Tricare and cosmetic sugery?

I had a baby and my body has pretty much gone back to normal all except the tummy. As a result, I cannot find ANY pants to wear without having them tailor made, or being sweat/stretch pants. I have SO much excess skin and fat that is completely resistent to exercise. Everything else is the normal size but my belly. I had a very large baby, and gained it all in the belly. I am thinking of trying to get tricare to pay for some type of cosmetic surgery to get rid of it, but I am not sure where to start or if its even worth the fight. My husband is active duty, and in Iraq now, and I would rather have the procedure done while he is gone so it doesnt interfere with our time together. Any suggestions?

Tricare and cosmetic sugery?
With any situation of that nature, your first step is your primary care provider, who evaluates your complaint and makes a medical recommendation. If the doctor recommends surgery, they submit it for pre-approval.
Reply:honestly tri care is a pain... but if i were you i would develop myself a severe case of self esteem issues that were so severe i could barely function. couple that with feelings of depression linked to a husbands deployment and post partum depression and you will be sent to a psychiatrist (first stop would still be primary care). if it is decided that your health is suffering you could be recommended for a cosmetic surgery.
Reply:My neighbor already tried to have Tricare pay for a tummy tuck. Unless it is due to substantial weight loss (as in loss that occurs after a gastric bypass), that is documented, it is a no go. A stretched tummy due to having children is going to be a no. Heck, my neighbor has had FOUR children, with alot of stretched skin, and it is still a no. She has met with a plastic surgeon, and it will cost her $9,000 to get her tummy tuck.





Another friend has had gastric bypass, and before she had her last child, Tricare authorized her to have a partial tummy tuck. Now, because she is finished having children, Tricare will pay for the full, at 80% because she has had a partial already.





So I guess it will depend on how much weight you have lost and whether or not that weight loss has been documented with your PCP. I have *heard* that the Army will pay for things that Tricare will not. Tricare will not pay for tubal reversal, but the Army will. My suggestion would be to start with an appointment with your PCP and go from there!
Reply:the thing with tricare and elective cosmetic surgery is this......first of all usually they require documentation of a mental health issue which has arisen from the problem. sometimes you can get away without it....... because the doctors need to practice up for when someone actually NEEDS plastic surgery (like for war wounds, birth defects etc) the problem with this is the wait can be long even if your approved, my friend is having implants put in........her surgery is covered but she has to buy the actual implants herself, and she has to wait 3 years on a list for the surgery. i have 4 kids myself.......and i know what your talking about believe me, my youngest will be a year old next week and ive lost all my weight but still have this huge flap of extra skin on my stomach....ive asked my doctor, tricare etc and been denied numerous times. so your chances of getting the surgery.....slim, your chances of getting it before your husband comes home.......nearly impossible.
Reply:you start with your PCM and request a referral. it will be a long process to get approved and the waiting list to have it done is even longer...only a few base hospital;s actually perform the surgery, and all costs associated with getting you there are out of pocket. the ONLY thing that would be covered would be the surgery itself, not the anesthesia or any of the other stuff.





Be prepared to wait 2 years or more, as priority is given to those needing surgery to correct defects or injuries.