According to the _American Society of Plastic Surgeons_ , the specialty of
plastic surgery includes reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery.  
  
 **Reconstructive Surgery**  
Reconstructive surgery is performed on abnormal structures of the body caused
by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors,
or disease. It is generally performed to improve function but may also be done
to approximate a normal appearance.  
  
 **Transgender Surgery**  
This policy does not address coverage for procedures associated with
transgender surgery. All coverage determinations for transgender surgery are
currently handled by individual consideration on a case by case review with
particular consideration of the World Professional Association for Transgender
Health (WPATH) Standards of Care as interpreted through the various Medicare
statutes, rules, regulations, and Manual instructions.  
  
 **Cosmetic Surgery**  
Cosmetic surgery is performed to reshape normal structures of the body to
improve the patient's appearance and self-esteem.  
  
As it regards a Medicare covered benefit the _Medicare Internet Only Manual
100-02 Chapter16 states:_  
Cosmetic surgery or expenses incurred in connection with such surgery is not
covered. Cosmetic surgery includes any surgical procedure directed at
improving appearance, except when required for the (i.e., as soon as medically
feasible) repair of accidental injury or for the improvement of the
functioning of a malformed body member. For example, this exclusion does not
apply to surgery in connection with treatment of severe burns or repair of the
face following a serious automobile accident, or to surgery for therapeutic
purposes which coincidentally also serves some cosmetic purpose.  
  
Surgery to correct congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma,
infections, tumors, or disease may be covered when the surgery is considered
reconstructive in nature.  
  
Cosmetic surgery performed purely for the purpose of enhancing one's
appearance is not eligible for coverage. Cosmetic surgery performed to treat
psychiatric or emotional problems is not covered.  
  
Corrective facial surgery will be considered cosmetic rather than
reconstructive when there is no functional impairment present.  
  
If a noncovered cosmetic surgery is performed in the same operative period as
a covered surgical procedure, benefits will be provided for the covered
surgical procedure only.  
  
Benefits may be provided for complications arising from cosmetic surgery. Such
complications include infection, hemorrhage, or other serious documented
medical complication.  
  
Payment may be made for the following procedures when performed for the
reasons indicated:  
  
**1\. Reduction Mammoplasty**  
Macromastia (also called breast hypertrophy) is an increase in the volume and
weight of breast tissue relative to the general body habitus. Macromastia may
adversely affect other body systems: such as musculoskeletal, respiratory, and
integument (skin). These symptoms include but are not necessarily limited to:

  1. Muscle strain such as backache, neck pain, shoulder pain and less often upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and/or headache;
  2. Problems associated with excess breast weight and brassiere support such as clavicular bra strap grooves;
  3. Hygiene problems such as intertrigo, exacerbation of acne in the folds underneath the breast and/or local hidradenitis supprativa refractory to usual medical care;
  4. Clearly demonstrated interference with normal activities of daily living as noted as noted by a breast specific questionnaire for ADLs;

Reduction mammoplasty is covered by Medicare when it is performed:

  1. To reduce the size of the hypertrophic breast(s) and reduce or alleviate symptoms caused by the breast hypertrophy, or
  2. To reduce the size of a normal breast to bring it into symmetry with a breast reconstructed after breast cancer surgery.

Non-surgical interventions preceding reduction mammoplasty should include **as
appropriate** , but are not limited to, the following:

  * Determining the macromastia is not due to an active endocrine or metabolic process
  * Determining the symptoms are refractory to appropriately fitted supporting garments, or following unilateral mastectomy, persistent with an appropriately fitted prosthesis or reconstruction therapy at the site of the absent breast.
  * Determining that dermatologic signs and/or symptoms are refractory to, or recurrent following, a completed course of medical management.

For Medicare purposes, a reasonable and necessary reduction mammoplasty may be
indicated in the presence of significantly enlarged breasts and the presence
of **at least two** of the following signs and/or symptoms when the breast
hypertrophy and the symptoms and signs have been present for at least six
months and have not responded to a reasonable non-surgical care program:

  * Upper back, shoulder and /or neck pain that appears to be directly correlated to the macromastia
  * Headache (cephalgia) when same can be directly attributed to the excessive breast weight and its effect on the neck and/or shoulders and other reasonable causes of a headache have been addressed/ruled out
  * Significant thoracic kyphosis which is felt to be directly correlated to the breast hypertrophy.
  * Chronic breast pain due to the excessive weight of the breasts.
  * Intertriginous maceration or infection of the inframammary skin refractory to usual dermatologic measures.
  * Shoulder grooving from supporting garment (bra strap).
  * Upper extremity paresthesia due to brachial plexus compressions syndrome secondary to the weight of the breasts being transferred to the shoulder strap area

The MAC understands that conservative measures are often not effective or
sustained however given the risks of surgery these measures should be
attempted for a reasonable period of time as some patients will respond and be
able to avoid surgery and the inherent surgical risks. Complications of
reduction mammaplasty surgery include but are not limited to:

  * Infection
  * Delayed wound healing
  * Wound dehiscence
  * Hematoma and/or seroma
  * Skin or nipple-areola necrosis
  * Fat necrosis
  * Cosmetic deformity
  * Unfavorable scarring
  * Alteration of nipple sensation
  * Thromboembolic complications (blood clots)
  * Inability to breast feed
  * Need for surgical revision
  * Need for physical therapy
  * Potential for anesthesia related complications

Considerable attention has been given to the amount of breast tissue removed
in differentiating between cosmetic and medically necessary reduction
mammoplasty. Evidence indicates that patients experience similar preoperative
breast hypertrophy related symptoms and similar postoperative symptom relief
after reduction mammaplasty regardless of resection volume  
  
In a prospective trial of 188 patients undergoing reduction mammaplasty for
macromastia related symptoms the degree of relief was not correlated with the
amount of breast volume removed. The surgeon must document in the clinical
records the amount of tissue reduction anticipated and the rationale on how
that amount was determined.  
  
Medicare coverage of reduction mammoplasty is limited to those circumstances
where the medical record supports medical necessity and reasonableness
criteria including:

  * The signs and/or symptoms have been present for at least six months
  * Medical treatment and/or physical interventions have not adequately alleviated symptoms
  * The patient has been informed of the risks of complications
  * The notes indicate the proposed amount of tissue to be removed and the rationale supporting that determination

Cosmetic surgery to reshape the breasts to improve appearance is not a
Medicare benefit. Cosmetic signs and/or symptoms would include ptosis, poorly
fitting clothing and beneficiary perception of unacceptable appearance.  
  
 **2\. Removal of Breast Implants**  
For a patient who has had an implant(s) placed for reconstructive or cosmetic
purposes, Medicare considers treatment of any one or more of the following
conditions to be medically necessary:

  * Broken or failed implant
  * Infection
  * Implant extrusion
  * Siliconoma or granuloma
  * Interference with diagnosis of breast cancer
  * Painful capsular contracture with disfigurement

**3\. Mastectomy for gynecomastia**  
Gynecomastia is the excessive growth of the male mammary glands. This
condition may cause significant clinical manifestations when the excessive
breast weight adversely affects the supporting structures of the shoulders,
neck, and trunk.  
  
Mastectomy with nipple preservation or reduction mammoplasty is considered
reconstructive and a covered service for males with gynecomastia Grade III and
IV or abnormal breast development with redundancy.  
  
American Society of Plastic Surgeons' gynecomastia scale:  
  

  * Grade II: Moderate breast enlargement exceeding areola boundaries with edges that are indistinct from the chest
  * Grade III: Moderate breast enlargement exceeding areola boundaries with edges that are indistinct from the chest with skin redundancy present
  * Grade IV: Marked breast enlargement with skin redundancy and feminization of the breast

  
**4\. Abdominal Lipectomy/Panniculectomy**  
Abdominal lipectomy/panniculectomy is surgical removal of excessive fat and
skin from the abdomen. When surgery is performed to alleviate such
complicating factors as inability to walk normally, chronic pain, ulceration
created by the abdominal skin fold, or intertrigal dermatitis, and the above
symptoms have been present for at least three months and are refractory to
usual standard medical therapy, such surgery may be considered reconstructive.
Preoperative photographs may be required to support justification and should
be supplied upon request.  
  
 **5\. Suction-Assisted Lipectomy**  
Suction-assisted lipectomy is a surgical procedure employing high vacuum
pressure to suction away localized collections of unwanted fat. When the
procedure is utilized to remove a lipoma, it is considered reconstructive
surgery. The clinical record must clearly demonstrate medical necessity for
the lipoma removal as most such tumors are benign and do not require removal.
All other uses are currently considered cosmetic in nature and non-covered  
  
 **6\. Dermabrasion**  
Coverage will be provided when correcting defects resulting from traumatic
injury, surgery, burns or disease. Dermabrasion following burn scarring is
usually accomplished in 3-4 treatments. If the results are not optimum, other
treatments may be undertaken. Dermabrasion performed post acne scarring is
classified as cosmetic and is not covered for payment.  
  
 **7\. Rhytidectomy**  
Coverage will be provided when functional impairment as a result of a disease
state exists (e.g., facial paralysis).  
  
 **8\. Blepharoplasty and Blepharoptosis**  
These procedures are addressed in a separate Noridian LCD.  
  
 **9\. Rhinoplasty**  
Nasal surgery is defined as any procedure performed on the external or
internal structures of the nose, septum, or turbinate. This surgery may be
performed to improve abnormal function, reconstruct congenital or acquired
deformities, or to enhance appearance. It generally involves rearrangement or
excision of the supporting bony and cartilaginous structures and incision or
excision of the overlying skin of the nose.  
  
 **10\. Cosmetic Nasal Surgery**  
Nasal surgery performed solely to improve the patient's appearance in the
absence of any signs and/or symptoms of functional abnormalities, should be
considered cosmetic in nature is noncovered under the Medicare Program.  
  
 **11\. Reconstructive Nasal Surgery**  
When nasal surgery, including rhinoplasty, is performed to improve nasal
respiratory function, correct anatomic abnormalities caused by birth defects
or disease, or revise structural deformities produced by trauma, the procedure
may be considered reconstructive.  
  
Reconstructive nasal surgery is generally directed to improve nasal
respiratory function (e.g., airway obstruction or stricture, synechia
formation); repair defects caused by trauma (e.g., nasoseptal deviation,
intranasal cicatrix, dislocated nasal bone fractures, turbinate hypertrophy);
treat congenital anatomic abnormalities (e.g., cleft lip nasal deformities,
choanal atresia, oronasal or oromaxillary fistula); treat nasal cutaneous
disease (e.g., rhinophyma, dermoid cyst); or to replace nasal tissue lost
after tumor ablative surgery.  
  
Compliance with the provisions in this policy is subject to monitoring by post
payment data analysis and subsequent medical review.