If you have every wondered if insurance will pay for cosmetic surgery, you're in luck! Very few plastic surgery procedures are covered by insurance, but for the ones that are there are several requirements. Eyelid surgery is sometimes covered, but you have to have so much excess upper eyelid skin that it actually blocks your vision.
If you think this is you, just pay a quick visit to your local eye doctor for an easy, painless test called a "visual field test." During this test, your doctor will show you several pictures and ask you what you see. Then, he/she will tape up your upper eyelids to get the excess skin away from you field of vision and repeat the test. If your vision is significantly improved by the taping of your upper eyelids, you may qualify to have upper eyelid surgery paid for by insurance!
Keep in mind, however, that all insurance companies are different and you'll need to do some research before spending time at your eye doctor's office. If you do qualify, then take a copy of your visual field test results with the official interpretation by the eye doctor to your local plastic surgeon's office. Then, your plastic surgeon can review the upper eyelid surgery procedure with you.
Upper eyelid surgery is relatively straightforward. The anesthesia can be general, sedation, or even just local anesthesia. The excess skin from your upper eyelids is then removed with or without any excess muscle and sutured closed. The stitches are remove 3-5 days later, and the swelling may last for about 1 week
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This patient's visual field test warranted upper eyelid surgery to improve her vision. Dr. Schreiber presents her before and 4 month follow-up pictures after she underwent upper eyelid surgery.
For more information: Check out www.DrSchreiberPlasticSurgery.com for more detailed information as well as before and after photos.
Comments
I was hoping that my insurance would cover this for me since my droopy eyelids are impairing my vision, but my health insurance company wouldn't go for it. Thanks for nothing!!! I definitely can't afford surgery, which I would like, but I did find a temporary solution called the Eye Magic Eye Lift that helps a lot. I have a much easier time reading and it improved my appearance as well. This may be a good product for you to recommend to your patients that don't qualify for insurance coverage or may not be able to afford the surgery.
-Steph
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