Summary & Overview
CPT 15847: Excision of Excess Abdominal Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue
CPT code 15847 designates the surgical excision of excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue of the abdomen, a procedure commonly employed for abdominal contouring and removal of redundant tissue after weight loss or for functional indications. Nationally, this code matters because it impacts surgical care delivery, utilization of operating-room resources, and payer coverage policies for body-contouring and reconstructive procedures. Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.
Readers will learn the clinical scope of the procedure, expected sites of service, and how major payers commonly approach coverage. The publication provides national benchmarks for utilization and reimbursement where available, summarizes relevant policy considerations that affect coverage decisions, and outlines clinical context so billing and coding teams can accurately classify the service. Data not available in the input indicates where specific payer rates, associated taxonomies, and ICD-10 mappings are not provided in this summary.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 15847 describes the excision of excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue of the abdomen, a surgical procedure to remove surplus abdominal tissue. The service type is a surgical excision of redundant abdominal skin and subcutaneous fat, commonly performed for functional improvement, contouring, or after significant weight loss. The typical site of service is an inpatient or outpatient surgical suite, ambulatory surgery center, or hospital operating room depending on clinical complexity and patient factors.
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a middle-aged adult who presents for evaluation of symptomatic redundant abdominal skin and subcutaneous tissue following massive weight loss or pregnancy. The patient reports persistent skin folds, intertrigo, difficulty with hygiene, and cosmetic concern. Prior to surgery, the clinical workflow includes a preoperative evaluation by a plastic surgeon with history and physical, documentation of weight stability, optimization of medical comorbidities (eg, diabetes, smoking cessation counseling), and photographic preoperative markings. Preoperative testing (labs, ECG) is ordered based on age and comorbidities. On the day of surgery the procedure 15847 is performed in an accredited outpatient surgery center or hospital ambulatory surgical unit under general anesthesia or monitored anesthesia care. The operation typically involves excision of excess skin and subcutaneous tissue of the abdomen with layered closure; liposuction may be performed in conjunction when indicated. Postoperative care includes pain control, wound care instructions, activity restrictions, and scheduled follow-up visits to assess healing and suture removal.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when work required is substantially greater than typical for 15847 and documentation supports unusual effort or complexity. |