reconstructive surgery Archives - Tarola Plastic Surgery

Is plastic surgery covered by insurance?

One question we receive nearly 100% of the time when meeting with new clients is “will my insurance cover this procedure?” The short answer to that question is both yes AND no. Cosmetic procedures are a no, reconstructive procedures are a yes.

When the plastic surgery procedure is being performed for cosmetic reasons, insurance will not be involved. However, when the surgery is necessary for reconstructive purposes, insurance may partially or fully cover the procedure. Plastic surgery procedures that may be covered by insurance often include breast reconstructive (after a masectomy), tummy tuck surgery (for gastric bypass patients) and eyelid surgery (to correct vision problems).

Kick the smoking habit before your procedure

Did you know that smoking can impede the healing process after a plastic surgery procedure? That’s right, for the best possible outcome after your surgery it’s best to kick the habit to the curb. Surgeons at the University of Texas found that women smokers who underwent breast reconstruction after cancer surgery had higher rates of necrosis – tissue death – at the edges of the skin flaps near the wound site. Toxins in cigarette smoke impede wound healing and also have an adverse effect on the circulation. Any operation where there is injury to large flaps of skin poses a problem to smokers, because wound healing could be impeded.

At Tarola Plastic Surgery we’d advise to give up smoking for at least four (4) weeks after your surgery to help minimize complications. In some cases, since such operations are not usually medical emergencies, doctors may even refuse to go ahead with the surgery until the patient quits smoking.

What are my options if I’m not satisfied with the outcome of my procedure?

This can vary tremendously depending on the circumstance. For example, it can depend on whether the surgery was covered by insurance or completely cosmetic with money out-of-pocket. It also depends on why the patient is dissatisfied. With cosmetic procedures, surgeons will often not charge for any revisions necessary to repair or correct a complication. However, the patient may incur additional facility or anesthesia fees. These issues are dealt with on a case by case basis but we usually try to accommodate our patients to the best of our ability.

16-Year Comparison of Surgical Procedures from 1997-2012

In the past 16 years, there was a 360% increase in the number of tummy tucks performed in the United States. From 1997 – 2012, there was more than a 540% increase in the number of breast lift procedures.

1997 in blue
2012 in red

Breast Augmentation – 101,176 – 330,631
Lipoplasty (liposuction) – 176,863 – 313,011
Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) – 34,002 – 156,508
Blepharoplasty (cosmetic eyelid surgery) – 159,232 – 153,171
Rhinoplasty – 137,053 – 143,801

Statistics courtesy of American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Top 5 Procedures in 2012: Surgical and Nonsurgical

Top 5 surgical procedures in 2012

Breast augmentation – 330,631
Lipoplasty (liposuction) – 313,011
Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) – 156,508
Blepharoplasty (cosmetic eyelid surgery) – 153,171
Rhinoplasty – 143,801

Top 5 nonsurgical procedures in 2012

Botulinum Toxin Type A (including Botox and Dysport) – 3,257,913
Hyaluronic Acid (including Juvederm, Perlane/Restylane, Belotero, Prevelle, Elevess) – 1,423,705
Laser hair removal – 883,893
Microdermabrasion – 498,821
Chemical Peel – 443,824

Quick Facts

Hyaluronic Acid injectables (including Hyalform, Juvederm, Perlane/ Restylane) have quickly been gaining in popularity. ASAPS added Hyaluronic Acid to the survey in 2004, and in 2012 these procedures are only 2nd in popularity to Botox.
For the second year in a row this survey asked the doctors for the total number of non-surgical procedures being performed in their practices by BOTH physicians and their physician assistants and nurse injectors. The TOTAL number of procedures performed in the practices surveyed: Botulinum Toxin Type A (4,125,179); Hyaluronic Acid (1,806,806); Laser Hair Removal (1,224,920);and Chemical Peel (718,465); and Microdermabrasion (672,430).
When procedures performed by physician assistants and nurse injectors are included, the total number of cosmetic surgical and nonsurgical procedures performed in the United States in 2012 increases to over 12.6 million.

Statistics courtesy of American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery