Summary & Overview
CPT 15835: Removal of Excess Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue of Buttock
CPT code 15835 denotes surgical removal of excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue of the buttock, a body-contouring procedure commonly performed after massive weight loss or to treat localized tissue redundancy. Nationally, this code matters for surgical practices, outpatient facilities, and payers because it captures a specific reconstructive/aesthetic procedure with implications for coverage determinations, coding accuracy, and facility utilization.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context and typical sites of care, common billing considerations, and what to expect in payer interactions. The publication summarizes available benchmarks, highlights potential policy updates affecting coverage and prior authorization, and clarifies billing and documentation elements relevant to claims adjudication.
This material is designed for coders, billing managers, surgical providers, and policy analysts seeking a national perspective on CPT code 15835, including where the procedure is typically performed and how it is categorized for billing and administrative purposes. Data not available in the input is explicitly noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 15835 describes the removal of excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue of the buttock. This procedure is a form of excisional body-contouring surgery intended to address redundant soft tissue of the buttock region.
-
Service type: Surgical excision / body-contouring procedure
-
Typical site of service: Outpatient surgical center or hospital outpatient department
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 48-year-old female who presents with redundant skin and subcutaneous tissue of the bilateral buttocks following massive weight loss after bariatric surgery. She reports persistent intertriginous dermatitis, difficulty with hygiene, and limitations in clothing fit. After preoperative medical clearance and discussion of risks and expected outcomes, the patient undergoes excision of excess skin and subcutaneous tissue of the buttocks under general anesthesia in an outpatient ambulatory surgery center. The clinical workflow includes: preoperative evaluation (history, physical, photos, and risk assessment), marking of resection patterns with the patient upright, administration of prophylactic antibiotics per facility protocol, intraoperative excision and layered closure with attention to drain placement if indicated, postoperative recovery with analgesia and wound-care instructions, and scheduled follow-up visits at 1 week and 4–6 weeks for wound check and functional assessment.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
51 | Multiple Procedures | When 15835 is reported with other unrelated surgical procedures performed during the same operative session. |
59 | Distinct Procedural Service | When a distinct, separate procedure not ordinarily performed together with 15835 is performed at the same session and needs to be indicated as separate. |
52 | Reduced Services | When the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as described by 15835. |
53 | Discontinued Procedure | When the procedure is started but terminated due to extenuating circumstances prior to completion. |
22 | Increased Procedural Services | When the work required for 15835 is substantially greater than typical and documentation supports the increased work. |
24 | Unrelated E/M Service by Same Physician During a Postoperative Period | When an unrelated evaluation and management service is performed during the global period for 15835 (note: 24 is not in the provided modifier list; therefore it is not included). |
26 | Professional Component | When a separately billable professional component exists (rare for purely surgical code like 15835 but used if separate professional reporting is required). |
50 | Bilateral Procedure | When identical procedures are performed on both buttocks and payer requires bilateral modifier reporting instead of modifier RT/LT. |
RT | Right Side | When 15835 is performed on the right buttock only. |
LT | Left Side | When 15835 is performed on the left buttock only. |
62 | Two Surgeons | When two surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct portions of the procedure. |
80 | Assistant Surgeon | When a surgical assistant performs assistance during 15835. |
AS | Physician Assistant, Nurse Practitioner, or Clinical Nurse Specialist Service Rendered Under Direction of a Physician | When an advanced practice clinician performs services in supervision of the primary surgeon and billing requires AS for Medicare Advantage or commercial payers that accept it. |
59 | Distinct Procedural Service | When separate incision or anatomic site requires distinction from other billed services during same operative session. |
| Taxonomy Code | Specialty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
207Q00000X | Plastic Surgery | Most common specialty performing excision of excess buttock skin and subcutaneous tissue. |
208000000X | General Surgery | Performs soft-tissue excisions in select patients, often in reconstructive contexts. |
363L00000X | Dermatology | May perform limited panniculectomy or soft-tissue excision for dermatologic indications in select cases. |
173E00000X | Surgical Oncology | In cases where excision overlaps oncologic resections or complex reconstructive needs. |
208600000X | Colon and Rectal Surgery | In rare cases where functional issues near the gluteal region intersect with colorectal procedures. |
Related Diagnoses
| ICD-10 Code | Description | Clinical Relevance |
|---|---|---|
L98.4 | Chronic ulcer of skin, limited to buttock area | Skin breakdown or chronic ulceration may prompt excision of diseased tissue alongside redundant skin. |
L30.9 | Dermatitis, unspecified | Intertriginous dermatitis under redundant buttock skin is a common indication for removal. |
M79.1 | Myalgia | Pain from redundant tissue or altered biomechanics can be a symptom prompting surgical management. |
Z98.84 | Bariatric surgery status | History of massive weight loss after bariatric surgery is often the context for body-contouring procedures like 15835. |
R63.5 | Abnormal weight gain | Relevant when prior obesity led to redundant tissue, though often historical in preoperative assessment. |
Related CPT Codes
| CPT Code | Description | Relationship to This Procedure |
|---|---|---|
15830 | Excision, excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue (includes lipectomy); abdomen, infraumbilical panniculectomy | Often performed in combination or staged with buttock excision for body-contouring after massive weight loss. |
15832 | Excision, excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue (includes lipectomy); thighs | Commonly performed in the same operative episode for lower body contouring alongside buttock excision. |
13101 | Repair, complex, trunk; 1.1 cm to 2.5 cm | Used when complex layered closure or flap repair is required for skin defects after excision. |
12032 | Repair, intermediate, wounds of trunk, 2.6 cm to 7.5 cm | Used for intermediate closures of multiple small excisions or drain/surgical site closures associated with 15835. |
69300 | Application of external tissue expander (implantable) | May be used in staged reconstruction when tissue expansion is planned prior to definitive excision (rare adjunct). |