Introduction

There are generally two types of
plastic surgery, cosmetic and reconstructive. Cosmetic surgery is
performed to improve appearance, not to improve function or ability. The
plan does not cover cosmetic surgery. Reconstructive surgery focuses on
reconstructing defects of the body or face due to trauma, burns,
disease, or birth disorders. Reconstructive surgery is designed to
restore or improve function associated with the presence of a defect.
This policy outlines when reconstructive surgery may be covered

Note:

The
Introduction section is for your general knowledge and is not to be 
taken as policy coverage criteria . The  rest of the policy uses
specific words and concepts familiar to medical professionals. It is
intended for  providers . A provider can be a person, such as a doctor,
nurse, psychologist, or dentist. A provider also can be a place where
medical care is given, like a hospital, clinic, or lab. This policy
informs them about when a service may be covered

Coding Code Description Medically Necessary Services  CPT
17106 Destruction of cutaneous vascular proliferative lesions (eg,laser technique; less than 10 sq cm
17107 Destruction of cutaneous vascular proliferative lesions (eg , laser technique; 10.0 to 50.0  sq cm
17108 Destruction of cutaneous vascular proliferative lesions (eg , laser technique); over 50.0 sq cm
21125 Augmentation, mandibular body or angle; prosthetic material
21127 Augmentation, mandibular body or angle; with bone graft,  onlay or interpositional (includes obtaining autograft)
21137 Reduction forehead; contouring only
21138 Reduction forehead; contouring and application of prosthetic material or bone graft  (includes obtaining autograft)
21139 Reduction forehead;  contouring and setback of anterior frontal sinus wall
65760 Keratomileusis
65765 Keratophakia
65767 Epikeratoplasty

Cosmetic Services CPT
11920 Tattooing, intradermal introduction of insoluble opaque pigments to correct color  defects of skin, including micropigmentation; 6.0 sq cm or less
11921 Tattooing, intradermal introduction of insoluable opaque pigments to correct color  defects of skin, including micropigmentation; 6.1 sq cm to 20.0 sq cm
11922 Tattooing, intradermal introduction of insoluable opaque pigments to correct color  defects of skin, including micropigmentation; each additional 20.0 sq cm, or part  thereof (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
11950 Subcutaneous injection of filling material (eg , collagen); 1cc or less
11951 Subcutaneous injection of filling material (eg , collagen); 1.1 to 5.0 cc
11952 Subcutaneous injection of filling material (eg , collagen); 5.1 to 10.0 cc
11954 Subcutaneous injection of filling material (eg, collagen); over 10.0 cc
11960 Insertion of tissue expander(s) for other than breast, including subsequent expansion
15780 Dermabrasion; total face (eg, for acne scarring, fine wrinkling, rhytids, general  keratosis)
15781 Dermabrasion;  segmental, face
15782 Dermabrasion; regional, other than face
15783 Dermabrasion; superficial, any site, (eg, tattoo removal)
15786 Abrasion; single lesion (eg keratosis, scar)
15787 Abrasion; each additional four lesions or less (List separately in  addition to code for  primary procedure)
15819 Cervicoplasty
15824 Rhytidectomy; forehead
15825 Rhytidectomy; neck with platysmal tightening (platsymal flap, P – flap)
15826 Rhytidectomy; glabellar frown lines
15828 Rhytidectomy; cheek, chin, and neck
15829 Rhytidectomy; superficial musculoapneurotic system SMAS flap
15832 Excision, excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue (includes lipectomy); thigh
15833 Excision, excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue (includes lipectomy); leg
15834 Excision, excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue (includes lipectomy); hip
15835 Excision, excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue (includes lipectomy); buttock
15836 Excision, excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue (includes lipectomy); arm
15837 Excision, excessive  skin and subcutaneous tissue (includes lipectomy); forearm or hand
15838 Excision, excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue (includes lipectomy); submental fat pad
15839 Excision excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue (includes lipectomy); other areas
15847 Excision, excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue (includes lipectomy), abdomen (eg , abdominoplasty) (includes umbilical transposition and fascial plication) (List separately  in addition to code for primary procedure)
15876 Suction assisted lipectomy;  head and neck
15877 Suction assisted lipectomy; trunk
15878 Suction assisted lipectomy; upper extremity
15879 Suction assisted lipectomy; lower extremity
19355 Correction of inverted nipples
21120 Genioplasty; augmentation (autograft, allograft,  prosthetic material)
21121 Genioplasty; sliding osteotomy, single piece
21122 Genioplasty; sliding osteotomies, 2 or more osteotomies (eg , wedge excision or bone  wedge reversal for asymmetrical chin)
21123 Genioplasty; sliding, augmentation with  interpositional bone grafts (includes obtaining  autografts)
40500 Vermilionectomy (lip shave), with mucosal advancement
54360 Plastic operation on penis to correct angulation
56620 Vulvectomy simple; partial
69300 Otoplasty, protruding ear, with or  without size reduction

HCPCS
Q2026 Injection, Radiesse, 0.1 ml
Q2028 Injection, sculptra, 0.5 mg

Cosmetic / Reconstructive CPT

11970 Replacement of tissue expander with permanent prosthesis
11971 Removal of tissue expander(s)  without insertion of prosthesis
19316 Mastopexy
19324 Mammaplasty, augmentation; without prosthetic implant
19325 Mammaplasty, augmentation; with prosthetic implant
19328 Removal of intact mammary implant
19330 Removal of mammary implant material
19340 Immediate insertion of breast prosthesis following mastopexy, mastectomy or in  reconstruction
19342 Delayed insertion of breast prosthesis following mastopexy, mastectomy or in  reconstruction
19350 Nipple/areola reconstruction
19357 Breast reconstruction, immediate or delayed, with tissue expander, including subsequent expansion
19366 Breast reconstruction with other technique
19370 Open periprosthetic capsulotomy, breast
19371 Periprosthetic capsulectomy, breast
19380 Revision of reconstructed breast
21088 Impression and custom preparation; facial prosthesis
21188 Reconstruction midface, osteotomies (other than LeFort type) and bone grafts  (includes obtaining autografts)
21280 Medial canthopexy (separate procedure)
21282 Lateral canthopexy

Non – covered Services
CPT
17380 Electrolysis epilation, each 30 minutes
69090 Ear piercing

Note :
CPT codes, descriptions and materials are copyrighted by the American Medical Association (AMA) . HCPCS  codes, descriptions and materials are copyrighted by Centers for Medicare Services (CMS).

Definition of Terms

When specific definitions are not present in a member’s plan, the following definitions will be  applied.

Cosmetic:
In this policy, cosmetic services are those which are primarily intended to preserve or  improve appearance. Cosmetic surgery is performed to reshape normal structures of the body in  order to improve the patient’s appearance or self- esteem.

Physical functional impairment:In this policy, physical functional impairment means a limitation from normal (or baseline level) of physical functioning that may include, but is not  limited to, problems with ambulation, mobilization, communication, respiration, eating,  swallowing, vision, facial expression, skin integrity, distortion of nearby body part(s) or obstruction of an orifice. The physical functional impairment can be due to structure, congenital  deformity, pain, or other causes. Physical functional impairment excludes social, emotional and psychological impairments or potential impairments

Reconstructive surgery:

In this policy, reconstructive surgery refers to surgeries performed on abnormal structures of the body, caused by congenital defects, developmental a bnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors or disease. It is generally performed to improve function. Determination of Eligibility for Coverage The final determination of eligibility for coverage should be based on application of the specific contract language based on the etiology of the defect and the presence or absence of documented physical functional impairment .

Administering the Contract Language ( also seeBenefit Application)

The  following general principles describe the issues to be determined in properly administering  the contract language.

1.The eligibility of a service for coverage may be based on either a specific benefit addressing cosmetic or reconstructive services or on its specific exemption or exclusion for cosmetic or  reconstructive services or both.

2. Cosmetic services are usually considered to be those that are primarily to restore  appearance and that otherwise do not meet the definition of reconstructive.

The definition  of reconstructive may be based on two distinct factors:

o Whether the service is primarily indicated to improve or correct a functional impairment or is primarily to improve appearance; and
o The etiology of the defect (eg, congenital anomaly, anatomic variant, result of trauma, post-therapeutic intervention, disease process).

3.  The presence or absence of a functional impairment is a critical point in interpreting coverage eligibility. For musculoskeletal conditions, the concept of a functional impairment is straightforward. However, when considering dermatologic conditions, the function of the skin is more difficult to define. Procedures designed to enhance the appearance of the skin are typically considered cosmetic