Does military offer free cosmetic surgery?

I'm a spouse of a military and i heard that we are entitled of having 2 free cosmetic or reconstructive surgeries is this true? I want to have a tummy tuck and breast implants...

Does military offer free cosmetic surgery?
No way! That's not true.


I do know you are able to get reduced cost plastic surgery at Ft Sam Houston, TX. That is where they train military doctors. I don't think I would want "trainees" operating on ANY part of me though.
Reply:i enlisted in the marine corps and as far a i know, no they do not. but i do know however, they will pay for corrective eye surgery
Reply:no.
Reply:No, neither the military nor the majority of other private insurance companies will cover these type of cosmetic or reconstructive surgeries as they are not deemed as "necessities". Military insurance will only cover these type of surgery if they are related to repairing damage resulting from some type of injury.
Reply:Only for correction of injuries received in the line of duty.
Reply:if you fall under tricare and you are horribly disfigured in an accident or while deployed then yes they will pay for reconstructive surgery. this is not something that normal health insurance would cover under most circumstances.





my advice, dont risk pissing off the underwriters by making ingenuous claims when one day you may need them to approve something that may be on the line.
Reply:My husband has heard that too, he is also in the military but I think there are limitations. You'd need to talk to a doctor at a MTF. From what I understand the docs do this to train and keep up their skills so that they can treat wounded soldiers/sailors in the time of battle or other serious injury/disfigurment. Also call tricare. I'm done having children and want a tummy tuck to repair what my c-section did to me.
Reply:they will pay for corrective eye surgery, breast REDUCTIONS if you have back trouble, major deformities if you were born with them or caused by an accident...and when i say a deformity your flabby belly and flat chest dont count, its only for things like bowed legs or something like that.
Reply:OK, here is the real truth... the military (the Air Force anyway) will give you free cosmetic surgery. However, I don't know if spouses/dependants qualify for this or if it is only for active duty. That is something you will have to look into.





Any and all procedures are available but there are a few catches...


1) There must be a surgeon available to do your procedure (basically, any military doctor who is licensed to practice cosmetic surgery HAS to do a certain number of procedures in order to keep his certification; therefore the military offers them to members who want/need them... those who need them have priority over those who don't. Other than that, there are no limitations as to what kind of procedure you have done).


2) You have to get on a waiting list. Last I heard at Lackland AFB, the waiting list for breast augmentation was over a year long.


3) You MAY have to pay something... for example, you have to put up the cash for the implants. It's like paying for parts but the labor is free.


4) You have to trust that they will do a good job because there is no such thing as malpractice with military surgeons...





Again, not sure about dependants though. Good luck!! :)
Reply:Well, it's nice to see a military wife keeping up on the conflict in Iraq. How very wise you are to wonder how things are going over there and being so supportive of our troops.





I'm sure you are equally concerned about the wounded who have lost arms, legs, faces and other body parts.





By all means, get your little tummy tuck - and fix your boobs. In the grand scheme of things, those are really, really important.
Reply:no, only if it is related to a combat injury
Reply:%26lt;giggle%26gt; No, dear. You heard wrong. The military doesn't even offer cosmetic surgery to military members unless there was an accident ON DUTY that caused a physical disfigurement. And even then, the soldier REALLY has to fight to get it done because the military medical system sucks.
Reply:There is a huge difference between cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. Cosmetic is for vanity, tummy tuck, face lift, breast implants. Reconstructive is to fix damage from severe accident that causes disfigurement. The military will cover reconstructive if it is deemed necessary for the betterment of the person receiving it. Cosmetic surgery generally isn't paid by the military unless it is medical necessity, breast reduction. I hope this helps answer the question.
Reply:generally speaking, no. very few treatment facilites offer elective surgery options to dependants, and only the actual procedure would be free, you would have to pay for the implants and the costs associated with your stay. additionally, there is a huge waiting list because it is strictly on a Space A basis to keep the surgeons in practice. Actove duty and reconstructive due to combat have precedence.
Reply:Lackland AFB does offer those services, it is just as lexus stated in her posting, there is a waiting list, there is cost, and spouses are eligible. you would really just have to talk to your doctor for more info, then be prepared to wait till you are contacted(kinda like gettin on the list for base housing lol.) and if your arent near a base that offers it then you will have to cover your travel costs yourself, and may just be better off going somewhere else. good luck, and ignore these folks who sneer at such an honest question that many of us are interested in. (not to mention the hubby would love for me to get on the list...but im just a big ole chicken)