- 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 substantial experience in each treatment 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.
Does insurance cover a tummy tuck after weight loss?
“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.
Does insurance cover belly fat removal?
- Liposuction is often not covered by Medicare because it is considered a cosmetic operation.
- If a cosmetic operation like liposuction is medically necessary to address an accident or restore a defective body component, Medicare may cover it.
- Even if liposuction isn’t covered by Medicare, you can be qualified for alternative therapies.
Liposuction is a type of cosmetic surgery that removes fat from a specific area of the body using suction. The abdomen, neck, and buttocks are some of the most typical sites for fat removal.
Liposuction was the second most popular cosmetic surgery performed in the United States in 2019, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). About 10% of the surgeries were performed on persons aged 55 and up.
Despite the fact that liposuction is a common practice, insurance companies often consider it cosmetic surgery and will not pay it. Medicare is not an exception.
Continue reading to find out when Medicare will cover liposuction, how to apply for coverage, and more.
What is a medically necessary reason for having 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.
Why are tummy tucks covered by insurance?
The stomach tuck treatment, which uses liposuction procedures to remove fat from the belly, diaphragm, and pelvis, is an example of a cosmetic surgery that isn’t reconstructive or medically essential. It’s mostly utilized for cosmetic reasons, such as lowering a person’s apparent fat. It doesn’t cure obesity, it doesn’t get rid of stretch marks, and it doesn’t provide any meaningful health benefits for the normal individual other than getting rid of some non-essential fat. As a result, most medical insurance companies do not cover it.
How much does it cost for a tummy tuck?
What is the price of a belly tuck? The overall cost of an abdominoplasty is estimated to be between $15,000 and $20,000 (including hospital, anesthesiologist, and surgeon’s expenses). Body lifting can cost anywhere between $26,000 and $29,500.
Does insurance pay for tummy tuck for back pain?
Abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck surgery, is a procedure that removes extra fat and skin from the stomach. Dr. Paul Zwiebel, a Denver plastic surgeon, may tighten abdominal muscles, pull in the waist line, and tone the entire abdominal area with a stomach tuck. Abdominoplasty may provide certain health benefits, including as fat reduction, core strength and balance restoration, and increased mobility – all of which can improve exercise capacity. Tummy tuck surgery may also be beneficial in the treatment of chronic back discomfort caused by obesity. Abdominoplasty, despite all of these advantages, is not covered by insurance.
At the Zwiebel Center for Plastic Surgery, we believe that money should not be a barrier to individuals seeking procedures that can improve their physical and emotional well-being. That’s why we provide a variety of cosmetic surgery financing solutions to fit almost any budget and make tummy tuck surgery a reality.
If you’re thinking about having an abdominoplasty but are concerned about the expense, call our Highlands Ranch office at 303-470-3400 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Zwiebel and learn more about your options. Dr. Zwiebel is a compassionate and board-certified plastic surgeon who seeks to fulfill the needs of each patient he sees. He would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you to discuss your abdominoplasty financing choices as well as the many benefits that stomach tuck surgery has to offer.
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.
What is the difference between tummy tuck and Panniculectomy?
The surgical procedures of panniculectomy and tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) are used to remove excess lower belly skin. They can both be used to treat people who have lost a lot of weight due to natural or surgical causes.
The purpose of a panniculectomy is to remove hanging skin, but a stomach tuck enhances your muscles and waistline while also providing contouring effects. Both treatments can be performed at the same time if desired.
Both operations have the same goal: to remove extra skin from the stomach. However, you must understand the key differences between the two in order to achieve the desired results.
How long is recovery from tummy tuck?
You should schedule your rehabilitation so that you have enough time to heal and may take a break from some elements of your life. Make sure you’ve made all of the necessary preparations and are ready to go for your recovery time.
After the surgery, your drains will be left in for a few days. You will be taught how to clean and empty the drains. While your drains are in place, you’ll probably need to take an antibiotic and an anticoagulant.
An abdominal binder will be worn for roughly six weeks. This aids in the prevention of fluid buildup and the support of your abdomen.
While the recovery time for a mini-tummy tuck is usually shorter, you’ll still need to avoid vigorous activity for at least six weeks. Any strenuous workout or heavy lifting falls under this category.
Will a tummy tuck help with back fat?
3D belly tuck surgery can be used to remove stubborn fat and loose skin from the abdomen, just as a traditional tummy tuck. The 3D tummy tuck, on the other hand, treats excess skin and fat on the hips, flanks, and lower back, resulting in a more comprehensive makeover that can be appreciated from any angle. The celebrity tummy tuck results in more proper proportions and a lovely, natural-looking new physique by fixing abnormalities all the way around the patient’s waist. One of the most significant advantages of 3D tummy tuck surgery over regular stomach tuck surgery is the reduction of the fat pocket on the lower back.