{"id":14979,"date":"2021-03-11T15:56:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-11T23:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/?p=14979"},"modified":"2021-04-01T11:34:38","modified_gmt":"2021-04-01T18:34:38","slug":"plastic-surgery-procedures-covered-by-insurance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/plastic-surgery-procedures-covered-by-insurance","title":{"rendered":"7 Plastic Surgery Procedures Insurance Might Cover"},"content":{"rendered":"

Health insurance is one of the great riddles of our time. Trying to understand what is and is not covered—and, even more challenging, why<\/em>—is like trying to do long division after enjoying a large margarita. And in the case of plastic surgery, when there can be both medical and aesthetic reasons behind the decision, the line between what health care insurance pays for and what it doesn’t is a moving target. “It has become more and more difficult to get insurance to cover plastic surgery cases, even if there is a medical justification for the case,” says Dr. Lesley Rabach<\/a>, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon in New York City. (Basically, if you’re hoping to find an insurance loophole that’ll cover your elective cosmetic surgery procedure, such as a facelift or liposuction, you’re going to be sorely disappointed.)<\/p>

And even if insurance covers the cost of a non-elective surgical procedure, it may not end there. “If one of your issues is covered, this may not mean that the insurance company just pays whatever the surgeon charges,” explains Dr. Lisa Cassileth<\/a>, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Los Angeles. “It means that [the company] will consider<\/em> whether the benefits of your insurance cover it—but a skilled insurance specialist within the plastic surgeon’s practice is still necessary, to figure out what [your insurer is] likely to pay.” Clearly, it’s a bit of a guessing game. But certain cases are more likely to be covered than others, depending on the circumstances, medical necessity, and your exact health insurance plan.<\/p>

1. Botox<\/a><\/h2>

Botox is an FDA-approved treatment for those suffering from chronic migraines, and many insurance companies—including Medicare and Medicaid plans—will cover partial or full costs. According to the American Migraine Foundation<\/a>, patients typically must have unsuccessfully tried two other preventative migraine treatments before Botox is approved by the insurance provider. <\/p>

2. Functional rhinoplasty<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>

A nose job may be covered by insurance<\/a> if you’re getting it to address a medical issue, such as a deviated septum or “difficulty breathing, with proper documentation that the patient failed nasal steroid sprays,” says Dr. Rabach. Insurance may also partially cover certain medications prescribed to relieve a septal disturbance. The simplest way to put it: With a functional rhinoplasty, “the internal work is covered by the insurance,” Dr. Rabach explains. “The outer, cosmetic portion is never covered.”<\/p>

Interested in rhinoplasty?<\/small><\/div>Find Doctors Near You<\/a><\/div>
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