Tag Brent Moelleken MD

A breast lift is a medical procedure that alters the shape and size of one’s breasts. These procedures can be incredibly affirming and are widely popular among plastic surgery patients. However, because the vast majority of breast lifts are not considered medically necessary, it can be difficult to get these procedures covered by your insurance policy. Knowing the cases in which insurance will cover a breast lift can help you determine whether you want to pursue the treatment. If you are considering getting a breast lift, read this guide, which answers the question, “Does insurance cover the breast lift procedure?”.

What Is a Breast Lift Procedure?

A breast lift is a cosmetic procedure that changes the shape and size of one’s breasts for either aesthetic or medical reasons. A breast lift is one of the most popular plastic surgery operations and has the potential to completely revamp a patient’s appearance.

Reasons for Receiving a Breast Lift

There are many reasons that an individual might decide to receive a breast lift. Some of the more common reasons individuals seek out this treatment include:

• Adjusting the breasts after pregnancy
• Adjusting the breasts after weight loss
• Simple aging
• Cosmetic repair after treating breast cancer

Most patients who are interested in receiving a breast lift will qualify. Still, you can discuss your eligibility for the procedure with your physician in a consultation prior to receiving any work.

Does Insurance Cover the Breast Lift Procedure?

In most cases, insurance companies will not decide to cover the breast lift procedure because breast lifts are not typically considered medically necessary. Instead, they are usually classified as cosmetic procedures. Still, many different factors influence an insurance provider’s decision to cover the cost of breast insurance. Sometimes, an insurer will decide to cover a procedure if the patient and physician are able to prove the medical necessity of the procedure. For instance, your insurance may cover a breast lift if you have severe ptosis of the breasts that leads to pain in the back, neck, or shoulders.

If you can get your physician or provider to write a note of medical necessity for your procedure, your chances of having insurance cover it will increase significantly.

Steps to Getting Your Procedure Covered

There are steps you can take to attempt to prove the medical necessity of your procedure and to have the cost covered by insurance. The following can assist you in proving to an insurance provider that you should have your breast lift procedure covered:

• Receive a medical necessity letter from your physician
• Gather evidence of medical necessity in the form of photographs and other documents
• Submit a pre-authorization request from your insurance company
• Follow up with your insurance company while they deliberate
• Consider appealing if your initial request is denied

Thoroughly documenting the evidence you need to prove medical necessity can be a challenging but not impossible process. Your physician should be able to help you strategize ways to have your procedure covered. Follow their advice to simplify this complex process.

Other Financing Options for a Breast Lift

There are other ways to finance your breast lift outside of having insurance cover it. Some of the common ways to do this include:

• Credit: Many patients turn to credit cards to pay for their breast lift procedures. Keep the interest rates of such cards in mind when considering this option so you do not find yourself in financial trouble.
•  Personal Loans: Many patients finance their procedures by procuring a personal loan from a bank.
•  Specialty Financing: Certain specialty financing programs cater to supplying funds for individual medical procedures. You may benefit from researching such programs.

All said, if you can convince an insurance provider that your breast lift procedure is medically necessary, you will save enormous amounts of time and money. Even if you doubt the likelihood of your insurance provider covering a breast lift, take the time to request coverage from your insurance provider. At worst, you can still pay for the procedure yourself, and at best, you will have saved yourself from a potentially immense financial burden.

The Best Choice in Southern California

Dr. Brent is a board-certified plastic surgeon operating out of Santa Barbara and Beverly Hills. If you are considering a breast lift and want to discuss it with an esteemed professional, contact Dr. Brent today.

Moles are a common occurrence on the skin of many individuals. Most of the time, moles are aesthetic marks on the skin that are not indicative of any serious medical situation. However, misshapen, large, or roughly textured moles can indicate the presence of skin cancer in the body. In this case, mole removal is essential for preserving the health of a patient, and can even be lifesaving. If you have a mole that you worry might be cancerous, take a look at this guide that can help you determine whether you should see a doctor about your mole to talk about mole removal. 

What Are Moles? 

Moles are a common skin growth that can occur on any part of the skin. Most moles are benign and present no threat to one’s health. Moles can change in appearance over time, and can also disappear gradually. Changes in the appearance of a mole may indicate the presence of cancer.

Why Do Moles Develop? 

A mole develops when the cells in the body, known as melanocytes, begin to form in clusters. These types of cells are more often normally spread evenly throughout the skin, with the purpose of producing melanin, which can give skin its color. In most cases, the development of a mole is not considered cause for alarm, and most people have moles at least somewhere on their skin.

When To See a Doctor About a Mole

There are some changes to the appearance of a mole that should be watched closely, as they may indicate that a mole has become cancerous and needs to be removed. Common symptoms in this regard include:

• Changes in color: Moles that change colors, have an uneven color distribution, or contain many colors may be cancerous.
• Asymmetry: Most normal moles are symmetrical. An extremely asymmetrical mole can sometimes indicate an abnormality.
• Evolving: Moles that change in shape or size too rapidly to be considered normal should also be eye suspiciously. In addition, you should take note of whether your mole is consistently itchy or begins bleeding.
• Changing border: Moles that have irregular borders, notched borders, or roughly textured borders may also indicate cancer.
• Large diameter: Moles that are larger than ¼ inch in diameter may be cancerous.

Not every malignant mole will display all of the above characteristics. Inspection by a medical professional is required to determine the malignancy or benign nature of any mole.

Complicating Factors

 Everyone’s skin is different, and therefore, the study of melanoma and moles can be highly personal. For example, there are many individuals with dozens or even hundreds of freckles and moles that do not ever become cancerous.

 Staying aware of these complicating factors is essential for both patient and doctor as you work together to produce the most accurate portrait of one’s health. Keep an eye out for these other complicating factors:

• Being born with moles that are unusually shaped, without being malignant
• Being born with large moles from birth
• Naturally having many moles on the skin
• Being from a family where skin cancer is common
• Using tanning beds or excessively sun tanning

The above are just examples of some of the factors that can impact the development of moles on one’s skin, as well as the risk factor that one or more of them might become cancerous.

Protecting Your Skin and Lowering the Risk of Cancer

There are a number of steps that you can take to protect your skin and any moles you might have to help prevent them from becoming cancerous. Some of the following are considered best practices: 

• Avoid excessive sun exposure, especially during the peak hours of the day
• Use sunscreen when you’re going to spend lots of time outside
• Wear protective clothing if you’re spending extended time outside
• Avoid using tanning lamps and tanning beds

The above advice is doubly recommended if a patient comes from a family with a history of skin cancer or has had cancerous moles in the past. If this is the case for you, you should consider receiving annual check-ups from a dermatologist to examine your skin for signs of skin cancer.

Your Best Resource for Mole Removal

Dr. Brent is a board-certified plastic surgeon who routinely delivers high-quality procedures for individuals in Southern California and beyond. If you have a mole that you are concerned about and would like removed, contact Dr. Brent today to discuss your options.