After attaining success with GLP-1 drugs, the highlight has shifted to body-contouring procedures like tummy tucks for fine-tuning outcomes. Nonetheless, there’s an alternative choice for tightening the stomach that deserves consideration: panniculectomy. This process addresses extra pores and skin and fats in a particular method. However, which one is finest after weight reduction? We’ve consulted prime plastic surgeons to share insights on the surgical procedure, insurance coverage protection, and the advantages and dangers of every choice.

Featured Specialists

What’s a panniculectomy?

“With the expansion of nonsurgical weight-loss choices corresponding to Ozempic we are actually seeing many sufferers current with massive quantities of extra pores and skin of the stomach,”  notes Portsmouth, NH plastic surgeon Anthony J. Wilson, MD. “Regardless of important weight reduction they don’t seem to be in a position to lose the surplus pores and skin.”

Dr. Wilson says a panniculectomy refers to the removing of pores and skin and fats under the stomach button. “The ‘pannus’ is a latin time period for ‘apron’ which is descriptive of this space,” he explains. A panniculectomy is carried out to deal with medical situations attributable to extra pores and skin and overhanging tissue. “These medical situations might be throughout a spectrum from musculoskeletal ache, corresponding to decrease again ache, to recurrent infections between the pores and skin folds.”

Who is an effective candidate for a panniculectomy?

Newport Information, VA plastic surgeon Michael Lofgren, MD shares {that a} good candidate sometimes has recurrent infections or rashes throughout the pores and skin folds of extra pores and skin. Delray Seaside, FL plastic surgeon Daniel Crane, MD provides, “A affected person with pores and skin hanging over their belt-line is an effective candidate,” he explains. “They could even be a candidate for a tummy tuck, however with a panniculectomy won’t obtain a full restoration of the stomach, simply removing of that space of pores and skin.”

What’s the distinction between a tummy tuck and panniculectomy?

The excellence between the 2 procedures lies within the space handled in addition to the tightening of the muscle tissues. “A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is a beauty process that will embrace as a element a panniculectomy,” says Dr. Wilson. He highlights that whereas a tummy tuck addresses the pores and skin and fatty tissue above and under the umbilicus, a panniculectomy solely focuses on eradicating extra pores and skin and fats under the stomach button to deal with medical situations. 

Dr. Crane provides {that a} panniculectomy primarily focuses on useful restoration. “A tummy tuck tightens pores and skin all through the stomach, repairs the rectus muscle tissues, and fixes the stomach button,” he says. “Usually, liposuction of the flanks and again accompanies tummy tucks, leading to a complete restoration of the belly silhouette.”

Is a panniculectomy lined by insurance coverage?

“A panniculectomy is finished to deal with medical situations and is due to this fact lined by some insurance coverage corporations,” notes Dr. Wilson. Nonetheless, he highlights the necessity for historical past and documentation of the medical situations for insurance coverage approval. 

“An abdominoplasty is a beauty process and due to this fact not one thing insurance coverage corporations will cowl. Nonetheless, a panniculectomy is a useful process,” says Dr. Lofgren. “As a panniculectomy is a useful surgical procedure, making an attempt to resolve points with recurrent infections and rashes, insurance coverage might cowl the process relying on their standards and advantages.”

Whether it is lined, are you able to pay to improve your panniculectomy to a tummy tuck?

In some circumstances you might be able to nonetheless get a tummy tuck if you happen to’re keen to pay for the beauty half says Atlanta plastic surgeon Carmen Kavali, MD. “These signs should be documented in images and with data from treating physicians. A panniculectomy might be thought-about one facet of a full abdominoplasty, so if insurance coverage does cowl the panniculectomy, the affected person can select to pay a beauty payment to ‘improve’ the surgical procedure to a full abdominoplasty.”

Ultimately, whether or not one opts for a tummy tuck or a panniculectomy, the final word aim stays the identical: attaining a more healthy, extra assured you. As we proceed to hunt numerous post-weight loss options, consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon is important to your journey to a extra sculpted silhouette.