Common Types of Skin Removal Procedures

Written by Care New England | July 15, 2021

Whether it’s for comfort, cosmetic reasons, or for medical health, skin removal surgery is an option that most people don’t know about, or simply don’t understand. Here’s a quick look at some of the most common procedures and how they can help.

Panniculectomy vs Tummy Tuck

Tummy tuck and panniculectomy are the most common skin removal procedures. Panniculectomy and tummy tuck are similar because in both procedures incisions are made in the same area and excess skin is removed. Even though the two share a few similarities, they also have their differences.

Panniculectomy

The panniculectomy procedure gets rid of excess skin and tissue on the lower belly. The procedure can be done in combination with the tummy tuck. It's an invasive procedure for people who have lost weight after surgery and have hanging skin on the lower belly.

The procedure is a medical necessity if loose skin is affecting your quality of life. If you have excess skin that is a medical concern, you may be able to use health insurance to cover its cost. You will, however, need to provide medical documentation to proceed with insurance coverage.

Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is a procedure for removing excess skin in the abdomen. It results in a smoother and firmer abdomen. An incision is made across your lower abdomen, above the pubic area.

If you opt for a complete abdominoplasty, then your belly button will have to be repositioned. For a partial abdominoplasty, only excess fat from your lower abdomen is removed without the belly button being repositioned.

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.

Other Common Skin Removal Procedures

Upper Arm Lift

The upper arm lift, also known as Brachioplasty, gets rid of sagging skin under your upper arm. The excess fat is removed through incisions on the back of your arm. You may also have liposuction to improve your contours.

Thigh Lift

Thighplasty removes excess fat to reshape your outer or inner thigh. It includes:

Crescentic thigh lift: it gets rid of the skin from your upper inner thigh.
Vertical thigh lift: the procedure removes excess skin down your entire inner thigh.
Lateral thigh lift: it removes fat from your outer thighs.

Liposuction

Liposuction removes excess fat deposits from the neck, chin, upper arms, cheeks, abdomen, calves, and around your ankles. The procedure is done by using a hollow tube that's placed under your skin through an incision.

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