“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 entails removing the excess 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.
How can I get my insurance to pay for a tummy tuck?
Make an appointment with your primary care provider. Have a routine physical examination and inform your doctor of any side symptoms your stomach may be experiencing. Your health insurance provider may be ready to grant coverage if there is a health concern that can be connected to the necessity for a belly tuck.
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.
What qualifies you for a tummy tuck?
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.
Does insurance cover tummy tuck surgery?
- 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.
How many sizes do you lose with a tummy tuck?
Many people have excess fat on their abdomens, which can be a source of tremendous insecurity for some. Whether a person’s lower abdomen has excess fat and skin as a result of significant weight loss and gain, pregnancy, C-sections, surgeries, or other factors, a tummy tuck can help to minimize excess skin and fat and give them a more contoured and toned appearance. Following a belly tuck treatment, many patients, both male and female, report a considerable boost in self-confidence, and they may find themselves wearing clothes they previously couldn’t imagine wearing. If you’re thinking about getting a stomach tuck, you should know what to expect from the process, how long it takes to recover, and how many sizes you can reduce.
What is a tummy tuck?
A tummy tuck, also known as an abdominoplasty, is a surgical operation performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon to remove extra fat and skin from the lower abdomen while simultaneously tightening weakening or divided abdominal muscles around the belly button. General anesthesia is required for the treatment, and recovery times vary. Patients who get a stomach tuck have a better contoured appearance and an abdominal wall profile that appears tighter, smoother, and flatter, giving them a toned and slimmer appearance. While tummy tucks are sometimes referred to as a single surgery, there are three different types of tummy tucks, each of which is acceptable for various people depending on their needs. The following are the three types of belly tucks:
How many sizes do you lose with a tummy tuck?
While some people consider stomach tucks to be a sort of body sculpting or weight loss cosmetic surgery, they do not aid in weight loss. In fact, stomach tucks should only be performed when a patient is at or near their ideal weight, as more weight reduction can result in more excess skin that the patient may want to remove at a later date. Patients who get full stomach tucks decrease garment sizes and inches in their abdomen, but they rarely lose more than a few pounds. After a belly tuck, the average lady should anticipate to shed two to three dress sizes, while men can expect to reduce several pant sizes. Patients do not need to drop weight before having a stomach tuck; nonetheless, they should be happy with their current weight and have no plans to lose a considerable amount of weight afterward.
What is a 360 tummy tuck?
A stomach tuck 360 usually includes a tummy tuck (reduction of extra skin and fat) as well as flank and back liposuction. Lipo 360 only involves liposuction of the abdomen, hips, flanks, and back and excludes the removal of superfluous skin from the front.
Does insurance cover 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.
Will insurance cover a tummy tuck if you have a hernia?
The cost of any medical procedure is usually at the top of the list of considerations. Is this anything that insurance will cover? The good news is that an Umbilical Hernia Repair is frequently considered a medically required surgery by insurance. Because it is considered an aesthetic or cosmetic operation, it must be paid for out of pocket if done in conjunction with a Tummy Tuck.
While a Tummy Tuck tries to remove extra skin and reattach the abdominal muscles to the abdominal wall, a hernia repair frequently involves the first part of a Tummy Tuck surgery, where the muscles are brought together.
You may need to find both a general and a plastic surgeon to conduct both treatments at the same time.
It’s also crucial that you tell your insurance provider exactly what you’re doing so that you know what they’ll cover and what they won’t.
Your surgeon may or may not advise you to have both surgeries done at the same time. There is a higher chance of the umbilical stalk losing blood supply, and the hernia may not be in the optimum location for an abdominoplasty.
As with any medical operation, it’s critical to understand the expenses and what your insurance will and won’t cover.
Dr. Hovsepian will do everything he can to assist you in this process. He will also go over any potential dangers and side effects of the treatment with you to ensure that you are confident in your decision to get plastic surgery.
To speak with Dr. Hovsepian personally, call our office now and book a consultation.
Who is not a good candidate for a 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.