Can my insurance cover for my scar from thyroid removal surgery (cancer)?

Question

I just found I have a Thyroid Cancer and need to remove the whole thyroid. I am afraid that my scar makes me depressed and want to get scar removal treatment after surgery. Does the insurance pay for it?

Bram Kaufman, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question. I work with a very busy endocrine surgeon and this question has come up before. The likelihood is very high that your insurance will not cover scar removal or plastic surgery closure of the wound at the initial thyroidectomy. The good news is that scars from thyroid surgery almost always heal beautifully and can sometimes be almost imperceptible. Also, should you require revision of the scar after surgery, the out of pocket cost should not be too great as it is usually done in the office with local anesthesia. I take a tiered approach to scar management. First, scars mature and 
improve slowly over considerable time, years in fact. Many surgeons will
 ask patients to wait 1 year before considering a revision. Today, we 
have more insight and more options in dealing with scars. In my 
practice, if I believe a scar will not look good even after maturing for
 a year or more then I will recommend surgical revision right away. In 
my opinion there is no reason to wait a year and then revise a scar that
 is obvious sub-optimal, better to do it soon and start the healing 
process. If the scar looks to a trained eye like it will mature nicely 
then I do NOT recommend revision per se. Instead, there are options to 
enhance and speed up the maturation process. I most often use prolonged 
application of steri-strips over the scar, it is inexpensive and readily
 available and paper tape works just as well. Silicone sheets and 
topical silicone preparations have been shown to improve scars. Light 
based treatments, often referred to as IPL (Intense pulsed light) can 
help with redness and the appearance of the scar. More aggressive laser 
treatments are also an option, such as CO2 laser scar treatments. 
Pressure and scar massage will help too. Most of these modalities can be
 use in combination. 
The decision to proceed with surgical scar 
revision is a very personal one and depends on how much the scar 
troubles you, how long your willing to wait, how much time and money 
your willing to invest in the process and how much better the scar will 
look after all that. It is the same risk(cost) / benefit decision 
process we deal with for any treatment recommendation. A few 
consultations with qualified, board certified (ABPS) plastic surgeons 
would be most helpful.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

I can't speak to your insurance coverage. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a cosmetic dermatologist for after care. I recommend Silagen + Bioshield to promote healing. Scarring can be improved with lasers and microneedling/prp. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Can my insurance cover for my scar from thyroid removal surgery (cancer)?

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Can my insurance cover for my scar from thyroid removal surgery (cancer)?

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Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.