Tummy tuck after partial hysterectomy. Would insurance help pay?

Unfortunately, insurance does not cover a tummy tuck. Occasionally with documentation of recurrent infection they will pay for a panniculectomy (simply removing loose skin).#tt#tummytuck

Insurance will not cover cosmetic procedures as they are not considered medically necessary.  In regards to risk, there is a slight increase in risk for complication when combining a tummy tuck with a hysterectomy.   If you do choose to combine the procedures, the cosmetic portion would likely be billed to you separately. 

Insurance will not cover the cosmetic portion of the surgery.  There is an increased risk by combining the two procedures based on the approach taken, but it is not uncommon to do so.  It's best to discuss this in detail with both of your surgeons before proceeding.

Having your hysterectomy performed in the hospital and then undergoing a tummy tuck while still under will be much more expensive (almost always) than having the tummy tuck performed at a certified out patient surgical center.Although your insurance would potentially cover the hysterectomy, the tummy tuck would not be covered, and typically the charges from the hospital are double or triple what they are outside.There are some concerns about combining the procedures as noted, but usually the cost difference is what prevents the two procedures from being accomplished simultaneously.You should schedule a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who is a member of the Utah Plastic Surgery Society.  He or she can give you their best recommendation after the face to face visit.Best of luck.....

Insurance will not pay for cosmetic surgery or any complications thereof whatsoever.  You can combine insurance based and cosmetic procedures into one surgery; but the anesthesia and OR fees are literally broken down to the minute as to when the cosmetic portion is started & finished and you will be billed for that portion. Typically, hospitals/surgery centers will offer competitive rates for cosmetic surgery so make sure you or your surgical coordinator at the surgeons office does their homework to find the best OR rates in your area.  Rates for tummy tuck, anesthesia, and hospital fees vary by area and surgeon so your best bet is to schedule one or a few consultations with a board certified plastic surgeon and get a quote for their fees.  Finally, I echo Dr. Gusenoff's answer regarding the increased risk of complications in this particular combination.  Technically, a hysterectomy could be considered a clean contaminated surgery b/c the uterus is not sterile given it's connection to the vagina & thus the outside world. Although complications are unusual, many plastic surgeons prefer not to combine these 2 surgeries b/c it does increase the infection rate some and possible the risk of blood clots such as DVT.  Once you choose a plastic surgeon, this would be a discussion to have with them.

The good news is that insurance will pay for part of the anesthesia and hospital stay. The cost of the tummy tuck, the time to do it in the operating room, and time for anesthesia are usually separate charges and not covered by insurance. However, combining gynecologic cases with cosmetic cases may increase your risk of complications such as infection or blood clots. Some plastic surgeons won't do it at the same time. Make sure you consult with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Good luck!

Insurance usually would pay for the hysterectomy and that part of the surgery and OR costs related to it. The tummy tuck is purely cosmetic and you would be responsible for all the associated costs including surgeons, OR and supply costs, anesthesia, mediications, etc. I personally never combine these as it almosts always works out NOT in favor of the patient.

It sounds at first like a good idea but it may not work out as smoothly as one might hope.  First of all, there are some potential increased risks when combining these procedures from a surgical standpoint (longer surgery, possibly some increased bleeding) and some plastic surgeons are not comfortable performing a TT at the time of a hysterectomy.  Of course, with minimally invasive techniques some of those concerns could be minimized, but it remains a consideration.Secondly, while insurance would/should cover your hysterectomy (to whatever degree it will), it will not normally cover any part of cosmetic surgery or, increasingly, its complications.  And the costs of doing that out-of-pocket may be significantly greater than if the procedure were performed in a surgeon's office surgical facility or an ambulatory surgery facility.  On the other hand, having the procedures combined, and only a single recovery period, may make that a worthwhile trade.In sum, you should explore this carefully, from both surgical and financial standpoints.  Depending on the surgeons involved, and what the numbers turn out to me, it may make a lot of sense to combine the procedures...but not necessarily.I hope that this helps and good luck,Dr. E