Rhinoplasty Q&A
80%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
1,003 Reviews
Rhinoplastybefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Rhinoplasty Cost: $5,975

Learn about Rhinoplasty

5,052 people and 803 doctors are talking about Rhinoplasty

Get Free Email Updates

Will Insurance Cover Rhinoplasty Following Mohs Surgery?

asked 1 year ago by SJSB
Latest answer by William Portuese, MD
Question viewed 335 times
Tags: female, anesthesia, insurance, scar, shape, skin cancer

I recently had Mohs surgery on my right nostril for basal cell carcinoma. In addition, I have always wanted rhinoplasty to change the shape of my nose. The scar (more like a chunk out of my nostril)is still very visible three years later. Will insurance cover a rhinoplasty since I have had skin cancer? Also, can a rhinoplasty be done using local anesthetic?

12 answers to Will Insurance Cover Rhinoplasty Following Mohs Surgery?

+1

Rhinoplasty after Mohs Cancer Surgery

Your insurance company will probably only cover surgery to correct any problems caused by the Mohs surgery. Your surgeon's office will help you answer that question by requesting pre-op authorization.
Richard W. Fleming, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

+2

Scar revision vs rhinoplasty

Two completely different procedures. The first one is a reconstructive procedure and can be covered by insurance. On the other hand,  rhinoplasty is cosmetic procedure and is not covered by insurance.
Moneer Jaibaji, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Rhinoplasty not covered by medical insurance

Rhinoplasty is a procedure whereby the entire tip, bridge, and alar areas can all be addressed by changing them.  This is done under a general anesthesia.  A rhinoplasty is never covered under medical insurance since it is cosmetic in nature and not medically related.  Even a simple scar revision will not be covered under insurance unless it is creating a functional breathing problem. 
William Portuese, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

+1

Rhinoplasty and insurance coverage

Typically insurance doesn't cover Rhinoplasty and it's probably not a good idea to have a Rhinoplasty under local.  Even if you could tolerate the injections and they made your nose numb enough to undergo a Rhinoplasty...which is a big if IMHo of doing Rhinoplasty for over 20 years....there's no way to stop bleeding from rolling down the back of your nose and making you choke and gag...which would be a nightmare for you and your surgeon. Have an anesthetic.  It... more
Francis R. Palmer, III, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Rhinoplasty after skin cancer excision

Insurance will almost always cover skin flaps, skin grafts, and other reconstructive techniques after skin cancer removal. Rhinoplasty would be covered only if it was related to the cancer reconstruction.
Steven Goldman, MD

Cleveland Plastic Surgeon

www.drgoldman.com

+1

Rhinoplasty vs scar revision

Your insurance company may cover your scar revision for your Moh's reconstruction but will not likely cover a rhinoplasty.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Insurance won't cover a cosmetic rhinoplasty despite history of Moh's on nostril

You have uniformity of the answers to your question which should definitely tell you something!!. The deformity related to Moh's surgery has nothing to do with the general reshaping of your nose. If you wanted to pursue both issues, your insurance may cover the issues related to the nostril deformities but the rest, that is the cosmetic component, will need to be paid for by you. Attempting to do a cosmetic rhinoplasty under the pretense of a reconstructive issue is fraud and can... more
Steven Turkeltaub, MD

Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon
+1

Insurance for Mohs repair

Your insurance will cover reconstruction of a Moh's defect, however you would be responsible for all the costs incurred in doing a rhinoplasty - essentially a cosmetic procedure.  You might be able to find a doctor to do this through your insurance, but that could amount to insurance fraud.  So if he or she is cheating the insurance company, is he also shortchanging you?
Steven Schuster, MD

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.schusterplasticsurgery.com

+1

Rhinoplasty after cancer surgery.

Your insurance will only cover the reconstruction of the nostril and not the rhinoplasty. The rhinoplasty can be done under local or general anesthesia.
Toby Mayer, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Insurance for Moh's surgery and Rhinoplasty

Hi, Your insurance will cover the Moh's defect repair from the basal cell carcinoma. The rhinoplasty portion is typically not covered. However, your surgeon may give you some discount if you combine the Moh's repair with the rhinoplasty. And yes, rhinoplasty can be performed under local anesthesia, it all depends on the comfort and training of the surgeon. Best, Dr.S.
Oleh Slupchynskyj, MD

New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.facechange.org

+1

Will Insurance Cover Rhinoplasty Following Mohs Surgery?

Without a posted photo to see the defect I would guess the answer is NO. Health insurance will cover the need for reconstruction of a deformity not a cosmetic issue with a rhinoplasty. From MIAMI 
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Insurance may cover a portion of post cancer nasal reconstruction

Insurance plans allow a predermination letter to be sent by the doctor to a medical reviewer within the insurance company.  This letter (accompanied by photos) would describe the anatomic problem and cancer history as well as the proposed surgical manoevers.  Often times in your situation insurance plans will cover reconstructive procedures to address scarring and disfigurement. Other areas of your nose that you separately have always wanted to enhance/change would be... more
Tanuj Nakra, MD

Austin Oculoplastic Surgeon

Ask a question