How Much is Skin Removal Surgery? A Comprehensive Guide

Published January 12, 2024

Losing weight is a goal worth achieving. You look and feel better. You’re on a healthier lifestyle. Not to mention, your confidence expands. It impacts every aspect of your life, almost always positively. 

You’re typically left with excess skin if you lose a substantial amount of weight. This leftover can bother and pain you both physically and mentally. Thankfully, extra skin removal surgery exists. The procedure can eliminate 15 pounds or more of weight. It helps you conquer all of your weight loss goals. 

In this article, we’ll lay an essential guide towards it. We’ll discuss what skin removal surgery is, its type, and its cost with and without insurance. Finally, we’ll share three ideas on how you can pay for it. Let’s begin. 

What Is Skin Removal Surgery?

Excess skin removal surgery involves different body contouring processes. It can include lower and upper body lifts, thighs and buttock lifts, panniculectomy, and more. These procedures are performed after massive weight loss to target the extra skin folds in the body. Eliminating excess skin after weight loss can improve one’s comfort. It can also enhance the way clothes fit on your boy. Moreover, it makes exercising easier. 

If you’re considering it, you should meet a few criteria. 

• You’ve reached your goal weight. For six months or more, it has been stable. 
• You’re in good health 
• You’re a nonsmoker 
• You are adequately aware of the risks and possible complications of the surgery 
• You’ve prepared for a recovery time of up to eight weeks. 

2 Types of Skin Removal Surgeries

Once you’ve decided to undergo surgery to rid excess or sagging skin, deciding which type of procedure you want is vital. The two most common are tummy tucks and panniculectomies. 

1. Tummy tuck 

It is also called abdominoplasty. It is a treatment for removing excess skin in the abdominal region. It’s one of the leading surgical cosmetic procedures for women in the United States. The average recovery for it is about four to six weeks. 

2. Panniculectomy 

It is a skin removal treatment that rids fat from underneath the skin of the torso. It is done so there will be less hanging skin after a severe weight loss. It involves eliminating excess skin and loose or stretching out skin tissue. Two months is the standard recovery time from it. 

Panniculectomy vs. Tummy Tuck

These two procedures are commonly confused. It is due to them being fixated on the same body area. The difference lies in the goal of the surgery. 

A tummy tuck fixates on tightening the abdominal muscles. It is all while removing excess fat and skin. Once you’re healed, you’ll find that you will have a smoother, more appealing look and feel of your abdomen space. 

A panniculectomy aims to remove the large flap of skin (pannus) hanging over the patient’s abdoment. It is an elective procedure that is performed for cosmetic reasons. It is also considered a medical necessity after much weight loss. 

• You may be fitted for a tummy tuck if you 
• Are you trying to get rid of a belly pooch from a recent pregnancy 
• Have trouble ridding excess skin around the abdomen. It is despite diet and exercise. 
• Are in good health. At a healthy weight. 

You may be fitted for a panniculectomy if you.

• Have recently lost a large amount of weight. You have loose belly skin you wish to diminish. 
• Are experiencing hygiene issues from excess skin hanging below the pubic space. 
• Keep getting ulcers, infections, and other related dilemmas under the hanging skin. 
• Have recently had gastric bypass or another type of bariatric weight loss surgery. 

How Much Is Skin Removal Surgery: Skin Removal Surgery Cost

Tummy tucks and panniculectomy are different types of procedures. Thus, they vary in cost. A tummy tuck, not covered by medical insurance, can cost you an average of $6,154. The number often doesn’t include payment for anesthesia and operating room facilities. 

Panniculectomy is more expensive. Yet, it can sometimes be covered in part by insurance. The cost of it may range from $8,000 to $15,000. 

Price can also differ depending on the type of skin removal surgery. Moreover, the amount of skin, fat, and tissue must be removed. 

As per a report by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, these are the average costs of skin removal surgery on the following parts of the body: 

1. Breast lift (Mastopexy): ($5,012)
2. Buttock lift: $5,482
3. Lower body lift: $7,924 
4. Thigh lift: $5,355
5. Tummy tuck (Abdominoplasty): $6,154
6. Upper arm lift: $4,861

The cost of skin removal in the United States is also often anchored on the following factors. 

1. Level of Expertise 

An aesthetic plastic surgeon can charge more than general plastic surgeons or dermatologists. 

2. The level of difficulty 

Skin removal procedures, such as those associated with liposuction, are cheaper. It is then those who need abdominal reconstruction. 

3. Skin grafts 

The fee may increase if you require a skin graft. It is a surgical treatment in which a chunk of skin is transplanted from one area to another. 

3 Ideas to Pay for Skin Removal Surgery

Any type of surgery is never cheap. Yet, several ways exist to save money or even get the procedure paid for in full. 

1. Use insurance 

Understanding how to get insurance for skin removal surgery isn’t always straightforward. Not every company will pay for this type of surgery. Yet, it might be possible to get all or some of it covered if your physician can argue that it will improve your health and quality of life. 

• Talk to your doctor. 

You will need to prove that the procedure is medically necessary. It is the key, so your insurance company will pay for it. Speak with your doctor first. Start by documenting all your steps to overcome your medical issues. This way, your physician will understand that surgery is a last resort. 

• Decide which type of surgery is best. 

Most insurance companies acknowledge a tummy tuck as a cosmetic procedure. They will not cover it. Alternatively, a panniculectomy is usually labeled as a reconstructive procedure. It is which insurance companies are more likely to pay for. Thus, it helps to speak with your doctor about which kind of surgery is best fitted for your needs. 

• Work with your insurance company. 

Find out your summary of benefits and coverages to rule out if you’ve met your deductible or out-of-pocket maximum. It is to know if your insurance will pay for all or a part of the surgery. You should have the correct insurance code for your surgical procedure. It aids so there’s no confusion. 

2. Bundle surgeries and pay in cash 

Even if your insurance company will reimburse for your surgery, paying out of pocket is sometimes more cost-efficient. It is if you have a high deductible plan. Paying in cash is also another means to save. Many hospitals and plastic surgery clinics render 5-10 cash discounts for paying in cash upfront. 

3. Give crowdfunding a try. 

Thousands of individuals have turned to crowdfunding to get support paying for out-of-pocket medical expenses. It also aids in avoiding medical bankruptcy. When insurance scope fails or you need to raise funds fast, it can be a lifeline. 

It’s natural to worry about the shame you might feel after publicly talking about your weight loss journey and seeking financial support. Yet, if you’ve worked hard to shed extra weight and are leading a healthier life, give it a go. You’ll likely find that your family and friends will be thrilled to support you through this final leg of your story.