Minimizing Cosmetic Surgery Risk

One of the most common questions I'm asked by patients is if I have a complication from cosmetic surgery, does my medical insurance cover it? All surgery carries the risk of a complication, and cosmetic plastic surgery is no exception. The answer to this not infrequently asked question is maybe. Many major medical health insurance policies exclude treatment of a complication following elective aesthetic surgery even if it is medically necessary. So complications like bleeding, infection, drug reaction, and blood clots are uncommon, they do occur. At Tarrant Plastic Surgery, prevention of such complications begins with a thorough medical evaluation and careful patient selection and preparation. When appropriate, as dictated by factors like age or existing medical health issues, a medical clearance by your medical doctor may be deemed necessary prior to surgery. After a perspective patient's health is evaluated, the specifics of surgery need to be carefully considered. This includes the nature of the surgery, the duration of the surgery, and place of surgery. At Tarrant Plastic Surgery, we perform surgery under general anesthesia in certified surgical facilities with board certified anesthesiologists for both your safety and comfort. The final step to preventing surgical complications is close post-operative follow up. We at Tarrant Plastic Surgery provide frequent post-operative checks to monitor not only the aesthetic outcome, but also to minimize complications. Often, an early complication, such as minor bleeding or wound infection, can be treated with antibiotics, wound care, or close observation. When more significant issues arise, prompt testing and treatment may be required. And if your major medical insurance excludes coverage or if you do not have medical insurance, you may be left with medical costs. At Tarrant Plastic Surgery, we have recently partnered with a program called CosmetAssure to address this gap. CosmetAssure is a program that provides supplemental coverage for medical complications arising from elective cosmetic surgeries that occur within the first 30 days of the procedure. CosmetAssure is endorsed by the prestigious American Society of Plastic Surgeons of which Dr. Rumalla's a member. The coverage is provided to patients undergoing eligible cosmetic surgery procedures without any additional fees or charges to them. For example, if a patient has some unilateral, one-sided leg swelling on post-operative day number three, a deep venous thrombosis, or a blood clot in the leg may be suspected. At Tarrant Plastic Surgery, we would order a venous duplex to evaluate this leg. CosmetAssure would provide the coverage for this expense. Finally, to remove confusion, if you are having a procedure which is covered by your health insurance plan, like breast or skin cancer reconstruction, then your major medical insurance would cover any complication arising from those surgeries. To reiterate, elective cosmetic surgery is extremely safe. But we at Tarrant Plastic Surgery wanted to take the extra precautionary step at giving you more peace of mind. Make sure you ask your cosmetic surgeon if he or she participates in CosmetAssure and learn more about the program, including its terms, exclusions, and limitations at their website.