Any Way to Get Insurance to Pay for a Dorsal Hump Removal?

The insurance coverage usually extends to surgeries that correct functional nasal problems, such as nasal obstruction.  Insurances also provide coverage for reconstructive surgery aimed at correction of nasal deformity due to prior trauma.  However, the deformity needs to be fairly severe to qualify for reconstructive procedure, such as severe nasal deviation, saddle nasal deformity, etc.  Correction of dorsal hump is really a gray area: from one hand it may indeed be traumatic in etiology, but from the other hand it is a pure cosmetic procedure. I would say, you need to be prepared to pay out of pocket for this, but get a few consultations and see for yourself what options you will be offered.

If your surgeon can document that the hump is the result of the nasal trauma by submitting photographs, CT scans, and any other relevant documentation, some insurance companies will cover reconstructive rhinoplasty to address this post-traumatic condition.  Other insurance companies have specific criteria that only cover functional repairs to improved a compromised nasal airway.  It is worth having a board certified plastic surgeon evaluate you, submit the documentation, and see if you can get coverage for this repair.

All the best,

Dr. Skourtis