Reviewed on : 26 Sep 2025

Reviewed by : Lucy Dyde, IFR Team Manager

Expires : 26 Sep 2027

Abdominoplasty

Abdominoplasty and similar procedures (apronectomy, panniculectomy, liposuction) for cosmetic or psychological reasons are not normally funded

Prior approval – To ensure the best outcomes, patients must have stopped smoking at least 4 weeks prior to referral

Funding will be found when there is a considerable abdominal apron, causing functional problems, following massive weight loss (usually through bariatric surgery and less commonly by dietary means) when the patient has the following circumstances and meets the following criteria:

• There must be documented evidence of clinical pathology (eg recurrent intertrigo which has lead to ulceration requiring repeated courses of treatment for a minimum period of one year) or disability (eg ambulatory or urinary difficulties) due to the skin fold in question
• The patient’s starting BMI before weight loss must have been no less than 45kg/m²
• The patient’s current BMI must be less than 30kg/m². (In some patients a BMI of less than 30kg/m² may not be achievable, due the weight of excess skin. In these circumstances the patient must have lost at least 15 BMI points, and their clinician must confirm that no further reduction in BMI will be possible without removal of excess skin)
• The patient’s weight must have been stable (normally at less than a BMI of 30kg/m²) for a minimum of 12 months.
• Further advice: it is important that patients who are considering bariatric surgery are given full information about the cosmetic consequences of the bariatric procedures prior  to undergoing surgery, and advised that they will not be eligible for abdominoplasty

Body / Face Contouring and Tissue Transferring

Not funded

This includes any requests for implants as well as removal or transfer of tissue

This procedure is deemed to be cosmetic and does not meet the principles laid out in this policy

Whilst body contouring surgery for arms, thighs and buttocks is commonly requested following massive weight loss (e.g. due to bariatric surgery), the functional and cosmetic gains for these procedures are generally thought to be much less compared to patients seeking abdominoplasty or similar operations

References

https://bapras.org.uk/docs/default-source/commissioning-and-policy/information-for-commissioners-of-plastic-surgery-services.pdf?sfvrsn=ba572cc3_2