Would my insurance cover liposuction to help my back? (photo)

Question

I had gall bladder removal surgery November 2011 and I was injured in November 2013. I fell down a flight if stairs and injured my back. I've been trying to work out but I am still very limited. I plan on settling my workmans comp and starting my own treatments. I know weight loss will help dramatically but it's also harder because I do not have a gall bladder to help digest properly. Which also doesn't help with weight loss. I've gained 20lbs since my injury.

Luis Macias, MD, FACS · Answer

Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure and thus not covered by insurance companies.  It is best performed in patients close to their ideal weight with "problem" areas as a body contouring procedure and is not a form of weight loss.  Ask you primary care doctor to refer you to a nutritionist or a weight control specialist.  Hope this helps and best wishes .

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

You will have to consult your insurance provider to find out if your liposuction is covered. However, in general, the answer would be no unless it would resolve a physical impairment directly caused by excess subcutaneous fat in the area targeted, and liposuction is proven to be the most suitable treatment.You may be able to still cover her surgery with financing. Payments can be as little as a couple hundred dollars a month.Having said this, however, liposuction is probably not the most suitable treatment for you. Liposuction is only designed for pockets of stubborn fat and not for overall fat loss. It is not a method of weight loss and patients should be of a stable, ideal BMI before proceeding with surgery.

Shim Ching, MD · Answer

Your insurance will not cover the cost of liposuction.  It's essentially a cosmetic concern and medical insurance does not pay for cosmetic surgery.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

Liposuction is not a therapeutic procedure but rather body contouring for aesthetic reasons. The likelihood of insurance covering this is remote.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Liposuction is not a wt loss procedure and is considered cosmetic.  Yes it may help with removing some fat, however, the best results cosmetically come from contouring or reshaping the area and not just solely removing large areas of fat.  Come in for a consultation we would love to see you.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Christopher J. Morea, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  I am not aware of any insurance provider that will cover the cost of a cosmetic procedure such as liposuction.

Thomas Fiala, MD, FACS, FRCSC · Answer

Sorry to hear about your injury and back trouble.Unfortunately, liposuction doesn't remove very much weight, and isn't usually covered by insurance plans.Seeing a physical therapist, who can recommend a customized program of exercises that do not hurt your back, might be a good way to start exercising.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Insurance will not cover liposuction in that case.  Find
 a liposuction expert who
 performs hundreds of liposuction procedures each year and has great reviews and great 
before and after pictures.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

Michael Eisemann, MD · Answer

Liposuction is generally not covered by insurance. And it is unlikely to have any beneficial effect on back pain or discomfort. Best wishes.

Mark D. Wigod, MD · Answer

With the possible exception of using liposuction to remove a lipoma, feather the edges of a breast reduction, or to obtain fat to perform fat grafting for a breast / body / or face reconstructive procedure, liposuction would be considered a cosmetic surgery and therefore not covered by insurance.  Plastic Surgeons are under great scrutiny by insurance companies and cannot risk their credibility by requesting coverage for a cosmetic procedure.  I do not do any insurance covered procedures without an explicit approval from the patient's insurance company.

Would my insurance cover liposuction to help my back? (photo)

Answers (11)

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