When we hear the term, “cosmetic surgery,” we often think of elective surgeries like breast augmentation, face lifts and tummy tucks. While these types of surgeries are almost always elective (meaning that the patient “elects” to have them and they’re not medically necessary), there are a number of cosmetic surgeries that are medically necessary when they are done for medical reasons. When a cosmetic surgery is performed for medical reasons, it is referred to as “functional surgery” as it improves the medical functioning of a particular organ—such as the eyes—in eyelid surgery (medically known as blepharoplasty).
Cosmetic vs. Functional
If you’re having eyelid surgery in Denver, you may be having it performed for cosmetic reasons such as to make droopy eyelids less droopy or to have loose skin or puffiness around the eyelids removed. Or, you may be having eyelid surgery in Denver for a functional reason to improve your peripheral vision or your ability to read or drive. In most cases, functional blepharoplasty is performed to remove heavy overhanging skin and fat from the upper eyelid if it droops low enough to impair your vision for driving and other everyday tasks.
Private insurance companies including United, Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Secure Horizons, and Humana have specific rules about how bad your eyes must be, and each of them will preauthorize upper eyelid surgery in advance when appropriate. In contrast, Medicare will not look at your case until after surgery, and so our office works hard to make sure that all the details are covered to document your problem. We will do our best to tell you in advance if you qualify under Medicare’s criteria for upper eyelid surgery. Neither Medicare nor the private insurers cover cosmetic surgery.
At the Fante Eye & Face Centre, Dr. Robert G. Fante performs eyelid surgeries on many patients each year for cosmetic reasons. Whether you’re hoping to fight the natural signs of aging, or “fix” something about the appearance of your eyes that you’ve never liked, you can have it done by the best in the business at the Fante Eye & Face Centre. As a board-certified cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Fante is a specialist in laser eyelid surgery, complex reconstruction around the eye, and facial cosmetic surgery, so you can rest assured that you’re in highly capable hands when you schedule eyelid surgery with Dr. Fante.
If you’d like to learn more about eyelid surgery in Denver, or if you’d like to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Robert Fante, please contact the Fante Eye & Face Centre today. Whether you’re having eyelid surgery performed for aesthetic or medical reasons, the cosmetic surgery team at the Fante Eye & Face Centre will be sure to get you the results you’re looking for.
