Body contouring procedures can be either invasive or nonsurgical. UnitedHealthcare excludes Cosmetic Procedures from coverage including but not limited to the following: Procedures that correct an anatomical Congenital Anomaly without improving or restoring physiologic function are considered Cosmetic Procedures.
Is tummy tuck ever covered?
Tummy Tuck Procedure Made Easy – The majority of insurance providers do not typically cover a tummy tuck, as it is considered a purely cosmetic procedure. But Medicare and Medicaid can shoulder a portion of your procedure, provided that you can prove with proper documentation that the surgery is medically necessary.
- Marin Aesthetics still wants you to reach your body goals, regardless if it is for medical or aesthetic reasons.
- We offer flexible payment options for a tummy tuck for you to have a well-toned midsection.
- We will discuss with you to come up with a payment plan that will make the procedure easier for you to avail of.
Book an appointment with us to find out more! We have partnered with CareCredit, which has a long history of cosmetic surgery. Their payment structure is much like a credit card that can offer terms from six to 24 months. Approval is quick at CareCredit, and they offer no-interest financing options! Alphaeon Credit provides the widest array of payment options to help you reach your beauty goals.
- The Alphaeon Credit card keeps you moving without any delay.
- You can finally receive the procedure that the surgeon recommends with the easiest and most flexible payment options.
- The content in this blog is developed to spread the awareness towards plastic surgery.
- Our blog is not intended to serve as a replacement for an actual in-office consultation with Dr.
Marin. As such, the information within this blog reflects the unique cases of our individual patients.
What is abdominal Panniculectomy?
Introduction – A panniculectomy is an operative procedure used for abdominal wall contouring, changing the shape and form of the abdomen by removing significant excess skin and subcutaneous adipose tissue en bloc, This procedure is performed on patients with a large overhanging abdominal panniculus.
A panniculus is an apron of excess skin and fat hanging from the abdomen below the waistline. This excess skin and fat are secondary to weight gain and can sometimes cover the anterior thighs, hips, and knees. A large panniculus can lead to severe impacts on patients’ mobility and activities of daily life.
Skin infections and rashes are common complaints of patients with a substantially large panniculus due to constant irritation and sweating. The size of a panniculus varies and can be graded on a scale of 1 to 5, which correlates with how far it extends.
- Grade 1 reaches the mons pubis, while grade 5 extends to or reaches past the knees.
- A panniculectomy is performed to relieve these symptoms and restore formal function.
- During a panniculectomy, the excess skin and fat are removed.
- Tightening or plication of the abdominal wall muscle is not performed, which differentiates this procedure from an abdominoplasty – a cosmetic procedure, usually involving fascial plication or otherwise addressing the underlying fascial and muscular layers of the abdomen.
Over the past three decades, there has been a significant increase in panniculectomies, which can be partially attributed to the development of, and increased frequency of, liposuction procedures. However, the reader should be aware that panniculectomy or abdominoplasty is not a benign procedure.
Does a tummy tuck last a lifetime?
How Long Do Tummy Tucks Last? results are considered permanent, insofar that the fat cells and skin removed during an abdominoplasty cannot grow back. Likewise, the internal sutures placed to repair abdominal muscles are designed to remain in place indefinitely.
However, significant weight gain can cause fat cells in the treated area – and other areas – to grow larger. New fat cells can also be produced in these areas. Additionally, substantial weight fluctuations can cause the skin to lose elasticity and begin to sag. Pregnancy after a tummy tuck can also have a negative effect on the longevity of your abdominoplasty results.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Levi Young has extensive experience helping women and men attain the trim, toned appearance they desire with abdominoplasty. He has been recognized as one of Kansas City’s top doctors and earned awards for patient satisfaction for several years running.
At what age should you not have a tummy tuck?
Many patients wonder if you can be too old for a tummy tuck, such as 50 or more. There’s no age limit for having this procedure; it’s possible to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen in older patients.
Do the NHS do tummy tucks?
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is cosmetic surgery to improve the shape of the tummy area (abdomen). It can involve removing excess loose skin, fat and stretch marks and tightening the abdominal muscles. The aim is to remove excess skin on the tummy that cannot be removed through exercise – for example, excess skin caused by pregnancy or losing a lot of weight.
It’s not a quick fix for losing weight as the procedure is usually only recommended for people with a healthy body mass index (BMI), An abdominoplasty is regarded as cosmetic surgery, so it is not usually available on the NHS. If you’re thinking of going ahead, make sure you’re aware of the cost and the fact that it’s major surgery, with risks to consider.
Take time to reflect on your decision. It may help to read “Is cosmetic surgery right for me?”
Can you get rid of apron belly without tummy tuck?
– If you’d like to reduce or remove your apron belly, you have several options. Keep in mind that your overall health is the priority, and any exercise or eating plans should focus on your general wellness. It’s impossible to spot treat an apron belly. The only ways to reduce one are through overall weight reduction and surgical/non-surgical options.
How many pounds of skin is removed in a Panniculectomy?
Abstract – Background: Massive weight loss, defined as loss of 50 percent of excess weight, often results in laxity and redundancy of the abdominal skin, causing disabling rashes, pain, physical limitation, back strain, and cosmetic deformity. The heavier the panniculus, the more marked the symptoms.
- Panniculectomy can treat these symptoms, but the approach must be customized because of complex medical and surgical histories related to obesity and the size of the panniculus.
- The aim of this study was to analyze a series of massive panniculectomies greater than 10 pounds following massive weight loss and to investigate the outcomes achieved.
Methods: All patients undergoing massive abdominal panniculectomy by a single plastic surgeon at an academic hospital from October of 2000 to December of 2003 were retrospectively studied. Seven men and 17 women qualified: one woman had a two-stage abdominal panniculectomy, each time with greater than 10-pound abdominal skin resections.
- All but one patient had gastric bypass.
- Average weight loss was 171 pounds, with an average maximum body mass index of 70.5 and a minimum body mass index of 43.7 (morbid obesity is defined as a body mass index greater than 40).
- Patient presentation was regularly complicated by abdominal scars.
- Abdominal panniculectomy was performed with conservative undermining.
Hernias were repaired at the time of surgery. Routine prophylaxis against thromboembolism was performed. Results: Average abdominal skin resection was 16.1 pounds, ranging from 10.3 to 49 pounds. Hernia repair was necessary in 13 patients. Additional surgery performed at the time of panniculectomy included skin reduction surgery of the back (40 percent), chest (32 percent), inner thigh (28 percent), and arm (28 percent).
Blood transfusion was necessary in five of the cases (20 percent). Length of stay averaged 3 days. Complications included wounds requiring debridement, dressings, vacuum-assisted closure therapy and/or delayed primary closure (20 percent), and seroma requiring drain replacement or dressings (28 percent).
Uncomplicated healing occurred in 44 percent of cases. Conclusion: Massive abdominal panniculectomy is challenging to plan, execute, and manage after surgery. The authors present their approach to these patients, with acceptable results.
What is a butterfly tummy tuck?
Tummy tuck vs fleur-de-lis – 
Traditional tummy tuck uses a horizontal incision line above the pubic hairline and below the belly button. Fleur de Lis (also called butterfly) uses a horizontal incision line as well as a vertical incision line in the middle of the stomach. This procedure is mainly proper for patients who have had massive weight loss, such as bariatric surgery with a bigger upper body than the lower body – a wider rib cage than the hip bone.
What is the best surgery to remove belly fat?
What is Liposuction? – Liposuction is a surgical fat removal procedure that first became popular in the 1980s. During the procedure, a board certified cosmetic surgeon carefully and precisely removes excess fat through a small, hollow tube called a cannula.
How painful is Panniculectomy?
You may experience temporary pain, soreness, numbness of abdominal skin, incision discomfort. Maximum discomfort will occur the first few days. You will have bruising and swelling of the abdomen. The majority of bruising and swelling will subside in 6-8 weeks.
How can I cover up my tummy tuck?
How To Hide a Tummy Tuck Scar – While no surgeon can promise a patient that their tummy tuck scar will heal nicely—that depends on a number of factors—I can and do make sure that the scar ends up hidden under a bathing suit of their choosing. I accomplish this in a few different ways. 
Left: Tummy Tuck Markings Right: Final Scar Placement First, before the surgery, I have my patients don the garment they want to wear after the tummy tuck, and I mark the outline of this garment in red ink. I then plan out the abdominoplasty and mark all of my incisions within that boundary.
This ensures that when the procedure is done, the patient will be able to wear at least one bathing suit to the beach or pool the next time they venture out. Next, I make sure my initial incision lies about 2 1⁄2 to 3 inches above the upper portion of the external labia on stretched skin. That is typically below 95 percent of the Cesarean section scars I come across and means that the C-section scar can be removed and replaced by the tummy tuck scar.
This low scar makes the final result much less obvious to onlookers. You can view many more examples of tummy tuck photos here, While genetics play a large role in how your tummy tuck scar fades, silicone sheets, tape, or cream can help. Apply them for the first 6 weeks after your procedure to encourage scars to develop as thin, flat, and pale as possible.
Had a tummy tuck and still have loose skin?
Does sagging skin return after a tummy tuck? – Excess skin that is removed during tummy tuck surgery should not come back. However, body contouring procedures do not necessarily prevent unwanted changes in your appearance over time. For example, weight gain or pregnancy may cause the skin to stretch out again after a tummy tuck.
This is why patients are advised to maintain a stable weight and avoid future pregnancies once their recovery period has ended. Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates understands that some patients are hesitant about undergoing a cosmetic procedure at first. This is because there is always a certain degree of risk involved.
However, Dr. Nuveen and Dr. Caplin will do everything to ensure you are happy with your final tummy tuck results. If you have concerns about additional loose skin, please do not hesitate to ask.
Should I cover my tummy tuck incision?
What to Wear – After your, you will have a light bandage over your incisions (cuts). You will also wear a compression garment around your abdomen to prevent fluid buildup and to support you while you heal. You should always wear your compression garment except when showering or washing it.
Is a tummy tuck high risk?
It’s important to know that the tummy tuck is a higher-risk procedure compared to other kinds of cosmetic surgery. There is a 4% risk of major complications such as hematoma or infection after a tummy tuck.