Oftentimes, plastic surgery addicts start out with one or two surgeries and over time start seeing their doctor more frequently for more procedures, occasionally with very strange requests. Plastic surgery, fillers and injectables all have their place when it comes to reversing the signs of aging. When more than a couple of standard procedures are done in a very short amount of time, and there’s an underlying urge to continue to be operated on despite what the results look like, that’s reason for concern. Even when the original problem is corrected, true plastic surgery addicts will not be satisfied with the outcome and will turn their focus on another area of concern. Plastic surgery addiction triggers include:
Poor self-esteem and underlying psychological issues. Some people get addicted to surgery because they are not happy with themselves at the core.
Personal trauma or negative experiences. “A patient of mine had a bad relationship with her father. She was reminded of him every time she looked in the mirror. She physically wanted the trauma erased,” says Marietta, GA facial plastic surgeon Seth A. Yellin, MD.
Attention. Some women thrive on the attention that comes with being notably enhanced. Others do it as a status symbol—it lets people know they can afford the procedures.
How to tell if you have an addiction:
Everything in moderation—that’s the mantra we are told to live by. When anything becomes too excessive, it’s considered dangerous and addictive.
Plastic surgery obsessions exist because there are numerous procedures available, and an emphasis in the media on youth. Patients who are addicted to aesthetic procedures range from mild to borderline obsessive-compulsive. The most severe cases of obsession with the body would be an authentic BDD patient.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a serious obsessive-compulsive condition, which causes its sufferers to obsess over their appearance because they do not feel beautiful. They view their imperfections, even the minor ones, as severe and go to great lengths to correct them. The setback with operating on those with BDD is that it feeds the patient with false hope. About 1 percent of Americans truly suffer from BDD. An evaluation by a psychologist or psychiatrist is often recommended by a plastic surgeon who believes a patient may have BDD.
This Information brought to you courtesy of Dr. Bishara and The Paragaon Plastic Surgery & Med Spa
The BotTom line when it comes to an insurer’s decision to pay for plastic surgery is typically whether a procedure is considered medical necessary.
Americans love to look good, but insurers are often reluctant to pay the bills to help us look better.
Last year we spent nearly $11 billion on cosmetic procedures, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Of the more than 10 million procedures performed, the most requested was breast augmentation.
But Cameo Wichinsky, a 42-year-old investment fund manager living in Santa Monica, wants to take her figure in the opposite direction.
Having long lived with the discomfort of breasts large enough to cause shoulder and neck pain and to limit her level of physical activity, she’s ready to go under the knife to reduce her breast size and, she hopes, improve her quality of life.
“I’m at the stage of my life when I’m ready to be active and be at my highest level. These things get in the way,” Wichinsky said.
Despite the fact that she has health insurance, she says she’ll have to shell out the nearly $9,000 for breast reduction surgery, which she has scheduled for November. Her insurer won’t cover the procedure.
“Insurance is a huge hassle,” Wichinsky said.
There was a time when health insurers more readily paid for breast reductions. We tend to think of breast reduction as reconstructive surgery and not cosmetic, even though it has that cosmetic aspect to it.
Plastic surgery is expensive. It’s important to know ahead of time what insurers will pay for.
The line between the desire for improved physical appearance and medical need can be fuzzy in the world of health insurance. Although few people expect to have their health plan pay for their tummy tucks or face lifts, there are procedures that legitimately warrant coverage.
The bottom line when it comes to an insurer’s decision to pay for a procedure is typically whether it’s considered medically necessary, experts say.
“Generally, if a procedure is necessary to repair or preserve the healthy functioning of the body, it’s likely to be medically necessary,” said Carrie McLean, senior manager of customer care with online insurance broker eHealthInsurance.com.
“If the procedure is typically considered standard practice for any given diagnosis, that may also meet the criterion for medically necessary,” she said.
Exactly where that line is drawn depends on the individual and his or her circumstances, not the procedure itself, said Patrick Johnston, president of the California Assn. of Health Plans, which represents 40 health plans insuring more than 21 million Californians.
For example, a middle-aged man interested in a tummy tuck to restore the six-pack of his youth isn’t likely to get much sympathy from his insurer, he said, but it’s a different story for someone who lost 150 pounds after bariatric surgery and is left with excess skin.
Despite the fact that she has health insurance, she says she’ll have to shell out the nearly $9,000 for breast reduction surgery, which she has scheduled for November. Her insurer won’t cover the procedure.
“Insurance is a huge hassle,” Wichinsky said.
There was a time when health insurers more readily paid for breast reductions. We tend to think of breast reduction as reconstructive surgery and not cosmetic, even though it has that cosmetic aspect to it.
Plastic surgery is expensive. It’s important to know ahead of time what insurers will pay for.
The line between the desire for improved physical appearance and medical need can be fuzzy in the world of health insurance. Although few people expect to have their health plan pay for their tummy tucks or face lifts, there are procedures that legitimately warrant coverage.
The bottom line when it comes to an insurer’s decision to pay for a procedure is typically whether it’s considered medically necessary, experts say.
“Generally, if a procedure is necessary to repair or preserve the healthy functioning of the body, it’s likely to be medically necessary,” said Carrie McLean, senior manager of customer care with online insurance broker eHealthInsurance.com.
“If the procedure is typically considered standard practice for any given diagnosis, that may also meet the criterion for medically necessary,” she said.
Exactly where that line is drawn depends on the individual and his or her circumstances, not the procedure itself, said Patrick Johnston, president of the California Assn. of Health Plans, which represents 40 health plans insuring more than 21 million Californians.
For example, a middle-aged man interested in a tummy tuck to restore the six-pack of his youth isn’t likely to get much sympathy from his insurer, he said, but it’s a different story for someone who lost 150 pounds after bariatric surgery and is left with excess skin.
“This is a recognized standard of treatment for morbidly obese individuals,” Johnston said.
In the same way, he said, a nose job to correct a deviated septum or surgery to lift drooping eyelids that impair vision are other common surgeries likely to be covered by a health plan.
Consumers have a variety of legal protections that guarantee access to certain cosmetic procedures.
Women who have undergone a mastectomy after a diagnosis of cancer, for example, are guaranteed coverage for reconstructive surgery.
“Both federal and state laws guarantee a woman who has had a mastectomy as a result of breast cancer coverage for breast reconstruction,” Johnston said.
California law also requires insurers to cover the repair of a child’s cleft palate, which includes any medically necessary dental or orthodontic services that are an integral part of reconstructive surgery.
If you’re in the market for a cosmetic procedure, here are some important reminders.
• Check with your insurer in advance. In most cases you’re likely to need your insurer’s pre-authorization to obtain coverage.
It’s a good idea to work with your doctor. Submitting medical records, letters from specialists who have treated you for long-term symptoms and in some cases photos can all lend support for the medical necessity of the procedure and increase your chances of gaining approval.
• Pre-approval may not be enough. Breast reduction surgery such as what Wichinsky plans is a good example of the devil being in the details.
Most insurers dictate how many grams of tissue must be removed from each breast for the procedure to be covered. Asking in advance what those requirements are can help avoid surprise bills.
• You can appeal insurer decisions. Don’t be deterred if your insurer initially denies coverage. You frequently have to appeal the claim … to obtain insurance coverage.
This Information is brought to you courtesy of Dr. Bishara and The Paragon Plastic Surgery & Med Spa
START THE FALL SEASON OFF AS YOU…ONLY BETTER!
If you’re considering invasive or minimally invasive cosmetic surgery this fall, getting it done during this time of year offers several benefits. There are often specials to take advantage of, and if you get your procedures done now you’ll be ready when next summer comes.
Timing cosmetic surgery procedures in the fall allows for plenty of recovery time so that once it’s swimsuit season you’re ready to show off the results of your liposuction or breast augmentation, as well as laser hair removal, and laser skin tightening. Dr. Mark Bishara offers cosmetic surgery for the breast, body and face, as well as a variety of non-surgical procedures, including robotic hair transplants, injectables and laser procedures.
This time of year is also a great time to try the Laser 360 procedure. You will have time to have 3 sessions done over the fall/winter and look great by spring and summer. Laser360™ is a skin treatment for anyone who would like to revitalize their look without invasive procedures or injections. You no longer have to accept fine lines and wrinkles or skin discoloration as an inevitable part of the aging process.
Dr. Bishara and The Paragon Plastic Surgery & Med Spa are currently running several specials. Please call our office at (817) 473-2120 for more details.
We are offering August specials, that expire August 29. Book now to take advantage of these specials.
Dermaplaning- Buy 2 get 1 FREE
Juvederm Voluma XC $725/syringe
Juvederm Voluma $499/syringe
Laser Skin Tightening- Buy 3 get 3 FREE
Are Your Breast Implants 10 years or older? You may need to exchange them.
We are offering a FREE Botox treatment for 2! If booking breast surgery with implants by August 31 and surgery completed by September 24. Please contact our office for more information at 817-473-2120.
You might consider a mommy makeover cosmetic surgery procedure if pregnancy or childbirth has reduced the fullness of your breasts, or caused sagging of the breasts, and left you with sagging skin in your midsection. We provide a mommy makeover procedure for you moms out there who have these issues.
Goals of Mommy Makeover
The combined procedures known as mommy makeover are customized to meet your needs. The desired outcome of a mommy makeover is full, lifted breasts and a tight abdomen.
Breast Lift Procedure
To reshape the breasts, our mommy makeover patients choose to undergo a breast lift with or without augmentation (breast implants). A breast lift increases breast perkiness. Implants can restore or create a fuller breast contour. The ideal candidates for a breast lift are women who have completed their child bearing and breastfeeding and who are also close to their ideal weight.
Tummy Tuck Procedure
To reshape the midsection, our mommy makeover patients choose a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) with or without liposuction. The tummy tuck tightens the abdomen while removing excess skin. Liposuction addresses excess fatty tissue. The best candidate for a tummy tuck procedure are women who are close to an ideal weight. Dr. Bishara believes that patients who intend to lose more weight or women who want to have more children should wait to have this procedure.
Please contact us for more information at (817) 473-2120 or visit our website at www.MarkBisharaMD.com
en Español
Usted podría considerar un procedimiento de cirugía estética makeover de la mama si el embarazo o el parto se ha reducido la plenitud de sus senos, o causado caída de los senos, y le dejó con la flacidez de la piel en su abdomen. Proporcionamos un procedimiento makeover de la mama para usted mamás por ahí que tienen estos problemas.
OBJETIVOS DE Mommy Makeover
Los procedimientos combinados conocidos como makeover de la mama pueden personalizarse para satisfacer sus necesidades. El resultado deseado de un makeover de la mama está llena, levantó los pechos y el abdomen apretado.
PROCEDIMIENTO DE LEVANTAMIENTO DE SENOS
Para cambiar la forma de los pechos, nuestros pacientes makeover de la mama optan por someterse a un levantamiento de senos con o sin aumento (implantes de senos). Un levantamiento de senos aumenta perkiness mama. Los implantes se pueden restaurar o crear un contorno de pecho más lleno. Los candidatos ideales para un levantamiento de senos son las mujeres que han completado su fértil y la lactancia materna y que también están cerca de su peso ideal.
PLIEGUE DE LA PANZA PROCEDIMIENTO
Para cambiar la forma de la sección media, nuestros pacientes makeover de la mama eligen una cirugía estética de abdomen (abdominoplastia), con o sin liposucción. La cirugía estética de abdomen se tensa el abdomen mientras se quita el exceso de piel. La liposucción se dirige a exceso de tejido graso. El mejor candidato para un procedimiento de cirugía estética de abdomen son mujeres que están cerca de un peso ideal. Dr. Bishara cree que los pacientes que tienen intención de perder más peso o las mujeres que quieren tener más hijos deben esperar a tener este procedimiento.
Por favor, póngase en contacto con nosotros para obtener más información al (817) 473-2120 o visite nuestro sitio web en www.MarkBisharaMD.com
Cosmetic Surgeon Dr. Mark A. Bishara, M.D., serving Fort Worth, Arlington, and the surrounding area.
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