A breast lift is a popular cosmetic procedure. Women choose to get breast lifts for a wide variety of reasons ranging from age-related to pregnancy-related to pain-related. Whatever the reason, women who undergo the procedure consistently report a boost in self-confidence. With such positive reviews for the surgery, one would imagine that any woman interested in it would get the procedure without hesitation. Unfortunately, the cost of the procedure can sometimes be a significant deterrent. If you are considering a breast lift, you have likely wondered if there are options for subsidizing the cost of your lift. More specifically, you may have questioned, “Can insurance cover a breast lift?” Today, we explain the connection between insurance coverage and breast lift surgery so you can understand how to finance your procedure.
Clarification on Breast Procedures
To adequately explain the coverage that is available for breast lifts, it is important to have a clear understanding of what a breast lift is. Specifically, we went to clarify the distinction between breast lifts and other breast procedures because each will have different insurance coverage available.
Many people understandably confuse a breast lift with breast augmentation. A breast lift is a procedure that removes excess skin and tightens the remaining breast skin, typically for the purpose of making a downward-facing nipple point out instead. This procedure does not change the overall size of the breasts. Breast augmentation, on the other hand, is a surgery that specifically intends to increase the size of the breasts. This procedure involves a fat graft or implant, which will be sized depending on how much larger the patient wants their breasts to become.
Can Insurance Cover a Breast Lift?
Unfortunately, the majority of patients who seek a breast lift will not have it covered by their insurance. Insurance companies generally cover procedures that are considered “medically necessary,” and most breast lifts do not fall into this category. Rather, breast lifts are usually performed for reasons categorized as cosmetic by insurance companies.
Still, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, a breast lift may be considered medically necessary if it is part of the breast reconstruction process after treating breast cancer.
A breast lift may also be deemed medically necessary if the lift is being performed to relieve severe pain. Excessively sagging breasts can create neck, back, or shoulder pain. In this case, you will need to meticulously document the effect of your sagging breasts on your health and make a case to explain why the surgery is necessary to relieve the symptoms. This documentation will need to include the type of pain, level of pain, and location of the pain. It will also need to be cosigned by a medical professional. They will likely begin treatment with a conservative treatment plan that you will need to adhere to. If the conservative treatment plan does not work, you can then begin the process of requesting pre-authorization for the surgery.
Financing Your Breast Lift
If you cannot get your insurance company to provide coverage for your breast lift, there are several options to help you finance the surgery.
Flexible Spending Accounts
It is important to do your due diligence if you plan to use your flexible spending account (FSA) to cover the cost of a breast lift. An FSA is an account that allows employees to set aside pre-tax dollars for certain medical expenses. If your insurance provider has denied coverage for your breast lift, you may still be able to use your FSA to pay for it. Contact your FSA administrator and get clearance before using these funds.
Third-Party Financing
Several third-party companies are available to help finance your breast lift. To follow this option, you will need to pass a credit check and go through an approval process. If you have good credit and a clear financial history, you can get fairly good interest rates. If you use a third-party lender to cover the cost of your breast lift, you will need to submit monthly payments to repay the funds.
Personal Savings or Credit Cards
If you are unable to get loans from external lenders, you can always use your savings or credit card to pay for breast lift surgery. Many patients save up for the procedure so they are prepared to cover the cost when the time arises. If you have a low-interest credit card, that is also a viable option to cover the cost of your procedure.
Breast Lift in Beverly Hills
If you are interested in having a breast lift procedure, contact the top female plastic surgeon at Elise Min Plastic Surgery today!
