- After decreasing weight, panniculectomies and tummy tucks are done to remove extra skin around the lower stomach.
- A panniculectomy is considered a medical need after a large amount of weight loss, but a stomach tuck is a cosmetic treatment.
Safety
- Pain and numbness are common side effects of both surgeries. Scarring is also a possibility, though it will fade over several months.
- Infection, severe pain and numbness, and bleeding are all rare consequences.
Convenience
- Both treatments are invasive surgeries that necessitate extensive planning and post-operative care.
- Finding a board-certified surgeon with extensive experience in each procedure is critical.
Cost
- A panniculectomy is more expensive than a stomach tuck, although medical insurance generally covers treatment. The price tag can range from $8,000 to $15,000, without including anesthesia and other fees.
- The cost of a belly tuck is less, but it is not covered by insurance. The average cost of this elective treatment is $6,200.
Efficacy
- Tummy tucks and panniculectomies have equal success rates. The objective is to decrease weight prior to surgery, as weight maintenance is critical to the success of your treatment.
How do I get abdominoplasty covered by insurance?
“Can a tummy tuck be covered by insurance?” is one of the first concerns many of our patients ask. Yes and no are the answers to this question. A belly tuck is frequently just a cosmetic treatment, and most insurance policies do not cover it. However, if you are suffering from rashes or skin infections, the operation becomes a medical necessity. In this instance, you might be able to acquire insurance to cover some of the costs of your belly tuck.
You might wonder why only portion of the costs are covered. There are two steps to a tummy tuck. To achieve a smooth contour, the first procedure is strengthening the underlying abdominal muscles. The second phase is eliminating the extra skin and tightening the remaining skin over your midsection. When a procedure is medically necessary, insurance will pay the second portion of the surgery, as eliminating excess skin is vital to avoid rashes and infections.
Can a tummy tuck be medically necessary?
Abdominoplasty is a cosmetic procedure that is not always medically essential. BCBSNC does not cover services or procedures that are not medically required.
How do you qualify for an abdominoplasty?
Abdominoplasty is the medical word for a belly tuck. This operation addresses and restructures the abdominal muscles, reduces extra fat, and removes excess skin to lift, tighten, and tone the abdomen. The end effect is a stomach that is flat, tightened, and toned, and no longer protrudes forward.
You’ll not only look better, but you’ll feel better as well, and your clothes will fit better. You’ll have more confidence in your stomach’s appearance, which can make a big difference in how you feel about yourself.
How Does It Work?
An abdominoplasty typically takes a few hours to accomplish. The first step is to meet with our surgeon for a consultation. We will discuss the regions you wish to treat, examine those problem areas in person, and confirm that you are a good candidate for the operation during this appointment. We’ll set up your appointment once we’ve confirmed your candidacy.
Our surgeon will follow your treatment plan and take the required steps to assist you achieve your desired outcome during the procedure. Excess fat can be removed using liposuction. Any extra skin will be removed, and the remaining tissue will be pulled taut. You will be able to begin the recuperation process once your operation is completed.
What Kind of Recovery Should I Expect?
Despite what you may believe, it is critical that you get up and walk around during your recovery period in order to aid your body’s healing and return to a normal daily routine. For the first ten days after surgery, we encourage patients to avoid physical exercise. For the first six weeks after surgery, you should avoid all forms of hard lifting and intense activities.
Once your operation is completed, you will be given a detailed list of recovery instructions so that you know exactly what you need to do to help your body heal. Following your operation, you will be given a compression garment to assist you maintain comfort and adhere to the new shapes generated during your procedure.
When Will I See My Results?
Because you will be starting the healing process, it may be difficult to see instant results in the first few days after surgery, but your outcomes will be dramatic and apparent. The majority of patients see the most noticeable improvements two to three weeks after surgery, and those results will continue to improve for up to six months after surgery.
Am I a Candidate?
Those who have loose skin, extra fat, or are unsatisfied with the appearance of their abdomen are the greatest candidates for abdominoplasty. This operation can correct slack or sagging skin in the abdomen caused by heredity, pregnancy, weight reduction, previous surgery, or the aging process.
The ideal candidate will have reasonable expectations regarding the procedure’s capabilities and limitations. It is neither a substitute for a healthy lifestyle nor a means of weight loss. To avoid gaining weight and further stretching out the skin, those who have this operation must avoid substantial weight swings, keep a nutritious diet, and stick to a steady training schedule.
How much does a full abdominoplasty cost?
What is the price of a belly tuck? According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ 2020 figures, the average cost of a belly tuck is $6,154. This is only a portion of the total cost; it excludes anesthesia, operating room facilities, and other related costs.
Will insurance pay for a tummy tuck if you have diastasis recti?
Surgery is an option, but it is usually not covered by insurance because it is considered cosmetic; the most common surgical operation used to address DR is a “tummy tuck,” which is intended to make the belly leaner and firmer.
How do you qualify for a Panniculectomy?
What kind of people are ideal candidates for a panniculectomy?
- You experience rashes or infections underneath the hanging fold of skin that are reoccurring or persistent.
How do I get insurance to cover a Panniculectomy?
The pannus extra skin and tissue from the lower belly is removed during a panniculectomy. An “apron” is a term used to describe the superfluous skin.
The panniculectomy, unlike a tummy tuck, does not tighten the abdominal muscles for a more attractive appearance, making it ineligible as a cosmetic procedure. Getting rid of the excess fat, on the other hand, can make your stomach look slimmer. The panniculectomy can be combined with other abdominal operations such as a stomach tuck.
Surgical charges for this operation can range from $8,000 to $15,000, including anesthesia, surgeon, and facility fees. Because the panniculectomy is not normally considered aesthetic surgery, your insurance provider may be willing to help you pay for it. However, you must meet certain requirements and the panniculectomy must be considered a medical necessity. To discuss your payment alternatives, contact your health insurance provider.
Is a Panniculectomy the same as a tummy tuck?
“What is the difference between a panniculectomy and an abdominoplasty or stomach tuck?” some patients wonder. This is due to the fact that the terms are frequently confused. There is, nevertheless, a distinction. In short, a panniculectomy is a medical procedure, whereas an abdominoplasty, sometimes known as a stomach tuck, is a cosmetic procedure.
Not only the skin but also the muscles beneath the skin are tightened during an abdominoplasty, or stomach tuck. This procedure is commonly performed in plastic surgery facilities in order to achieve a flatter abdomen. A medical rationale for a panniculectomy is generally present.
As a result, when patients like mine lose weight following bariatric surgery, or if you go on a diet and drop a lot of weight, the excess belly skin hangs over your waist. As low as your knees, at times. You may experience difficulties as a result of this. Back problems, mobility challenges, and ulcers under the skin are all possibilities, as are hygiene issues.
In some circumstances, we may be able to acquire insurance to fund the removal of the pannus, which is done in the same way as the skin removal during an abdominoplasty. However, we do not tighten the muscles beneath the skin because the goal is to eliminate medical issues caused by excess skin, not necessarily to achieve a flat belly. A panniculectomy, on the other hand, can often produce a very pleasing cosmetic result.
What is a medical reason for a tummy tuck?
Abdominoplasty, without a doubt, provides numerous cosmetic benefits. In reality, a belly tuck can provide medical benefits, especially when it becomes a required corrective surgical operation for individuals suffering from the following conditions:
- To fix a ventral hernia: A ventral hernia occurs when your intestine or abdominal tissue protrudes through your abdominal wall, forming a pouch or sack. This hernia can form for a variety of reasons, including abdominal weakness caused by rapid weight loss, an appendectomy, or a cesarean section. A belly tuck can repair a ventral hernia by addressing weaker abdominal muscles and relieving pressure on your skin, much way it can flatten your stomach.
- To relieve stress urinary incontinence: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a bladder control problem that occurs when your bladder and urethra are under too much pressure. SUI is defined as uncontrollable leakage caused by sudden and powerful activities including sneezing, coughing, laughing, or exercising. Although the condition is usually treated without surgery, research have indicated that a belly tuck may benefit SUI sufferers. The issue is most frequent in women, particularly after a normal birth, although it can also affect men.
- Abdominoplasty can also be used to alleviate back pain, which is a prevalent complaint. Women may experience back pain as a result of weakened stomach muscles after giving birth or losing a considerable amount of weight. A tummy tuck tightens weaker muscles by flattening the abdomen and removing excess stomach fat, resulting in much-needed abdominal support that can ease back pain.
- To enhance posture: Better posture is a result of stronger abdominal muscles and less back pain. Due to the tightened muscles that provide additional support to your spine after a stomach tuck treatment, you may notice an improvement in your posture.
Who is not a good candidate for tummy tuck?
Tummy tuck surgery can help some patients achieve a flatter, tighter abdominal profile, but it is not for everyone. To find out if you’re a good candidate for a belly tuck, first read the information below, then arrange a consultation with Dr. Bohley of cosmetic surgery Portland to see if a tummy tuck or another plastic surgery operation is correct for you.
You should be in good general health yet have extra skin (that has lost its elasticity) throughout your abdominal area to be a good candidate for a tummy tuck. You can possibly have stomach muscles that are badly weakened or divided. After stomach tuck surgery, you should be at a steady weight that you believe you can maintain. You must not smoke or be willing to quit for several weeks before and after surgery.
Finally, you should have realistic expectations for belly tuck surgery results. Tummy tuck surgery, for example, will give you a firmer abdominal profile but will also leave a horizontal scar that runs from hip bone to hip bone. You may benefit from stomach tuck surgery if you are willing to have a scar that can be hidden beneath your underwear or bathing suit line in exchange for the look of a six pack.
You are not a good candidate for a tummy tuck if you haven’t finished having children and plan to have more, or if you are presently pregnant. You will not be a good candidate for a belly tuck if you are obese. Also, if you are a smoker who is unwilling to quit, a stomach tuck may not be right for you. Finally, if you have good skin elasticity and want to sculpt your stomach or other portions of your body, liposuction may be a better option than a tummy tuck.