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Consultation review-45yo BreastReconstructionFollowingLumpectomy. SheisaSelf Styled "TataSaver" butWas AnythingbutMe. Denver, CO
ORIGINAL POST
Wait for it: Dr. Lisa Hunsicker came highly...
TrinitymomMay 4, 2016
$22,000
Wait for it:
Dr. Lisa Hunsicker came highly recommended as a breast specialist plastic surgeon who would be compassionate to the concerns of a patient who has been through the trifecta of breast cancer fun: lumpectomy, radiation and chemotherapy as well as be very supportive through any post-surgical complications. I was very hesitant to undergo breast reconstruction, I was really worried about complications, and it took me 3 consultations over the course of 3 years until I was sure that this was the right procedure and I was ready. Dr. Hunsicker had presented a wonderful, well thought out plan specific to my situation and scheduled to begin after ski season so I could adhere to the letter of her post-operative movement & activity restrictions. I really wanted to be the model patient and achieve my best reconstructive result.
Then, it all fell apart... I called to schedule my post-cancer breast reconstruction surgery. The scheduler called back to schedule my "COSMETIC BREAST AUGMENTATION" surgery. I spent several baffling phone calls explaining that I was to be scheduled for reconstruction which I had waited nearly 4 years for, not cosmetic breast augmentation! The distinction mattered for many reasons, the most obvious of which was that my insurance would cover breast reconstruction but absolutely would not cover a penny of an elective cosmetic procedure. The most painful reason why the distinction mattered was being told that my lumpectomy (partial mastectomy 25% loss of breast) was not a valid loss and that I was just asking for a boob job... A BOOB JOB after cancer!!
I was impressed that Dr. Hunsicker agreed to talk with me and attempted to explain why my previously planned breast reconstruction had been suddenly changed to cosmetic augmentation. However, her reasoning made no sense. She stated that because my 25% breast loss on each side was symmetrical following a cancer lumpectomy on one side and a surprisingly destructive laser ablation on the other, she would fear that insurance would not reimburse her for the procedure. I guess patients who have "symmetrical" full mastectomies don't qualify either under her criteria (sorry, it's hard to keep all sarcasm out of this review with all the emotion I have). It's interesting too that she didn't tell me insurance was a concern 6 months previous when she had me meet with her billing manager to discuss my coverage. It was so amazingly painful to hear that despite losing so much breast tissue to cancer that she felt I was asking for an elective cosmetic procedure that I would have to pay for out of pocket. In the end, I'm still completely in the dark on why she seemingly wanted to discourage me from having my procedure with her. Did she want the cash of self-pay? Did she think my expectations were beyond her skill set? Did she really think that my breast cancer treatment didn't result in a significant enough loss for me to deserve reconstruction? I will never know. What an emotionally painful experience. Buyer Beware.
*And this "insurance won't cover it" is all completely false as I had previously received written pre-authorization (twice) for reconstruction from my insurer and have since undergone reconstruction covered by the same insurer.
Dr. Lisa Hunsicker came highly recommended as a breast specialist plastic surgeon who would be compassionate to the concerns of a patient who has been through the trifecta of breast cancer fun: lumpectomy, radiation and chemotherapy as well as be very supportive through any post-surgical complications. I was very hesitant to undergo breast reconstruction, I was really worried about complications, and it took me 3 consultations over the course of 3 years until I was sure that this was the right procedure and I was ready. Dr. Hunsicker had presented a wonderful, well thought out plan specific to my situation and scheduled to begin after ski season so I could adhere to the letter of her post-operative movement & activity restrictions. I really wanted to be the model patient and achieve my best reconstructive result.
Then, it all fell apart... I called to schedule my post-cancer breast reconstruction surgery. The scheduler called back to schedule my "COSMETIC BREAST AUGMENTATION" surgery. I spent several baffling phone calls explaining that I was to be scheduled for reconstruction which I had waited nearly 4 years for, not cosmetic breast augmentation! The distinction mattered for many reasons, the most obvious of which was that my insurance would cover breast reconstruction but absolutely would not cover a penny of an elective cosmetic procedure. The most painful reason why the distinction mattered was being told that my lumpectomy (partial mastectomy 25% loss of breast) was not a valid loss and that I was just asking for a boob job... A BOOB JOB after cancer!!
I was impressed that Dr. Hunsicker agreed to talk with me and attempted to explain why my previously planned breast reconstruction had been suddenly changed to cosmetic augmentation. However, her reasoning made no sense. She stated that because my 25% breast loss on each side was symmetrical following a cancer lumpectomy on one side and a surprisingly destructive laser ablation on the other, she would fear that insurance would not reimburse her for the procedure. I guess patients who have "symmetrical" full mastectomies don't qualify either under her criteria (sorry, it's hard to keep all sarcasm out of this review with all the emotion I have). It's interesting too that she didn't tell me insurance was a concern 6 months previous when she had me meet with her billing manager to discuss my coverage. It was so amazingly painful to hear that despite losing so much breast tissue to cancer that she felt I was asking for an elective cosmetic procedure that I would have to pay for out of pocket. In the end, I'm still completely in the dark on why she seemingly wanted to discourage me from having my procedure with her. Did she want the cash of self-pay? Did she think my expectations were beyond her skill set? Did she really think that my breast cancer treatment didn't result in a significant enough loss for me to deserve reconstruction? I will never know. What an emotionally painful experience. Buyer Beware.
*And this "insurance won't cover it" is all completely false as I had previously received written pre-authorization (twice) for reconstruction from my insurer and have since undergone reconstruction covered by the same insurer.
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