest overweight, to lose weight before going through the process with the insurance co. That is usually the 1st reason for denial, if you are overweight.

Also, like others have said - keep trying, keep trying, keep trying!

 

[tlenzendorf]

I had it covered. Back pain, muscle separation from my shoulders from the bra straps resulting in indents, rashes. Call your insurance company and ask them. Typically it will be covered if there are enough medical reasons for it and if her size doesn't match her BMI.

 

[angierae]

I had a reduction also. My one word of advice is if she is the slightest overweight, to lose weight before going through the process with the insurance co. That is usually the 1st reason for denial, if you are overweight.

Also, like others have said - keep trying, keep trying, keep trying!

A lot of times, weight issues are with the doctor, too - you might find a doctor who tells you they won't do the surgery until you have a BMI of 30 or lower, but another doctor won't care at all (this happened to a friend of mine.)

I'm a size 18 and 5'1", and my weight was never discussed as an issue, other than me asking what would happen if I lost weight after my surgery. (She said I'd have to lose more than 50 pounds before it made much of a difference.)

 

[dismichelle]

I had mine done 8 yrs ago this month!
Love it, best thing I have ever done for myself.
My approval process was super easy. I went to the plastic surgeon (without a referral) for a consultation. I asked him how was the approval process and he said it varies from person to person and from ins. company to company.

Anyway, after I was undressed and he saw the indents on my shoulders, he said that I would be approved without a doubt. I had United Healthcare at the time. I also think there was some type of questionnaire I had to fill out about back pain, etc. My back pain went away the moment I awoke from surgery.

Even though I would have still done it at that time, I may have given a pause to think about breastfeeding. I have had 2 children since the surgery and I could not produce enough breastmilk. Though the lactation consultant said that the procedure has changed in the last 5 years or so and most women after that time are able to nurse efficiently.

It was also a cosmetic/self-esteem issue for me as much as it was for the back pain/discomfort. Thinking back, I was 22 when I had surgery and I sooo wanted to fit into the cuter tops and bras!

 

[princessmom29]

I had mine done 8 yrs ago this month!
Love it, best thing I have ever done for myself.
My approval process was super easy. I went to the plastic surgeon (without a referral) for a consultation. I asked him how was the approval process and he said it varies from person to person and from ins. company to company.

Anyway, after I was undressed and he saw the indents on my shoulders, he said that I would be approved without a doubt. I had United Healthcare at the time. I also think there was some type of questionnaire I had to fill out about back pain, etc. My back pain went away the moment I awoke from surgery.

Even though I would have still done it at that time, I may have given a pause to think about breastfeeding. I have had 2 children since the surgery and I could not produce enough breastmilk. Though the lactation consultant said that the procedure has changed in the last 5 years or so and most women after that time are able to nurse efficiently.

It was also a cosmetic/self-esteem issue for me as much as it was for the back pain/discomfort. Thinking back, I was 22 when I had surgery and I sooo wanted to fit into the cuter tops and bras!

The BF thing is a double edged sword. Many with breasts that are large find it difficult to impossible to BF anyway. If was one part of my difficulties in BFing my DD.