In general, insurance policies vary and it is best to check with your specific policy provider to confirm coverage. In some cases, inverted nipple surgery may be covered if the procedure is medically necessary and the insurance company considers it reconstructive. Depending on your individual policy terms, this surgery may also qualify under cosmetic or elective medical procedures and potentially be eligible for partial coverage.
Contents:
What Is Inverted Nipple Surgery?
Inverted nipple surgery is a procedure used to correct inverted nipples, which are caused by the muscles and tissues around the nipples becoming abnormally shortened. This procedure works to lengthen those muscles and tissues so that the nipple can be brought out from beneath the skin. During this outpatient treatment, an incision is made in the areola in order to access and release the tension on the surrounding tissue of each nipple. Then, the surgeon will work to correct any other deformities such as restoring symmetry between both nipples.
The purpose of this corrective procedure is for aesthetic concerns as well as for any functional issues related to breastfeeding or sensitivity. In some cases, people may experience excessive scarring after their surgery due to complications or individual healing processes; however, this outcome is rarer than expected. It’s important for patients considering inverted nipple surgery to have a full understanding of all potential risks before having it performed.
The cost of inverted nipple surgery depends on several factors including geographic location, complexity of correction needed, facility fees and anesthesia costs involved with performing the operation. In general, most health insurance plans do not cover elective cosmetic surgeries like inverted nipple repair because it does not improve your physical health; therefore, if you want these procedures done you’ll likely have to pay out-of-pocket for them.
What Causes Inverted Nipples?
Inverted nipples, a condition in which the nipples point inwards instead of outwards, can be caused by several factors. One factor may be fibrosis or scarring inside the breast tissues that prevent the nipple from extending properly. This could be due to an injury such as a burn or surgery, resulting in deformed tissue. Congenital hypoplasia – a disorder present at birth that affects the development of certain parts of the body – can result in inverted nipples. Though rare, it is possible for some newborns to have this condition and develop inverted nipples over time as they grow older.
Other causes include postpartum changes as well as breastfeeding-induced changes which can cause milk ducts and lactiferous sinuses to harden and thicken around the areola (the colored area surrounding the nipple). When these areas become too tight, they restrict blood flow and impede normal growth of the nipple region leading to one or both nipples being pulled inward. Hormonal imbalances due to menopause or hormonal treatments may also contribute to occurrence of inverted nipples.
Obesity has been known to lead to excessive skin formation around the breasts along with reduced fat underneath resulting in compression of nipple-areolar complex thereby causing elongation and inverting them. People who experience significant weight fluctuations are more prone this particular issue than people with consistent weights throughout their life.
Indications for Surgery
Inverted nipple surgery is a cosmetic procedure designed to correct inverted nipples, which can be caused by scarring from prior breastfeeding or just naturally occur. This operation usually results in more aesthetically pleasing nipples, but it’s important to know what signs and symptoms might indicate the need for such an invasive operation.
There are three primary indications that prompt people to seek out inverted nipple surgery: sensitivity/pain, aesthetic concerns, and difficulty with breastfeeding. When left untreated, sensitivity and pain may persist indefinitely; this could lead to reduced sexual satisfaction or an inability to even wear certain clothes. The altered appearance of the nipples can lead to a lack of confidence or embarrassment while undressed in public places–causing anxiety when wearing swimsuits or other revealing apparel. Difficulty with breastfeeding can result due to reduced milk production caused by hardened tissue around the nipple region.
During your consultation for inverted nipple surgery, it’s important that you have a full understanding of all potential risks and benefits associated with the procedure–discussing any reservations that you may have prior getting started on your journey towards obtaining more aesthetically pleasing nipples. Your doctor will also assess any indications present in order to determine if surgery is indeed necessary; having clear expectations can go a long way towards avoiding frustrations down the line after undergoing this type of operation.
Insurance Coverage for the Procedure
Many people may be wondering if insurance will cover the cost of an inverted nipple surgery, a procedure to correct inverted nipples or reconstruct breasts that have become misshapen due to medical procedures like a lumpectomy. Fortunately, coverage varies greatly and can depend on what type of medical policy you have.
If your policy has stipulations for medically necessary procedures, then it’s possible that all or some of the costs associated with your inverted nipple surgery may be covered by your insurance plan. Your physician can provide documentation indicating why the procedure is necessary in order for you to get full coverage from your insurer; this could include mammograms, ultrasounds or other records demonstrating the size and shape of your nipples before and after treatment.
In some cases, specific details about an insurer’s level of coverage are included in their published information; however, many companies reserve the right to adjust coverage at their discretion. As such, it’s recommended that you always contact your insurer prior to any medical treatment so that they can inform you whether or not the expenses related to inverting nipples will be covered under your particular plan.
Questions to Ask Your Insurance Provider
When researching if your insurance will cover inverted nipple surgery, there are a few questions you should ask. You should inquire whether the procedure is listed in their medical policies. Make sure to get clarification on how far the coverage extends and any additional out of pocket costs that may be associated with it. You’ll also want to ask if pre-authorization or other permission is needed before proceeding with the surgery.
Determining what type of surgeon would be allowed as part of the coverage is important as not all doctors and facilities accept insurance payments. If your doctor doesn’t accept insurance and you choose to proceed anyway, find out how much reimbursement will be offered so that you can determine what portion needs to come from your own pocketbook.
Consider asking about any restrictions related to timing or access since different insurers have different guidelines for when treatments must begin after diagnosis and which locations services must be completed in order for the treatment costs to be covered. Knowing these parameters ahead of time can help ensure there won’t be any surprise expenses later on.
Possible Side Effects of Inverted Nipple Surgery
Inverted nipple surgery can result in side effects which must be taken into account when considering the procedure. A common complication is that of an infection, especially if the patient has not adequately prepared for the procedure or afterwards. These infections may require antibiotics to resolve and so should be taken into account before deciding on whether to proceed with the surgery.
Another potential side effect of inverted nipple surgery is asymmetrical results, where one side of the chest appears more pert than the other after being operated upon. This can often be avoided by selecting a skilled surgeon who has experience in this field and taking advice from them as to how much correction will result post-surgery. It is also important to consider that a small amount of asymmetry will always remain regardless of surgical skill due to individual anatomical differences between left and right sides of our bodies.
There is also a risk that further surgery may become necessary at some point after initial treatment – it’s possible for nipples to return back to their preoperative position over time, leading to revisional surgeries in order to achieve satisfaction with results in those cases. Of course this depends largely upon both how complexly they were corrected initially as well as how careful you are following your doctor’s postoperative instructions. Therefore, patients should always ensure they make themselves aware of these risks prior making any decisions concerning inverted nipple corrections.
