Having a complication after an elective cosmetic surgery procedure is usually something no patient envisions…or even gives much thought about. While it may be explained before surgery that there are risks involved, most patients understandably are not focused on those issues. This potential problem is given no more thought than the risk of being in an accident when buying an automobile.

Yet they can and do occur. Fortunately most problems after surgery are not major and do not frequently require a return to the operating room or a hospital stay to solve them. But when they do occur, the experience combined with potential cost exposures can be significant. The type of complications I am referring to are really major ones that would require the use of a hospital facility, either for the use of the operating room and/or hospitalization.

While such complications occur, rare as they may be, they must be taken care of immediately. One is not initially concerned about cost nor should cost concerns prevent anyone from doing the proper medical treatment. The majority of major medical health insurance policies, however, now exclude treatment of medical complications if they are the result of an elective cosmetic surgical procedure. This would leave the patient with the responsibility of paying the accrued hospital or other facility costs.

In response to this very real patient concern, the Aesthetic Surgeons’ Financial Group (ASFG, a private insurance group) has developed a program called CosmetAssure. This insurance program addresses the lack of coverage for medical expenses complications arising from elective aesthetic surgical procedures. CosmetAssure is a very low cost insurance policy that patients can buy per surgery to cover certain cosmetic surgery complications. This plan is endorsed by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and is only available to its Active and Candidate members.

To participate in the program, the patient must have surgery by a plastic surgeon that is enrolled in the CosmetAssure program. The policy covers 17 procedures only but these are all the major types of cosmetic surgery that are commonly performed. In order for patients to receive benefits in the event of a covered complication, not only must they be registered through their participating plastic surgeon, but they must be admitted to a hospital, emergency room, or an accredited surgical center within 30 days of the cover procedure. The 30 day period begins on the day of the patient’s surgery. While this seems fairly time limited, the reality is that almost all major complications (bleeding, infection, etc) will have occurred within days to weeks after surgery. Major complications from elective cosmetic surgery do not occur months or years later.

The Cosmetassure program is not new nor is it available in every state. The concept is a good one and, like most insurance policies, it is really great if you need to use it. Whether this is a good idea can only be determined on a patient by patient basis. For those patients that are concerned about risks and want financial piece of mind, then a few extra hundred dollars for your surgery are certainly worth it. Some may think that such a program is similar to purchasing an extended warranty on that new refrigerator or flat screen TV. But then again, one’s body has the potential to cost a lot more to repair than the ‘original purchase price’. Just look at any hospital bill.

Dr. Barry Eppley

http://www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com

http://www.ologyspa.com

Clarian North Medical Center, Carmel, Indiana

Clarian West Medical Center, Avon, Indiana

Indianapolis