If surgery is warranted because
Answer: Panniculectomy Panniculectomy is the term used for removing the ``apron'' or pannus. In order to have any chance of getting an insurance company to cover it, it must be deemed medically necessary, meaning the apron is causing medical problems. Documented skin infections will help.
The national average cost* of a panniculectomy is $7,000, with a range between $5,393 and $13,618. The overall cost of the procedure can be impacted by the surgeon's experience, amount of skin removed, anesthesia type and clinic location.
People who have lost a significant amount of weight and who subsequently have excess skin and fat that interferes with their appearance, movement, and comfort are excellent candidates for a panniculectomy. You must also be a non-smoker or be willing to stop if you are and be in good overall health.
A panniculectomy is considered medically appropriate when there is documentation of a significant functional impairment, such as persistent cellulitis, abscess, or skin ulceration that has been refractory to medical therapy, not recurrent (i.e., does not clear up then recur), for at least six months, including a ...
information from your visit is sent to your insurance company for authorization. This process can take from 14-60 days. medical information, your insurance company will make the decision about whether to cover your panniculectomy.
A panniculectomy involves many choices. The first and most important is selecting a board-certified plastic surgeon who is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
A panniculectomy is surgery to remove excess hanging skin and fat, called a pannus or apron, from the lower belly. It's often done after a big weight loss when the stretched skin may hang over your genitals or extend to your thighs or beyond. Some doctors call it a lower abdomen lift.
Panniculectomy may be performed for both medically necessary and cosmetic reasons. The medical need for this procedure must be established by documenting that the enrollee has significant symptoms that cannot be adequately managed with more conservative or less invasive measures.
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.
Apron belly may appear as a shorter, smaller amount of sagging skin and fat, or it may be a larger, longer amount that hangs down over your genitals and thighs or even lower. Unless it is very minor, a surgical procedure is necessary to eliminate an apron belly, either a plus size tummy tuck or a panniculectomy.
Panniculectomy surgery may be eligible for coverage when all of the following criteria are met: 1. There is clinical documentation of: A. Extra/excess skin from the lower part of the belly (i.e., panniculus) causing chronic or recurrent skin conditions.
You can generally expect to lose between two and three pants sizes following abdominoplasty. However, if you have a great deal of excess skin and you combine this procedure with liposuction, you may be able to lose four or more pants sizes.
Recovery after a panniculectomy begins in the hospital, immediately following surgery. Depending on the amount of tissue removed and personal circumstances, patients may spend one night in the hospital following surgery.
Also known as body contouring surgery, a panniculectomy involves changing the shape and contour of the body by removing excess skin and fat that hangs from the abdomen. Many people may find fat below the bellybutton area, which they may refer to as a FUPA, to be the most difficult type of fat to lose.
Panniculectomy patients are at a high risk for venous thromboembolism for a multitude of reasons, such as long operative times under general anesthesia, large area dissection, and prolonged periods of decreased activity postoperatively.
How much does panniculectomy cost? In the United States, the cost of excess skin removal surgery ranges from $8,000 to $15,000, covering the surgeon, anesthesia, and facility fees but not post-operative care or medication. Costs vary by location, with major cities typically charging more than rural areas.
A panniculectomy should be performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon who has experience in this surgical body contouring procedure. The surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia and may require several hours to complete. You may be required to stay in the hospital following surgery.
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.