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.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicare15847CPTabdominal excisionbody contouringsurgical procedureoutpatient surgeryoperative codingreconstructive surgery

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.
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	Use when procedure normally done with local/monitored anesthesia requires general anesthesia for medical reasons.
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Use if identical bilateral procedures are performed on anatomically paired sites (rarely applicable to central abdominal excision).
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as described for `15847`.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the procedure is started but aborted due to extenuating circumstances.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use when another distinct procedure is performed on the same day that is not normally bundled with `15847`.
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct portions of the procedure.
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician	Use when the same physician repeats the procedure within the global period (if applicable).
`77`	Repeat procedure by another physician	Use when another physician repeats the procedure within the global period.
`80`	Assistant surgeon	Use when an assistant at surgery provides assistance; billing reflects assistant participation.
`81`	Minimum assistant surgeon	Use when a minimal assistant surgeon is documented.
`82`	Assistant surgeon (qualified resident)	Use when a qualified resident performs assistant surgeon duties in absence of qualified attending.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is partially reduced or modified from full-service description.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use to indicate a separate and distinct procedure not ordinarily bundled with `15847`.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207V00000X`	Plastic Surgery	Primary specialty performing abdominal skin and subcutaneous tissue excision.
`208D00000X`	General Surgery	May perform abdominal excisions in reconstructive or post-bariatric settings.
`363A00000X`	Dermatology	May perform limited skin excisions or adjunctive procedures in select cases.
`207VP0122X`	Plastic Surgery - Assistant/Team	Providers functioning in surgical assistance roles for complex reconstructions.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`E65`	Localized adiposity	May describe localized fat contributing to abdominal contour deformity addressed during excision.
`L98.4`	Hypertrophic scar and keloid	Relevant when prior surgery or scarring affects planning and excision.
`L22`	Diaper dermatitis [incontinence-associated dermatitis]	Skin breakdown in abdominal folds can prompt panniculectomy to relieve recurrent dermatitis.
`M79.1`	Myalgia	Nonspecific but may be present; not a direct indication for `15847`.
`R68.89`	Other general symptoms and signs	Non-specific symptom codes occasionally listed but not primary indications.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`15848`	Excision, excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue (eg, panniculectomy), abdomen, infraumbilical panniculectomy	Often performed for more limited infraumbilical pannus compared with full abdominoplasty-type excision represented by `15847`.
`15830`	Excision, excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue (eg, panniculectomy), abdomen, belt lipectomy	Performed for circumferential truncal contouring; may be part of a staged reconstructive plan.
`15847`	Excision, excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue of the abdomen	Primary procedure described; included here for completeness.
`15738`	Excision of redundant skin, trunk, other than abdomen	May be performed concurrently if redundant skin in adjacent regions requires excision.
`15822`	Excision, excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue (eg, panniculectomy), abdomen, vertical panniculectomy	Alternative technique/code for vertical pattern panniculectomy; selected based on excision pattern and documentation.
`19318`	Reduction mammaplasty	Frequently performed concurrently with body-contouring surgeries in post-bariatric patients as part of comprehensive contouring.