Cosmetic surgery clients often wonder what type of examinations they need prior to undergoing eyelid surgery. It’s important for your surgeon to give you a physical examination to fully understand your expectations, your anatomy, and any current health issues before any cosmetic surgery procedure. Before eyelid surgery, the same considerations apply. A detailed assessment of your eye and eyelid health should be performed in advance of eyelid surgery. This information is essential for your surgeon to understand your eye health and how it might be affected by eyelid surgery.
Insurance coverage for eyelid surgery
Insurance companies including Medicare have significantly restricted which eyelid procedures they will cover. In the past, coverage was much more generous; now coverage is greatly limited. Even functionally significant issues may be denied. Many of our patients, upon investigating co-pays and deductibles are surprised to learn that, in some cases, they actually save money by paying out-of-pocket for certain eyelid procedures as cosmetic surgery. Every situation is different, but it’s worth researching the charges you will be responsible for if you use applicable health insurance. It can sometimes be less expensive to pay for your procedure out-of-pocket because often, the rates for medically necessary surgery are much higher than the cosmetic rates. This difference can be particularly acute if you have a high-deductible insurance policy and you have not met your deductible limits. If your issue is not medically necessary, convincing your doctor to submit a false insurance claim is a crime. Just because you know someone who had eyelid surgery covered by health insurance, don’t assume you have the same issues.
Finding a highly qualified eyelid surgeon
The best course of action is to seek care from a fellowship-trained oculoplastic surgeon. Oculoplastic surgeons are board-certified ophthalmologists who have completed a two-year fellowship in eyelid and facial plastic surgery. They have the necessary experience and equipment to examine you and document your issues. If your problem requires surgery to help improve you quality of life and likely covered by health insurance, your oculoplastic surgeon will inform you of this. On the contrary, if it is not covered, please respect the surgeon’s opinion. For a list of names of qualified oculoplastic surgeons in your area, visit ASOPRS.org. This is the website for the American Society for Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and it features a geographic directory.
Cosmetic eyelid surgery
As with any surgical procedure, elective or otherwise, it’s important to find a surgeon who will perform an appropriate consultation. If you’re undergoing revisional surgery with a new surgeon, one who did not perform the original surgery, bringing pre-surgery photographs and any medical records to your examination will help your new surgeon create a treatment plan that will result in the changes you desire. The new surgeon may ask that you release you prior medical records for review before your visit.
About Dr. Steinsapir
Dr. Steinsapir is a board certified eye surgeon and fellowship-trained in oculoplastic surgery and cosmetic surgery in Los Angeles where he specializes in balanced facial cosmetic surgery for natural results, with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques, fast recovery time, and leadership in medical technology. Dr. Steinsapir has a private practice and also serves as an Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Contact us today to learn how Dr. Steinsapir’s experience and training make him an expert in cosmetic surgery, which can be a vital part of your evidence-based treatment plan.
