Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between cosmetic and medical (reconstructive) plastic surgery?
Can I combine a medically necessary or reconstructive surgery with cosmetic surgery?
Isn't cosmetic surgery expensive?

Do I have to go to the hospital operating room for my procedure?
Do you provide cosmetic options for men?
I have questions about cosmetic procedures, but I feel silly asking them. What should I do?

What is the difference between cosmetic and medical (reconstructive) plastic surgery?

Cosmetic procedures are performed to reshape your body with the intent to improve your appearance and/or your self-image. Examples of cosmetic procedures include (but are not limited to) breast augmentation, liposuction, face lifts, Botox Cosmetic, and dermal fillers. Cosmetic surgery and cosmetic procedures are not covered by health insurance because they are elective, and they are not medically necessary.

Reconstructive or medically necessary plastic surgery is performed to correct tumors, trauma, disease, congenital defects, and developmental abnormalities. It is performed to improve function, but may also be performed in an attempt to achieve a normal appearance. Reconstructive or medically necessary surgery may be covered by your health insurance policy; however, coverage for specific procedures and the level of coverage varies greatly between insurance companies. If you feel you may be a candidate for a medically necessary plastic surgery procedure, please contact your health insurance carrier to familiarize yourself with your personal insurance plan benefits and the insurance company's requirements that must be met in order to qualify for a medically necessary plastic surgery procedure.

There are a number of plastic surgery procedures that may be allowed special consideration by your insurance carrier. These areas usually involve surgical operations which may be reconstructive or cosmetic, depending on each patient's situation. For example, upper eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) - a procedure normally performed to achieve cosmetic improvement - may be covered if the drooping eyelids are inhibiting your vision. A visual field examination performed by your ophthalmologist will be performed to determine whether your visual field may be impaired due to excess eyelid skin or brow ptosis. Abdominoplasty may sometimes be considered medically necessary and may be covered by health insurance. Medically necessary abdominoplasty, if covered by your health insurance, is performed in an attempt to eliminate or lessen the severity of symptoms you are experiencing as a result of excess skin. These procedures are more common following bariatric surgery or massive weight loss. Breast reduction surgery may also be considered medically necessary if excess breast tissue is causing significant physical disability. Your symptoms should be documented by your primary care physician for a period of at least three months and you will need to obtain a referral from your treating physician as well.

There are many plastic surgery procedures that may be considered medically necessary; however, it is essential that you understand the result achieved with a medically necessary, insurance-approved procedure may not provide the same result achieved with a cosmetic procedure. Your insurance company will only pay to have the medical condition corrected. They will not pay for any extended anesthesia, operating room charges or surgeon's fee for the extra time required to provide a more aesthetically pleasing cosmetic result.

Can I combine a medically necessary or reconstructive surgery with cosmetic surgery?

If appropriate, there is a very good chance that you might be able to combine your medically necessary procedure with cosmetic surgery to provide a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. We do provide you with the opportunity to combine your insurance-approved, medically necessary procedure with cosmetic surgery if you choose. Please be sure to ask your physician about the results you will achieve when undergoing a medically necessary (insurance-approved) procedure versus a cosmetic surgery procedure. Ask your physician if you would be a candidate to have cosmetic surgery performed at the same time as your medically necessary procedure.

Isn't cosmetic surgery expensive?

At the time of your initial cosmetic consultation, you will undergo a thorough evaluation by a Board Certified Geisinger physician. Once your physician has a full understanding of the appearance you are hoping to achieve, you may be provided with several options from which to choose. Your physician will help guide you in your decision-making process. You will be provided with an estimate for the cost of the recommended procedure(s) at the time of your consultation. Your initial cosmetic consultation is $50.00, payable at the time of your first visit. If you proceed with surgery within six months of your initial consultation, your $50.00 consultation fee will be credited toward the cost of your cosmetic surgery.

If you are interested in undergoing several cosmetic procedures, you may be able to have all of the procedures, or at least several of them, performed simultaneously. At The Center for Aesthetics & Cosmetic Surgery, we have Board Certified surgeons who perform facial cosmetic surgery and full body cosmetic surgery, as well as cosmetic dermatology. For example, if you are in good health, you may be able to undergo a face lift by a Board Certified Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon at the same time you are undergoing an abdominoplasty by another Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Our physicians work as a team in an effort to provide our patients with the best possible cosmetic result at an affordable price.

Our team approach to combining cosmetic surgery procedures reduces your overall cost, eliminates the need for multiple trips to the operating room, and also reduces the need for multiple doses of anesthesia. If you are interested in multiple procedures, be sure to ask your physician about this option. There are limits to how many procedures can be safely performed in one surgical setting. If you require more than one visit to the operating room, your surgeon will help you with the planning and staging of the procedures so you will obtain the best possible results.

Do I have to go to the hospital Operating Room for my procedure?

Not necessarily! There are many surgical procedures that may be performed in a cosmetic procedure room under local anesthetic, or at one of our outpatient surgery centers. Ask your physician if this is an option for you.

Do you provide cosmetic options for men?

Absolutely! Men are undergoing more and more cosmetic procedures every year! Some common procedures for men include abdominoplasty, laser hair reduction, breast reduction for gynecomastia (male enlarged breast tissue), face lifts, liposuction, otoplasty (ear pinning), blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), rhinoplasty (nose reshaping), laser skin rejuvenation, Botox Cosmetic, dermal fillers and more. Cosmetic procedures are not just for women! We all want to look our best, and we welcome and encourage our male patients to explore the wide variety of procedures available through The Center for Aesthetics & Cosmetic Surgery and our Center for Weight Loss Body Contouring. If you have questions, call us at 570-214-6665. It would be our pleasure to answer your questions and guide you along the way.

I have questions about cosmetic procedures, but I feel silly asking them. What should I do?

Questions To Ask Your Cosmetic Physician:

What is your Board Certification specialty and what does that mean to me?
Do you understand the cosmetic appearance I wish to achieve?
Based on my personal cosmetic concerns, what procedure(s) do you recommend for me and why?
How many times have you performed this procedure?
Do you have before-and-after photos of your results available for me to review?
Am I good candidate for this procedure?
How long will it take me to recover and what are my activity restrictions during recovery?
Will I need someone to help me during my recovery?
What do I need to do to prepare for my recovery phase?
What can I do to help improve my results?
What are the potential risks and most frequent complications of this procedure?
What do I do if I think I am having a complication after the procedure?
Where will my procedure be performed?
What type of anesthesia is most commonly used for this procedure?
How can I expect to look in 2 weeks, a month, 3 months, a year?
What are my options if I am displeased with the cosmetic outcome of my procedure?

There are no silly questions when it comes to cosmetic procedures. We encourage questions, and we take your questions very seriously. We are committed to educating our patients by answering your questions and addressing your concerns. We will also provide you with resource material, internet websites and informational handouts for you to review at your leisure. In addition, you may call our dedicated Cosmetics Program Coordinator at 570-214-6665 to have your questions answered personally. Your conversations with our Cosmetics Program Coordinator are confidential conversations, so you can feel free to ask all of your questions. Your questions will be answered privately, and you will be taken seriously. Please call 570-214-6665 to have your questions answered today!