Is loose skin removal covered by insurance?

Author: Vita Hermann  |  Last update: Thursday, May 8, 2025

Your insurance may cover surgery to remove excess skin if you experience frequent skin infections and/or rashes, if it interferes with your quality of life or if it is deemed medically necessary by your plastic surgeon. Often, you would still be required to pay out of pocket costs.

How much weight do you have to lose for insurance to pay for skin removal?

Massive weight loss, often 100 lbs or more, can leave loose hanging skin on the face, arms, breasts, abdomen, buttocks, flanks and legs. Whether the weight loss is from surgery or diet and exercise, if the loose skin becomes a health problem, insurance may cover reconstructive surgery to remove it.

How to get insurance to cover loose skin surgery?

To increase your chances of getting a tummy tuck covered by insurance, you'll need to meet specific requirements: Medical Necessity – your surgeon must document the medical necessity of the procedure, outlining how the excess skin or abdominal wall laxity negatively impacts your physical health and quality of life.

What makes skin removal medically necessary?

Medical necessity: For any procedure, insurance providers usually require that the procedure be deemed medically necessary. In cases where loose skin poses a health risk or leads to chronic skin conditions, such as infections or rashes, it may be considered a medical necessity.

How do you qualify for skin removal surgery?

To qualify for body contouring surgery, you should have:
  1. Completed bariatric surgery at least 18 months ago, if that was your weight loss method.
  2. Lost 100 pounds or more, a body mass index (BMI) less than or equal to 30, or weight loss less than or equal to 40 percent.
  3. Stable weight for at least six months.

Will Insurance Cover Massive Weight Loss/ Excess Skin Removal Surgery? | Brown Plastic Surgery

Can you lose 150 lbs without loose skin?

Not quite. If your skin is slightly loose following moderate weight loss, it will retract by itself. For weight losses of over 100 pounds, you will need to undergo medical procedures to tighten it up.

How much does a 360 body lift cost?

The expected cost of body lift surgery

As we mentioned, you can expect to pay between $11,000 – $15,000. Your current health insurance providers may not cover body contouring surgery since it is an elective procedure.

Can you get rid of loose skin without surgery?

Yes, you can tighten your skin without surgery because there is a range of non-invasive skin tightening modalities to choose from. These energy-based devices use radiofrequency, ultrasound, or laser energy to tighten loose skin.

How much weight do you lose with skin removal surgery?

On average, patients may experience 5 to 10 pounds lost after their body lift surgery. Typically, the best body lift results are achieved when a patient is close to or at their goal weight before surgery.

Is it worth getting loose skin removed?

However, skin removal surgery can help boost a person's self-confidence by allowing them to feel good about their accomplished weight loss. Skin removal surgery may also be necessary if the sagging skin creates further discomfort or health complications.

What to say to get panniculectomy covered by insurance?

How do you get approved for a Panniculectomy?
  • The skin of the lower abdomen (called pannus) hangs at or below the level of the pubis.
  • There is evidence of a rash in or under the excessive skin folds that has not gone away despite topical anti-fungal treatment (typically at least 3 months)

How much does it cost to get rid of bat wings?

The cost of fixing your bingo wings will depend on what type of procedure you choose. Brachioplasty at SpaMedica starts at $8,999, while liposuction begins at $4,999 and coolsculpting starts at $799. These costs will fluctuate depending on how much fat and excess tissue needs to be removed.

Is excess skin removal painful?

Excess skin removal procedures are major surgeries. You can expect to have pain for a few weeks. Your healthcare provider will prescribe pain medicine and offer tips to ease discomfort. You may have more pain when moving around, climbing stairs or getting off the couch.

What is a 360 body lift?

A 360 body lift is a procedure that tightens the abdominal muscles and removes excess skin from the abdomen, hips, and buttocks. The result is a slimmer, more toned look throughout the entire torso. The procedure is most appropriate if you: Have experienced dramatic weight loss due to bariatric surgery or dieting.

How do I get my insurance to cover weight loss surgery?

Common requirements are:
  1. Over age 18 (Some plans allow for surgery under age 18)
  2. BMI over 40 or BMI over 35 with high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or other risk factors.
  3. Documented weight loss efforts over a period of time.
  4. Weight loss program mandated by the insurance company.
  5. Psychological testing.

Will losing 50 lbs cause loose skin?

It isn't always about how much weight loss causes loose skin, but it's also about how long it takes to lose it. For example, if you lose 20lbs rapidly (say, in the space of a month), you may experience more excess skin than someone who's lost 50lbs over the course of a year or so.

Can you get rid of hanging belly without surgery?

Lifestyle changes. People with a mild case of pannus stomach may find they can reduce its size through diet and exercise. This combination can help reduce fat throughout the body. While it can be tempting to focus solely on crunches, a person should engage in various full-body exercises to help reduce their weight.

What is the best skin tightening procedure?

Bottom line: Laser resurfacing can tighten skin, usually better than any other skin-tightening procedure. It can also diminish fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots on the skin, such as age spots.

How to get insurance to pay for body lift?

That being said, some insurance carriers do offer partial coverage of body lift expenses if you meet certain criteria. Below are examples of criteria cited by insurance companies: You lost at least 100 pounds. You have held a stable weight for at least six months.

Does a lower body lift include a tummy tuck?

Q: What is a lower body lift? A: A lower body lift is a tummy tuck that basically encircles the entire waist. This procedure is more common in massive weight loss patients.

How painful is 360 body lift?

Most patients will experience some level of pain; however, most pain is easily managed with pain relievers. Most patients will take pain medications for one to two weeks.

Will I get loose skin if I lose 40 lbs?

Loose skin is a common side effect of significant weight loss. While there are ways to reduce your risk of developing loose skin, loose skin is normal and usually won't cause any irritability. For some, though, loose skin can affect their quality of life.

What vitamin deficiency causes sagging skin?

What vitamin deficiency causes sagging skin? A deficiency in Vitamin C can accelerate skin ageing, resulting in premature skin sagging and wrinkling. This is because Vitamin C enhances the production of the protein collagen, which is vital to providing the firmness and vibrancy that counteracts skin sagging.

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