A lot of patients want to know if insurance covers plastic surgery. Is there ever an elective procedure that medical insurance will pay for? Typically plastic surgery is elective (AKA not in your medical coverage), but there are some major exceptions to the rule.
Breast Surgery
While cosmetic implants aren’t typically covered by insurance, they may be covered for women reconstructing breast tissue after a mastectomy. Many breast cancer survivors aren’t aware of the breast reconstruction options covered by insurance. Breast reductions may also be covered by medical insurance. If the breasts are heavy enough to cause back pain, neck pain, numbness, rashes, or other health problems, there’s a good chance the procedure will be covered.
Eyelid Surgery
Typically eyelid surgery is an elective, out-of-pocket procedure to smooth the skin, reduce bags, and remove fatty deposits around the eyes. But if you prove that the drooping skin above your eyes causes vision problems, your insurance provider may cover the cost of the procedure.
Nose Surgery
Nose jobs, more commonly known as rhinoplasties, can be medically necessary to repair breathing problems or other health conditions. If that’s the case, they’re often covered by insurance.
Medical Complications
Patients who choose a board certified plastic surgeon drastically reduce the likelihood of surgical complications. But in the event of infection or excessive bleeding, many insurance companies will cover the medical care necessary to get you back on your feet.
While many plastic surgery procedures can be covered by insurance, no two insurance companies have the same coverage. Always get a written statement from your insurance company prior to the procedure to make sure you don’t get stuck with the bill.
For more information on plastic surgery and medical insurance, call Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Johnson City, TN.
When people hear “plastic surgery,” the typically imagine female patients. But cosmetic procedures aren’t just for women. As men age, they want to look as good as they feel, and many men turn to plastic surgery to lift saggy skin, remove excess fat, or reshape parts of the body they’re not happy with. 13% of all cosmetic surgeries performed in 2015 were for male patients; according to the data, that number is on the rise.
Facial Cosmetic Surgery for Men
Facial contouring smooths wrinkles and fine lines, removes excess skin around the eyes, cheeks, and jowls, and restores facial definition lost with age. Facial procedures are growing in popularity with male patients. Eyelid surgery, which improves the appearance of the eyelid by removing excess skin and fatty deposits, is the second most popular cosmetic procedure for men, with almost 30,000 procedures performed on male patients in 2015. Rhinoplasties remain the most popular male cosmetic procedure, with 53,248 men getting nose reshaping procedures in 2015. Facelifts and nonsurgical procedures such as Botox, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, laser hair removal, and cosmetic fillers are also popular with male patients.
Body Contouring for Men
Body contouring helps men feel more confident about their appearance. 12% of all liposuction procedures are done on male patients. More men are also choosing to have tummy tucks, thigh lifts, and body lifts to remove fat and excess skin and to smooth the overall appearance of the body. But the most popular body sculpting procedure for men is the male breast reduction. Many men have insecurities caused by large breasts, or “man boobs,” as they’re derogatorily called in today’s slang. People often think that male breasts are a sign of weight gain or obesity, but gynecomastia (enlarged male breasts) can also result from a genetic excess of breast tissue, hormonal fluctuations, or a variety of other causes. A male breast reduction removes fat and breast tissue to reduce breast size in men, allowing them to feel more confident in their daily lives. 27,456 men had breast reduction surgery in the United States last year alone.
Do you want to restore your confidence, reshape your body, or reclaim a youthful appearance? Call Dr. Brantner’s office to schedule a consultation.
Plastic surgery helps men and women boost their confidence by making small physical changes to their face or body. But because of the high expectations most patients have for their new look, some may feel uncomfortable in their new skin. While it is possible for a patient to need follow-up surgery, most negative emotions are a temporary result of unrealistic expectations. So how can you guarantee that you love the new you?
4 Ways to Ensure that You Love Your Results
Have realistic expectations. Plastic surgery is an amazing medical advancement, and in the hands of a skilled, certified surgeon, you can achieve the look of your dreams. But if you expect perfection, you’ll be disappointed at best. At worst? You’ll get more plastic surgery, but never feel satisfied. Understand the limitations of your procedure if you want to fall in ‘love at first sight’ with the new you.
Understand the point of plastic surgery. Will a facelift give you smoother skin and a more youthful appearance? Yes. Will it make you happier? Maybe not. Plastic surgery changes your appearance, not your mental or emotional health. If you need a boost of confidence by minimizing wrinkles or reshaping your nose, go for it. But realize that plastic surgery won’t fix low self-esteem, marital problems, or other issues in your life.
Give yourself time to heal. Yes, your doctor may have taken out your stitches, but that doesn’t mean your body is finished healing. It can take several months for the procedure to “settle” and the body to fully heal.
Prepare for an adjustment period. Humans are creatures of habit. You may have been dreaming about a breast augmentation for a decade, but your mental self-image has small breasts. Many patients are surprised to find themselves feeling strange when they look in a mirror after surgery. Don’t panic. Just like your body needs time to heal, your brain just needs time to adjust to the new you.
Not sure whether plastic surgery is right for you? Discuss your questions and concerns with Dr. Brantner. Call today to schedule a consultation.
Your goal is simple: achieve a fuller, more youthful face. But with treatment options ranging from Botox to chemical peels to facelifts, it can be challenging to choose the right treatment for your needs. We’re breaking down the basics about one of our most popular nonsurgical treatments: derma fillers.
So what are fillers, anyway?
Derma Fillers
As people age, their skin begins to lose that youthful glow. This is due to both external stresses and the skin’s natural decrease of collagen and elastin production. Skin cells become thinner, drier, and less elastic, causing the formation of wrinkles. Outside stresses like sun exposure, smoking, and a poor diet can speed the aging process. Derma fillers replenish hydraulic acid, a naturally-occurring element in the skin that helps cells retain moisture. When hydraulic acid is injected into specific areas of the face, it smooths wrinkles and creates a fuller, more youthful appearance. Derma fillers like Juvederm target fine lines and wrinkles on the face, while fillers like Restylane Silk are more commonly used to plump areas that have lost volume over time, such as the lips.
Preparing for Facial Fillers
Derma fillers are a quick, low-risk procedure with results that can last over a year. The procedure itself takes less than an hour and has minimal recovery (some patients experience slight bruising or swelling). The goal of derma fillers is to subtly enhance natural beauty, leaving friends to say, “Wow, you look great today! What’s different?” To prepare for your injectable fillers appointment:
Follow all instructions given by Dr. Brantner
Keep the office staff updated on your current health and medications
Stop taking NSAIDS, Aspirin, excessive Vitamin E, and St. John’s Wart for 2 weeks prior to your appointment
Avoid alcohol for 24 before your appointment
To make an appointment with Dr. Brantner, call Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Johnson City, TN.
Does Botox hurt? The needles used in Botox injections are small, so most patients feel no more than a small pinch. If you’re worried about pain, Dr. Brantner can administer a topical numbing cream to the injection site.
How long will the appointment last? Botox treatments typically take no longer than 10-15 minutes.
What’s the recovery like? Botox recovery is minimal. Some patients may notice a small bump on the injection site. You may also experience slight bruising. For the best results, don’t lie down for 3 hours following a Botox treatment and avoid strenuous activity for 24 hours.
How long before I see results? Results are typically visible within 24-48 hours and typically last several months.
How can I make my results last longer? Botox is a temporary treatment that targets the muscles of the face to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Patients must repeat injections every few months to maintain results; however, some patients find that results lasts longer after several Botox treatments.
How many injections will I get in a Botox treatment? For crow’s feet, Dr. Brantner will inject the muscles surrounding each eye 3 times. To treat frown lines, Dr. Brantner will give you 5 injections into the forehead.
Do men use Botox? Botox is a popular cosmetic procedure for men as well as women. 17.5% of patients treated with Botox are men.
While cosmetic implants aren’t typically covered by insurance, they may be covered for women reconstructing breast tissue after a mastectomy. Many breast cancer survivors aren’t aware of the breast reconstruction options covered by insurance. Breast reductions may also be covered by medical insurance. If the breasts are heavy enough to cause back pain, neck pain, numbness, rashes, or other health problems, there’s a good chance the procedure will be covered.
