Plastic Surgery News

Will My Plastic Surgery Be Covered by Insurance?

The prospect of undergoing cosmetic plastic surgery can be very exciting.  Everyone has individual areas of concern that can make them self-conscious about their appearance, and the chance to finally address and correct those issues generally fills people with joy.  Unfortunately, this can sometimes make it easy to forget that cosmetic plastic surgery is also an investment and that a little financial planning might be necessary in order to make everything come together.  Perhaps that is why one of the most frequently asked questions we hear from our Atlanta Plastic Surgery patients is whether or not their plastic surgery procedure will be covered by their health insurance.  At Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C., we make every effort to work with our patients at every stage of their plastic surgery journey to help them meet their individual aesthetic goals, and we know that the answer to this question is often more complicated than many people might think.

Options for Customized Breast ReconstructionThe primary reason why people are unsure whether plastic surgery can be covered by health insurance is because the rules tend to change on a case by case basis.  Take, for example, the distinction between reconstructive and cosmetic procedures.  Most of the procedures that repair damage caused by injury or disease, like facial reconstruction after a car accident or breast reconstruction after a mastectomy for the treatment of breast cancer, will be covered by most health insurance providers.  However, even the rules governing coverage of reconstructive procedures have changed a number of times in recent years for certain providers, so every patient should understand the details of his or her own insurance plan.  For the purposes of reconstructive plastic surgery, all of the Atlanta Plastic Surgery surgeons currently accept Aetna®, Tricare®, Blue Cross Blue Shield® (BCBS), Humana®, Kaiser Permanente®, and Piedmont-WellStar.  Some of our physicians are also contracted with other insurance companies, like Cigna® or UnitedHealthcare® (UHC), on an individual contract basis as well.  Note, however, that this list is subject to change and while all of these insurance companies are accepted, not all physicians are considered in-network for all plans, so this is no guarantee that a specific procedure will be covered.

On the other hand, cosmetic procedures that provide only aesthetic benefits and that are not medically necessary, like a breast augmentation or face lift procedure, will almost never be covered by insurance.  In rare cases, however, exceptions can sometimes occur.  For example, breast reduction surgery, which is typically considered a cosmetic procedure, may be covered in specific instances where size and weight of the breasts is causing severe back pain.  It is important to understand that the various insurance laws and requirements are subject to frequent changes, and every insurance provider offers a variety of different plans, so the determination of coverage will ultimately be made by each provider on a case-by-case basis.  This is why it is so important that you discuss with your individual Atlanta Plastic Surgery physician whether or not they can accept your specific insurance plan and whether your plan will cover the procedure you want.  Even though Atlanta Plastic Surgery will happily assist patients in contacting their insurance companies, it is up to the individual to understand the specific details of their plan.

Finally, in cases where insurance will not cover your procedure, Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. also offers several plastic surgery financing options through either the Care Credit® or Alphaeon™ financing programs.  These will allow you to establish a line of credit that can then be used on virtually anything from minimally-invasive anti-aging procedures to full body contouring plastic surgery and more.  During your plastic surgery consultation we can discuss all the options that are available and work with you to find the one that best suits your individual needs.  If you are interested in learning more about any of the cosmetic plastic surgery procedures we perform or the financing options that we can provide, please contact Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. to schedule an appointment for a full plastic surgery consultation.  Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest plastic surgery news.

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Important Things to Consider before Breast Augmentation

Last month, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons released their annual cosmetic plastic surgery statistics, and it came as no surprise that breast augmentations (commonly known as “boob jobs”) remain the most frequently performed form of cosmetic plastic surgery in the United States.  Because the popularity of breast augmentation surgery is so widespread, people sometimes mistakenly believe that the procedure is simple and straightforward.  This is not the case.  In fact, one of the reasons why breast augmentation is so popular is because it is so versatile.  Every woman has her own individual goals and requirements, and the procedure can be modified in a variety of ways to customize it to the specific needs of the patient.  Enhancing the appearance of the breasts requires a bit of pre-planning, and there are several important choices that you will need to make before your breast augmentation procedure.

Important Things to Consider before Breast Augmentation

Choosing Your Breast Implants

Every breast augmentation patient understands that they will have to choose the size of their breast implants, and many look forward to “trying on” different sizes to see which gives them the look they want.  Deciding on the appropriate implant size often depends on the patient’s body frame, original breast size, shoulder width, as well as their height and weight, but the choices don’t end there.  Breast implants can also be filled with either a fluid silicone or sterile saline solution, and while the former is more popular, some women prefer saline implants because they can be inserted into the breast pocket while they are empty and then filled after they are inside, requiring smaller incisions and potentially leaving smaller scars.  Additionally, tear-drop shaped breast implants and cohesive “gummy bear” implants have both become very popular alternatives to traditional round breast implants.  Women can even choose between implants with a smooth or textured outer surface.  Each of these choices will affect how the breasts will ultimately look and feel and can, in some cases, even affect recovery time or the chance for complications. During a consultation, one of our Atlanta plastic surgeons will go over the pros and cons of each implant type so that you can together determine which is right for you.

Deciding on a Surgical Approach

Not only are there many different kinds of breast implants, but there are also many different ways to perform the breast augmentation procedure itself.  Surgical incisions, for example, are typically made in the fold underneath the breast, where they are easily concealed, but can also be made in the armpit, in the navel, or even around the areola, depending on the anatomy and the skin laxity of the patient.  A patient will also need to decide whether to have her breast implants placed above or below the pectoral (chest) muscles, and there are distinct advantages and disadvantages to both positions.  Like the choice of implant, these decisions will ultimately affect the look and feel of the breasts, the appearance of any scars, and the likelihood of breast surgery complications.  So it is extremely important that you carefully discuss these choices during your plastic surgery consultation with your surgeon so you can select the options that best suit your individual anatomy and medical history.

If you have further questions about breast augmentation, or about any of the other facial rejuvenation, breast, or body contouring procedures that we perform, please contact Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. to schedule a consultation.  Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ to get all the latest plastic surgery news.

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The Top Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Trends of 2017

One of the main reasons why Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. has remained among the premier cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery centers in the Southeast for the past fifty years is because we work hard to stay current with all the latest advancements and trends in the field.  One of the ways we do this is by maintaining a close connection with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (or ASPS), the largest plastic surgery specialty organization in the world.  Each year, the ASPS compiles detailed statistics on the number of various plastic surgery procedures performed in the United States.  By examining this information, the board-certified plastic surgeons at Atlanta Plastic Surgery can gain valuable insights that can help us provide our patients with advanced technologies and the most effective plastic surgery options.  The annual plastic surgery statistic report tracks trends in both surgical and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures.

The Top Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Trends of 2017

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Procedures: Growing Popularity of Breast Reduction and Tummy Tucks

For the most part, statistics on cosmetic plastic surgery procedures remained relatively unchanged in 2017.  Overall, the popularity of cosmetic plastic surgery rose by about 2% and breast augmentation procedures (otherwise known as boob jobs) remained the most frequently performed.  However, there were a few interesting surprises.  After a 4% decline in 2016, the number of breast reduction procedures performed dramatically increased by 11% in 2017, making this one of the top five fastest growing procedures.  Similarly, tummy tucks, which slipped from the top five most popular cosmetic surgical procedures in 2016, have rebounded their way back 2017.  This rise in the popularity of both breast reduction and tummy tuck procedures represents a general move towards more subtle, natural looking body contouring that has become a growing trend in recent years.

Cosmetic Minimally Invasive Procedures: Increasing Focus on the Body Contouring and Fat Reduction

Facial rejuvenation treatments like Botox® cosmetic injections, soft tissue fillers, and chemical peels remained the three most popular minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures in 2017.  However, the year has seen a dramatic increase in the popularity of non-invasive body sculpting and fat reduction as well.  Specifically, procedures that use special technology to “freeze” away fat without surgery (commercially known as CoolSculpting®) increased by 7%, treatments that use infrared lasers or high-frequency radio waves to eliminate cellulite or fat increased 19%, and skin tightening procedures that use targeted injections to liquefy fat and tighten sagging areas increased 9%.  Fat transfer, an incredibly versatile technique that uses small amounts of fat removed from a patient’s own body via liposuction to add volume to specific areas, continued to increase significantly in popularity as well.

Every individual patient is unique and trends in cosmetic plastic surgery are constantly changing, but the board certified plastic surgeons at Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. have years of experience working with patients to determine what procedures will give them the most benefit and help them achieve the best possible plastic surgery results.  If you are interested in learning more about any of the cosmetic plastic surgery procedures we perform, please contact Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. to schedule an appointment for a full plastic surgery consultation.  Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest plastic surgery news.

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Treatments to Delay the Effects of Facial Aging

No matter what we may do, like it or not aging is something that we will all eventually have to face.  However, ever since Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. was first founded back in 1968, our board-certified plastic surgeons have helped thousands of men and women from all around the world avoid some of the more noticeable effects of aging with a variety of facial rejuvenation and cosmetic plastic surgery procedures.  Although no procedure can completely and permanently halt the aging process, we have found that certain advanced techniques and technology can help keep you looking young longer by effectively “pressing the pause button,” minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while delaying the point at which more comprehensive facial plastic surgery procedures, like a facelift, may become necessary.  Particularly useful in this regard are injectable cosmetic treatments, like Botox®, and facial fillers like Juvéderm® or Restylane®.

Treatments to Delay the Effects of Facial Aging

Most of the symptoms that are commonly associated with facial aging result from the gradual loss of skin elasticity and fat volume.  Youthful, healthy skin constantly produces collagen and elastin, natural chemicals that keep the skin moist, flexible, and “springy.”  However, as we grow older the rate at which the skin produces these vital substances greatly diminishes.  Simultaneously, the deposits of fat that give a youthful face its rounded fullness also begin to break down.  Together these processes give the face a “deflated” appearance, and loose, sagging skin forms wrinkles and creases, especially in areas where facial muscles keep the skin constantly moving and shifting.

Botox® cosmetic injections work by temporarily relaxing the tiny, underlying facial muscles whose movement is responsible for the formation of fine lines and wrinkles, particularly around the eyes and between the brows.  When these muscles are relaxed, not only are the wrinkles they form softened and made less noticeable, but the skin itself is allowed to rest, preventing the dynamic facial wrinkles from growing more pronounced.  Because the progression of facial aging is largely dependent on the worsening of these creases, anything that stalls that process will effectively keep a face looking younger and more vital.

Facial rejuvenation with injectable facial fillers, like Juvéderm® or Restylane®, works a little bit differently.  Rather than relaxing the muscles that cause dynamic facial wrinkles, facial fillers help to replenish the volume and moisture that the skin has lost.  Formulated from hyaluronic acid, a substance that occurs naturally in the human body, facial fillers restore fullness to features that have begun to take on a sunken or haggard appearance and “fill in” deep creases like those that commonly form along the sides of the nose and mouth.  Facial volume will, of course, continue to diminish, and so the effects of facial fillers do not last forever.  However, because they effectively undo the damage of time and gravity, they can “reset” a face’s youthful appearance, delaying the point at which more significant plastic surgery procedures might be needed to achieve longer lasting plastic surgery results.

Facial rejuvenation with cosmetic injectable treatments can be more affordable and convenient than full cosmetic plastic surgery, and in many cases may be able to achieve subtle but impressive results in as little as a single fifteen minute treatment session.  It is also a great way to maintain your results after undergoing a facelift or brow lift procedure.  If you have questions about facial rejuvenation, or would like to learn more about any of the various anti-aging procedures that we can provide, please contact Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. at one of our Atlanta, Alpharetta, Cumming, or Newnan offices to schedule a consultation.  Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest plastic surgery news.

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