Medically necessary services are generally services that are provided to enhance one’s quality of life, physical or emotional functioning, and promote adequate development throughout the lifespan. These services should be provided only after individualized assessment of each person’s needs by a physician, or otherwise qualified professional, and the least intensive and intrusive services necessary to achieve the desired outcome should be the services that are provided.

With specific regards to plastic surgery, any procedure conducted with the primary intention of improving appearance is generally not considered medically necessary, unless it can be documented that a specific disfigurement is directly impacting the quality of one’s life. Plastic surgery procedures that are conducted to improve functioning that happen to result in improved appearance, however, can be considered medically necessary. For example, if excess scar tissue is impairing movement or causing pain, the removal of this scar tissue can be considered medically necessary to improve functioning, yet will most likely also result in an improvement in appearance. Other surgical procedures that are generally considered medically necessary are the removal of tumors, dermabrasion to improve deep scaring, rhinoplasty to improve a sinus condition, and reconstructive surgery. Breast reductions that are conducted to alleviate back and neck pain should also be covered as medically necessary under most health plans that cover reconstructive surgery.

To ensure that a plastic surgery procedure will be covered as medically necessary, there are several precautionary measures that the consumer can take. First, it is important for the consumer to identify whether his or her insurance coverage falls under state or federal regulations regarding reconstructive surgery. This can be done with a simple phone call to the insurance provider. Once this is done, the consumer can research the legal requirements regarding plastic surgery for their insurance provider. Generally state laws require more coverage than federal laws do, although current legislation being passed through the House and the Senate is intended to legally require all insurance companies to cover reconstructive surgery, and to create a more comprehensive and clear definition of the difference between reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery.

To find the legal requirements regarding reconstructive surgery in each state, click here. This website generally discusses breast reconstructive surgery, but the laws outlined here should apply to all types of reconstructive surgery. Once the consumer understands what is covered in his or her insurance policy, then he or she can go to a practitioner who specializes in the specific surgery or procedure. It is important to ensure that the medical professionals evaluating the necessity of the procedure take careful documentation, including pictures when appropriate, to send into the health insurance company for approval. Once all of the necessary documents and medical referral for surgery are sent in to the insurance company, the insurance company will decide whether to approve or deny coverage. If coverage is denied, then the consumer can request a re-evaluation of the case and use documentation of state and federal law along with physician reports to support their request.  If the procedure indeed falls within the terms of coverage and the state and federal laws regarding coverage, then the recommended surgery should be covered.

Cosmetic procedures for men are gaining popularity.  While millions of people have some kind of cosmetic surgery every year, cosmetic surgery by women still far outnumbers the amount of procedures done on men. What the procedures seem to have in common, however, is that the most popular cosmetic surgeries performed on both genders are similar although they may rank differently.

The most common surgical cosmetic procedure for men is liposuction, but the most common procedure among men for purely cosmetic purposes is currently nose reshaping, better known as rhinoplasty. While botox injections seemed to be the most popular in 2007, nose reshaping has now taken over as the number one procedure for men with 75,000 men having this procedure done in 2008. Liposuction for men however is on the rise, moving up from the sixth most popular procedure overall in 2007 to the third most popular in 2008. Microdermabrasion, which is the removal of or lessening of dark spots or scars on the skin as well as the removal of sun damaged skin, was the third most popular cosmetic surgery among men in 2007, but is no longer in the top five.

Eyelid surgery has also become one of the most common procedures among men, with 31,000 men choosing this type of cosmetic surgery in 2008. While the cosmetic procedure of laser hair removal is still a popular one as well, it has declined since it had been the number two most common procedure performed on men in 2007 and was no longer in the top five in 2008.

18,000 men opted to have breast reduction surgery in 2008, making this the fourth most popular cosmetic surgery for men. Hyaluronic Acid, which is more commonly known as wrinkle smoothing, had been the fourth most popular in 2007 but has declined in number as well.

Hair transplantation had 13,000 men undergoing this procedure in 2008, making this the fifth most common cosmetic procedure for men. The removal of skin imperfections, better known as IPL laser treatment, was number five on the list in 2007, but other cosmetic surgeries have knocked this off of the top five list too.

Cosmetic procedures among men are on the rise, and leading the way in these types of surgeries are Asian-American men. This is the fastest growing ethnic group in the industry, with the most typical male in this group being in their forties.

For men considering any type of cosmetic surgery it is important to find a surgeon that is certified in their area of expertise by an appropriate board. The board should be recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Seeing your regular physician is also something that is recommended to make sure there are no predisposing characteristics that may increase the risk of any complications that could be caused from the result of the surgery.

The most common cosmetic procedures for men seem to change from year to year, but it appears liposuction has remained one of the most popular for a few years now. With more men getting different procedures done every day, it ‘s hard to tell what the most popular of these cosmetic surgeries will be in the future, but one thing is certain….More men are undergoing some type of cosmetic surgery than ever before.

Many teens seek plastic surgery as a way to improve their appearances and elevate their confidence levels, but how safe is it?

Plastic surgery has become more and more popular.  The ability to change yourself at will is tempting, particularly if you’re not happy with your appearance.  It used to be only Hollywood celebrities who could afford plastic surgery and who used it to recapture their youth or enhance certain features of their bodies. These days it’s not just celebrities who turn to plastic surgery; women, moms, grandmothers and men are turning to surgery to fix and improve their appearances as well.  In some cases, teens are asking for plastic surgery and getting their wish.

Plastic surgery isn’t cheap, it can be very expensive to the average person, and paying a lot of money to change something about yourself has its way of paying off. But how much is too far when it comes to teens? Should they be allowed to have plastic surgery? These questions probe at teens who are under the age of 18 and are not considered adults. A person that is 18 or 19, but still considered a teen can do as they wish and this isn’t the issue.Teens under those ages feel that they need to look perfect in the eyes of everyone and many are not happy with themselves.

Many feel that under the age of 18 is drawing the line where surgery is too young, but many parents and their teens feel differently. The infamous Pennsylvania trial awarding a family 20 million dollars after their 18 year old daughter was killed during liposuction may be changing the minds of parents and teens alike. Plenty of teens are turning to plastic surgery the summer before they go to college with enough time to recover and a new them to display to their future college friends. But a word of caution has been leaked with the Pennsylvania case.
People don’t always fully take in and understand the risks of liposuction, but one girl and her family had to pay from a pulmonary embolism after her surgery causing her death. This effect could cause individuals to re-think what it is they want done and if it’s worth the risks.

Breast enhancements have always been popular with the American culture and it’s very common. You’re neighbor and even your mother could have them or plan on getting them in the future. The idea of wanting to be ideal and that having large breasts has taken hold of many women. Teens even feel the need to get them done.

Surgeons suggest not getting them until the age of 18 where it’s safer and saline implants would be put in. At the age of 22 it would it be best to get gel implants. Plenty of doctors would not risk putting breast implants in until a female has reached the age of 18. But for some teens this isn’t soon enough. Most procedures can be done with parental or guardian permission; however some surgeries are too major that doctors deny the work.

Liposuction and rhinoplasty are very popular procedures among teens. Liposuction removing excess fat is usually discouraged if under 18 and exercise and a healthy diet being encourage instead. Liposuction as mentioned above is very risky, as is any kind of surgery. Rhinoplasty involves enhancing the appearance of a person’s nose whether there is anything wrong with someone’s septum or not.

These procedures appear simple and safe, with little risk; however that’s not the case. Caution should be strongly used when deciding to get surgery for you or your teen.

Plastic surgery has long been thought to be a luxury for people with means. Nose jobs, tummy tucks, face lifts, and breast augmentations have long been viewed as the fodder of Beverly Hills elite and the general fare for most plastic surgeons. But, should all plastic surgery be pigeon-holed as nothing more than extreme vanity?

In most cases, the overwhelming answer to this question is no. Plastic surgeons play a vital and critical role in legitimate medicine. Without the services that these surgeons provide, many children with cleft palates would not survive; victims of terrible and unfortunate accidents may suffer long term disabilities and preventable deformities.

While it is true that many of the services provided by a plastic surgeon are considered elective procedures, in reality, many cases are not. Rhinoplasty is generally viewed by most as a simple vanity procedure, but to a patient with severe sleep apnea due to a deviated septum, the corrective procedure can add years and quality to the patient’s life. A facelift at first may not appear to be a necessary procedure, but to a burn victim who only has 20% vision because the skin is covering a large portion of the field of vision, a corrective facelift can mean better vision and a better chance of resuming a normal life.

Children who suffer from many different types of birth defects benefit from the specialized skills of a plastic surgeon. Cleft palates and many other birth defects are corrected in such a manner that, except for a small scar, they look and function just like any other child.

Adults also benefit from such procedures, boosting both self esteem and societal productivity. Men and women alike perform better in both their personal and professional lives when they foster a healthy self esteem.

In some extreme cases, plastic surgery can actually be considered an alternate psychological therapy. There have been cases where plastic surgery has actually helped patients overcome severe and disabling anxiety stemming from a deep rooted embarrassment of specific physical features.

No matter the reason, plastic surgery has a legitimate place in modern medicine. The highly specialized skills that a practiced plastic surgeon brings to the table are unparalleled by any other surgical specialty. The impact that a plastic surgeon can have on a patient’s quality of life is often overlooked by the general public, who tend to categorize all plastic surgery as vanity surgery.