Panniculectomy and tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) are two surgical treatments aimed at removing excess lower belly skin. They may both be performed in cases of extreme weight loss from natural or surgical causes.
The goal of panniculectomy is to primarily remove hanging skin, while a tummy tuck also provides contouring effects to enhance your muscles and waistline. It's also possible to have both procedures done at the same time.
The goal for both procedures is similar: to remove excess skin from the stomach. However, it's important to learn the key differences between the two so that you get the results you want.
Both panniculectomies and tummy tucks target lower belly skin. The goal of the procedures is to get rid of loose, hanging skin that often forms after losing a lot of weight. This may be due to surgeries such as a gastric bypass, natural weight loss, or even pregnancy.
A panniculectomy is an invasive surgical treatment. It's most helpful for people who have recently had weight loss surgery and are left with large amounts of hanging skin on the lower belly.
This type of surgery may be considered a medical necessity if the remaining skin affects your quality of life. For example, you may develop rashes, infections, and ulcers underneath the area of hanging skin.
During a panniculectomy, your surgeon will make two cuts into the abdominal wall to remove excess skin in the middle. Then the bottom portion of skin is reattached to the top via suturing.
A tummy tuck is also intended to remove excess skin. The key difference is that this invasive surgery is usually elected for aesthetic reasons and isn't medically necessary like a panniculectomy.
In some cases, a tummy tuck can help alleviate incontinence and back pain.
With a tummy tuck, your doctor will cut out excess skin while also tightening abdominal muscles. While the surgery itself won't give you six-pack abs, it will make it easier for you to build abdominal muscles on your own through exercise in the future.
Surgeries of this nature take time. Aside from the actual time spent in surgery, you should expect to arrive at the hospital early for pre-operative care. You'll also need to stay in post-operative care while your doctor monitors your initial recovery.
It takes about two to five hours for a surgeon to perform a panniculectomy. The exact timeline depends on the length of incisions made, as well as the amount of excess skin that's being removed.
A tummy tuck may take two to four hours to complete. Though the skin cutting may be less extensive than with a panniculectomy, your surgeon will still need to shape the abdominal wall in a tummy tuck.
Both panniculectomy and tummy tuck share similar success rates. The key is to maintain a healthy lifestyle following the procedure so you get the best results.
The recovery process may be slow, but the results from a panniculectomy following massive weight loss are considered permanent. If you maintain your weight, you shouldn't need any follow-up surgeries.
The results of a tummy tuck are also considered permanent if you maintain a healthy weight. To increase your chances for long-term results, your doctor may recommend you lose or maintain a stable weight before the procedure.
You may be a better fit for one procedure over another. Both panniculectomies and tummy tucks are intended for adults and for women who aren't pregnant, as well as for those who don't smoke and are at a stable body weight.
It's important to remember that while both surgeries target excess lower belly skin, these aren't weight loss procedures.
You may be a candidate for a panniculectomy if you:
A tummy tuck may be a good fit if you:
The cost of panniculectomies and tummy tucks can vary drastically, especially when considering insurance coverage. Below are total estimated costs.
You'll need to check with your doctor for a breakdown of all the costs before the selected procedure. Some facilities may provide a payment plan option.
A panniculectomy is far more expensive out of pocket, ranging from $8,000 to $15,000. This may not include other associated costs, such as anesthesia and hospital care.
Many medical insurance companies will cover a portion of this procedure. This is especially the case if your doctor thinks the panniculectomy is medically necessary.
You'll want to call your insurance company ahead of time to see how much they'll cover or if you'll need to work with a specific surgeon.
Another consideration is the cost of taking time off work. It can take up to eight weeks to recover from this procedure.
While a tummy tuck is the cheaper option of the two procedures, it's usually not covered by medical insurance. This means you could end up spending around $6,200 out of pocket, plus any additional medical service fees.
Like a panniculectomy, you'll need to spend time off work or school after a tummy tuck surgery. Since this surgery isn't as extensive, you'll spend less time in recovery.
The average recovery time is about four to six weeks. More or less recovery time may be needed depending on the incision number and size.
Like any type of surgery, both panniculectomy and tummy tuck can cause immediate discomfort, along with a risk of side effects. Some of these effects are common, while others are rarer and require further medical attention.
It's common to experience pain for the first few days post-surgery. Your skin may also be numb, and the numbness can last for several weeks. The numbness is from the two areas of skin being sutured together after removing the excess skin between them during surgery.
Fluid retention is another possible side effect that may be minimized with drains inserted into the stomach after surgery.
Additionally, you may not be able to stand up straight for a week or two due to the healing process.
The following side effects are rare, and may require emergency medical attention:
Immediate side effects of a tummy tuck include pain, bruising, and numbness. You might feel slight pain and numbness several weeks later.
Rare but serious side effects include:
Below is a breakdown of the primary similarities and differences between these two procedures. Consult your doctor for further details, and to see which surgery is best for your own circumstances.