Circles $\omega_1$, $\omega_2$, and $\omega_3$ each have radius $4$ and are placed in the plane so that each circle is externally tangent to the other two.  Points $P_1$, $P_2$, and $P_3$ lie on $\omega_1$, $\omega_2$, and $\omega_3$ respectively such that $P_1P_2=P_2P_3=P_3P_1$ and line $P_iP_{i+1}$ is tangent to $\omega_i$ for each $i=1,2,3$, where $P_4 = P_1$.  See the figure below.  The area of $\triangle P_1P_2P_3$ can be written in the form $\sqrt{a}+\sqrt{b}$ for positive integers $a$ and $b$.  What is $a+b$?

[asy]
unitsize(12);
pair A = (0, 8/sqrt(3)), B = rotate(-120)*A, C = rotate(120)*A;
real theta = 41.5;
pair P1 = rotate(theta)*(2+2*sqrt(7/3), 0), P2 = rotate(-120)*P1, P3 = rotate(120)*P1;
filldraw(P1--P2--P3--cycle, gray(0.9));
draw(Circle(A, 4));
draw(Circle(B, 4));
draw(Circle(C, 4));
dot(P1);
dot(P2);
dot(P3);
defaultpen(fontsize(10pt));
label("$P_1$", P1, E*1.5);
label("$P_2$", P2, SW*1.5);
label("$P_3$", P3, N);
label("$\omega_1$", A, W*17);
label("$\omega_2$", B, E*17);
label("$\omega_3$", C, W*17);
[/asy]

$\textbf{(A) }546\qquad\textbf{(B) }548\qquad\textbf{(C) }550\qquad\textbf{(D) }552\qquad\textbf{(E) }554$
1. Let \( O_1, O_2, O_3 \) denote the centers of the circles \( \omega_1, \omega_2, \omega_3 \), respectively. Connecting these three points forms the equilateral triangle \( O_1O_2O_3 \) with side length \( 8 \) (since each circle has a radius of \( 4 \) and they are externally tangent to each other).

2. Let \( O_2O_3 \cap P_2P_3 = Q_1 \), \( O_1O_3 \cap P_1P_3 = Q_2 \), and \( O_1O_2 \cap P_1P_2 = Q_3 \). Note that \( Q_1Q_2Q_3 \) forms an equilateral triangle.

3. In the quadrilateral \( O_1P_1Q_3Q_2 \), \( \angle Q_2O_1Q_3 = \angle Q_2P_1Q_3 = 60^\circ \) (since they are part of equilateral triangles). This implies that \( O_1P_1Q_3Q_2 \) is cyclic. Similarly, the quadrilaterals \( O_2P_2Q_1Q_3 \) and \( O_3P_3Q_2Q_1 \) are also cyclic.

4. Consider the quadrilateral \( O_1P_1Q_3Q_2 \). Since \( O_1P_1Q_3Q_2 \) is cyclic and \( \angle O_1P_1Q_3 = 90^\circ \), \( \angle O_1Q_2Q_3 = 90^\circ \). Thus, \( \triangle O_1Q_3Q_2 \) is a \( 30-60-90 \) right-angled triangle.

5. By symmetry and properties of the \( 30-60-90 \) triangle, we have:
   \[
   \overline{O_1O_3} = \overline{O_1Q_2} + \overline{Q_2O_3} = \overline{O_1Q_2} + \overline{O_1Q_3} = 3 \cdot \overline{O_1Q_2}
   \]
   It follows that in \( \triangle O_1Q_3Q_2 \):
   \[
   \overline{O_1Q_2} = \frac{8}{3}, \quad \overline{O_1Q_3} = \frac{16}{3}, \quad \overline{Q_2Q_3} = \frac{8\sqrt{3}}{3}
   \]

6. To find \( \overline{P_1Q_3} \) and \( \overline{P_1Q_2} \) (the sum of these two segments is the side length of the equilateral triangle \( P_1P_2P_3 \)):
   \[
   \overline{P_1Q_3} = \sqrt{\left(\overline{O_1Q_3}\right)^2 - \left(\overline{O_1P_1}\right)^2} = \sqrt{\left(\frac{16}{3}\right)^2 - 4^2} = \sqrt{\frac{112}{9}} = \frac{4\sqrt{7}}{3}
   \]

7. Let \( \overline{P_1Q_2} = x \). Using the Law of Cosines:
   \[
   \left(\overline{Q_2Q_3}\right)^2 = \left(\overline{P_1Q_3}\right)^2 + x^2 - 2 \cdot \overline{P_1Q_3} \cdot x \cdot \cos(60^\circ)
   \]
   \[
   \left(\frac{8\sqrt{3}}{3}\right)^2 = \left(\frac{4\sqrt{7}}{3}\right)^2 + x^2 - 2 \cdot \frac{4\sqrt{7}}{3} \cdot x \cdot \frac{1}{2}
   \]
   Simplifying:
   \[
   \frac{64}{3} = \frac{16 \cdot 7}{9} + x^2 - \frac{4\sqrt{7}}{3} x
   \]
   \[
   \frac{64}{3} = \frac{112}{9} + x^2 - \frac{4\sqrt{7}}{3} x
   \]
   \[
   64 = \frac{112}{3} + 3x^2 - 4\sqrt{7}x
   \]
   \[
   192 = 112 + 9x^2 - 12\sqrt{7}x
   \]
   \[
   9x^2 - 12\sqrt{7}x - 80 = 0
   \]
   Solving the quadratic equation:
   \[
   x = \frac{12\sqrt{7} \pm \sqrt{(12\sqrt{7})^2 + 4 \cdot 9 \cdot 80}}{2 \cdot 9}
   \]
   \[
   x = \frac{12\sqrt{7} \pm \sqrt{1008 + 2880}}{18}
   \]
   \[
   x = \frac{12\sqrt{7} \pm 60\sqrt{3}}{18}
   \]
   Since \( x > 0 \), we take the positive root:
   \[
   x = \frac{12\sqrt{7} + 60\sqrt{3}}{18} = \frac{2\sqrt{7} + 10\sqrt{3}}{3}
   \]

8. Therefore, the side length of \( \triangle P_1P_2P_3 \) is:
   \[
   \overline{P_1Q_3} + \overline{P_1Q_2} = \frac{4\sqrt{7}}{3} + \frac{2\sqrt{7} + 10\sqrt{3}}{3} = 2\sqrt{3} + 2\sqrt{7}
   \]

9. The area of the equilateral triangle \( P_1P_2P_3 \) is:
   \[
   \left(2\sqrt{3} + 2\sqrt{7}\right)^2 \cdot \frac{\sqrt{3}}{4} = \left(4 \cdot 3 + 4 \cdot 7 + 8\sqrt{21}\right) \cdot \frac{\sqrt{3}}{4} = \left(12 + 28 + 8\sqrt{21}\right) \cdot \frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}
   \]
   \[
   = \left(40 + 8\sqrt{21}\right) \cdot \frac{\sqrt{3}}{4} = 10\sqrt{3} + 6\sqrt{7}
   \]
   \[
   = \sqrt{300} + \sqrt{252}
   \]

10. Therefore, \( a = 300 \) and \( b = 252 \), so \( a + b = 552 \).

The final answer is \( \boxed{552} \)