How Much Does Skin Removal Surgery Cost
So, how much is skin removal surgery? There are quite a few factors that affect the cost of surgery, but the most common are geographic location, the experience level of the surgeon, and your specific needs. When it comes to skin removal surgery, also known as body contouring surgery, there are a number of different procedures you can choose from, all with different price tags.
An abdominoplasty is one of the most common types of body contouring surgeries, which will remove excess skin and fat from the abdominal area and tighten muscles. A panniculectomy, which will only remove excess skin, is also a very common surgery people undergo after extreme weight loss.
How Much Does Excess Skin Removal Surgery Cost
The price of skin removal surgery will vary depending on the type of procedure and location. Factors such as your surgeon and where you live in relation to the medical facility have an effect on the final price as well. In some cases people want only one area addressed while others may be looking to get rid of all their skin issues. It is difficult to give an exact price having to take into consideration so many factors, but costs are anywhere between a few thousand and tens of thousands of dollars. Our table below might be helpful in getting an estimate on how much would cost to remove the skin excess from different areas.
| Type of Skin Removal Procedure | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Upper Arm Lift | $4,000 to $12,000 |
While most insurance companies will not cover any cosmetic procedures, some may pay for skin-related surgeries. If youre considering surgery to improve your appearance and its not necessary due to health concerns or they are problems that can be treated without having surgery then expect to pay the bill yourself. However, if these operations are intended as corrective measures then speak with an agent about getting insurance coverage.
The cost of surgery will vary depending on a number of factors, but according to a Mlive.com article patients should be expecting $15,000 to $17,000 for abdominal and lower body surgeries. Patients who opt for arms or upper-bodied procedures can expect their surgical fee plus hospitalization costs at around $7,000 to $9,000.
Excess Skin Removal After Weight Loss Surgery
One of the concerns some patients may have before they undergo a bariatric surgery is: Will I need skin removal after weight loss? Your surgeon will examine your skin elasticity, thickness, and the amount of fatty deposits to estimate whether you may need excess skin removal after surgery after weight loss.
The good news is that skin removal weight loss is a relatively less invasive procedure because it does not involve muscle restructuring or fat deposit removal, and only requires trimming away of loose skin. Make sure to discuss the cost of excess skin removal after weight loss with your surgeon in order to make a well-considered decision.
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Factors That Influence The Loss Of Skin Elasticity
Several factors contribute to loose skin following weight loss:
- Length of time. In general, the longer someone has had overweight or obesity, the looser their skin will be after weight loss due to elastin and collagen loss.
- Amount of weight lost. Weight loss of 100 pounds or more typically results in a greater amount of loose skin than more moderate weight loss.
- Age. Older skin has less collagen than younger skin and tends to be looser following weight loss (
17 ).
In a controlled study, skin elasticity, along with texture and hydration, increased significantly after 12 weeks of taking a liquid collagen supplement. The drink also contained vitamins C and E, as well as biotin and zinc .
Collagen hydrolysate is also known as hydrolyzed collagen. It comes in powdered form and can be purchased at natural food stores or online.
Another popular source of collagen is bone broth, which provides other health benefits as well.
What Happens During Excess Skin Removal Surgery
Depending on the procedures, you may have surgery at a hospital and stay overnight. Or the procedure may take place at a surgical facility, and youll go home the same day .
Excess skin removal often takes place in stages. You may need multiple surgeries. Certain procedures, such as a lower body lift or a panniculectomy combined with a tummy tuck, can occur during the same surgical appointment.
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What Are The Types Of Excess Skin Removal Procedures
There are several different procedures for removing excess skin. Most people need a combination of surgeries to get the look they seek. Your doctor can help determine which procedures will benefit you the most.
Excess skin removal procedures include:
- Arm lift to remove excess skin that hangs down from your upper arm.
- Breast lift to firm up breasts by tightening tissue and removing excess skin.
- Facelift to give your face a smoother, younger appearance and get rid of excess skin around your neck.
- Lower body lift to remove excess skin and fat from your stomach, butt and outer thighs.
- Panniculectomy to remove the apron of excess skin that hangs below your belly button.
- Thigh lift to give your inner thighs a sleeker appearance.
- Tummy tuck to remove excess skin and tighten weak or separated abdominal muscles.
Excess Skin Removal Surgery Details
Most reshaping operations involve incisions in the less visible parts of the areas to be treated, removal of excess skin with or without liposuction of the remaining fat, and careful suturing of the incisions to minimize the scars.
Multiple operations, in stages or in combination, may be required for a complete result. The treatment schedule is strictly personalized and is established together with the patient, following the discussion to highlight the areas that cause the most discomfort.
Postoperatively, patients remain under medical supervision for 24-48 hours as needed. The pain is fought with painkillers and rapid mobilization is needed to reduce the risk of thrombosis. A corset will be worn to limit swelling and bruising, and the incisions will be covered with waterproof patches to allow showering, starting the next day after the operation.
The incisions are healed in 2-3 weeks, and the appearance of the scars will gradually disappear up to one year after the surgical treatment.
Resumption of physical activities that do not require effort depends on the type of operation performed, from the next day in case of mastopexy, arm lift, or liposuction, up to a week in case of abdominoplasty or lower body lift. Each type of intervention has its own particularities regarding recovery, which will be detailed at the preoperative consultation.
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Good Blood Circulation Is Very Important For A Healthy Skin
This is very important for the skin. Blood will carry oxygen and nutrients to every cell and will remove waste products. Blood circulation is one of the main factors which can affect healing, re-growth and remodeling for most organs and tissues.
Smoking can heavily affect the condition of the skin. Often people may be declined for some corrective procedures if they are heavy smokers as it can lead to impaired healing.
Apart from stopping smoking, another way to aid blood circulation is with exercise. Movement will make your heart beat faster to send blood to the muscles etc. Apart from that muscle can serve the role of a mechanical pump and when they contract they push blood from the veins to the heart.
Excess Skin Removal Surgery By Jet Medical Tourism: What To Expect
Jet Medical Tourism® has on board some of the best excess skin removal surgeons that will help you achieve healthy and exceptionally beautiful outcomes. You can expect a dramatic improvement in your appearance and a new level of self-esteem following the skin removal surgery. Here are some of the key benefits of excess skin removal after weight loss.
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Key Differences Between Tummy Tucks And Panniculectomies
Panniculectomy and tummy tuck are surgical treatments used to remove excess skin on your lower belly. The two procedures can be done after a weight-loss surgical procedure or extreme weight loss.
- Timeline: A Panniculectomy takes two to five hours to complete. The timeline depends on the amount of excess skin being removed and the length of incisions made. A tummy tuck takes two to four hours and the skin cutting is less extensive.
- Results: A Panniculectomy has a slow recovery process, but you’ll get permanent results. As long as you maintain your weight, you won’t need any follow-up surgery. Tummy tuck results are also permanent while maintaining a healthy weight. To get the best results, you should maintain a stable weight before having a tummy tuck.
Find Financial Relief For Weight Loss Surgery Today
Youve worked hard to lose weight and get healthyand you deserve to feel confident and healthy in your new body. If you dont know how to pay for your skin removal procedure, GoFundMe can help. You can create a fundraiser in minutes, and our sharing tools make it simple to reach out to your network. today and complete the final step of your weight loss journey.
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Why Doesnt Skin Just Snap Back After Weightloss
Some people are more susceptible to excess skin your skins ability to contract and bounce back after losing weight depends on various factors such as:
- The amount of weight gained and lost
- Sun exposure
- Lifestyle factors such as smoking
- The quality of your skin tone
- Your Age
- Genetics
Quick, drastic weight loss shocks your system in such a way that your skins elasticity doesnt have enough time to adapt to your new shape.
Gastric Bypass Surgery And Excess Skin
After significant weight loss from gastric bypass surgery, excess skin sometimes presents a new challenge for patients. Excess, loose skin is common after a considerable amount of weight loss. The skin is often stretched by excess weight, and when that weight is lost, the result is loose skin. The more weight that is lost, there is more likely a chance for excess skin.
Also, the natural progression of aging plays a role in the skins elasticity. With age, skin becomes thinner, creating the appearance that it is less taught and more wrinkled. Aging also causes a decreased ability for the skin to bounce back after substantial weight loss.
The amount of loose skin that remains after weight loss varies by individual, and not everyones skin will sag. Various factors such as age, total weight loss, muscle mass, and genetics play a role in the amount of loose skin after gastric bypass. Many gastric bypass patients will turn to skin removal surgery. There are, however, numerous ways on how to tighten loose skin after gastric bypass without surgery.
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Who Does Excess Skin Affect
People with obesity may lose weight with bariatric surgery or diet and exercise. Significant weight loss can leave you with excess, sagging skin.
When you carry extra weight, skin and tissue stretch to accommodate the bodys larger size. This stretching causes skin and tissue to lose elasticity. When you lose weight, the stretched skin cant conform to your new shape and may be saggy and hang loosely from your body.
When Should I Call The Doctor
You should call your healthcare provider if you experience:
- Swelling in your limbs.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
When you experience significant weight loss, its understandable to want your body to look a certain way. Excess skin can also be painful. If youre bothered by sagging skin after weight loss, you can talk to a healthcare provider about body contour procedures. These procedures can remove excess skin and fat. They also tighten tissue to give skin a firmer, smoother look. You may need several body contour procedures to remove excess skin and get the look you seek. A plastic surgeon can determine the best body contour procedures for you.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 11/01/2021.
References
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Follow A Healthy Diet
Incorporating healthy kinds of food and removing others is a very important factor for people who want to eliminate loose skin after weight loss without surgery. To have the best results, you should consume plenty of nutrient-rich foods, which include whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. In addition, you should avoid taking diuretic drinks such as coffee, alcohol, and soda that can increase the fluid loss from your body and can exacerbate loose skin.
Besides, it is also essential for you to include raw food in your healthy diet because there are many vitamins and nutrients which can out of foods when they are cooked. Raw foods are anything from veggies to fruits, even raw fish . When you start to include these raw foods to the daily diet, you will have a way on how to get rid of loose skin quickly.
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Side Effects To Expect
You will be left with a scar running across your lower tummy and, if you had a full abdominoplasty, a scar around your belly button.
It’s also common after an abdominoplasty to:
- find it difficult to stand up straight it may feel like your tummy is being pulled
- have pain and bruising
- feel numbness in your tummy for a few months to years
- have a temporary fluid-filled swelling above the scar
- have red, raised scars in the first 6 weeks which eventually fade
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Skin Removal Surgery Cost
Massive weight loss as a result of bariatric surgery or through diet and exercise is an important achievement: overall health improves, perception of ones body and life in general, changes, and new personal or social possibilities may arise.
However, traces of previous overweight remain, like folds of skin around the abdomen, on the thighs or arms, flabby breasts, empty contents, drooping buttocks. The skin loses its elasticity due to the fact that it has been extremely stretched for a long time, failing to retract enough after losing weight.
In addition, excess skin can cause problems when getting dressed, limit mobility, and cause poor hygiene. Dermatitis and infections are common due to rubbing and prolonged contact between skin folds. Last but not least, the cosmetic problem comes into play: patients who have lost a lot of weight want the way they look to reflect the positive image they have of themselves.
In all these situations the only solution to remove excess skin is body reshaping by cosmetic surgery.
Learn About Radiofrequency Treatments
Radiofrequency is a noninvasive procedure that works by heating water inside the tissue of the abdomen area. This causes collagen molecules to respond tightening the treated area. The contracted and tighter collagen then begins the rebuilding process. Post-treatment, new collagen is produced that is shorter, thicker, and more elastic creating a better support foundation for your skin. And, unlike other solutions, results can last for several years depending on your lifestyle. This makes radiofrequency treatments ideal for patients with moderate to severe skin sagging. At Innovations Medical, we provide the Legend Progressive Skin Tightening and Thermage Skin Tightening treatments.
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How Painful Is Excess Skin Removal Surgery
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. It may help have a loved one or other support person stay with you during the first week of recovery.
How Loose Belly Skin Occurs
The skin is the largest organ of your body and acts as a protective barrier to the inside organs.
The inner layer of your skin consists of collagen and elastin. Of these two, collagen is the abundant one with 80%. It is responsible for providing firmness and strength to your skin.
On the other hand, elastin as the name suggests is responsible for your skins elasticity.
During the above-mentioned causes of loose belly skin, your skin stretches out to create more room for the extra baby or fat.
This leads to the damage of some of your skin components. Collagen and elastin fibers may end up loosing some of their ability to retract after the extra weight is removed.
The more your weight loss is, the greater the loose skin effect will be.
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Who Is A Candidate For Excess Skin Removal Surgery
Plastic surgeons perform excess skin removal procedures. Your doctor will conduct a physical exam and other assessments to determine if surgery is right for you.
In general, you may be a good candidate for excess skin removal surgery if you:
- Maintain your goal weight for at least six months following major weight loss.
- Commit to a healthy lifestyle to help keep off the lost pounds.
- Dont smoke or use other tobacco products. Smoking slows wound healing and can increase the risk of surgical complications.
- Are in generally good health, without any significant medical problems that might make surgery too risky.
- Have realistic expectations about what the procedures can accomplish.
Purpose Of A Panniculectomy
Excess skin can be caused by losing a significant amount of weight through gastric bypass surgery or lifestyle changes. It may also be caused by getting older, prior surgery, pregnancy, or heredity.
Your healthcare provider may recommend skin removal surgery if you have excess skin and fat on the lower abdomen that hangs over the thighs, particularly if it causes sores and rashes and interferes with daily activities like walking or personal hygiene. A panniculectomy can help prevent recurring skin irritations and infections underneath the fold of skin.
Panniculectomy may be referred to as a form of body contouring as it does result in a slimmer abdominal area. But skin removal surgery is only intended to remove the extra skin and fat and is not considered cosmetic surgery.
If your end goal is truly only appearance-related, you might consider opting for an abdominoplasty instead. This cosmetic surgery, better known as a tummy tuck, tightens the abdominal muscles in addition to removing fat.
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