NCDActive
Plastic Surgery to Correct "Moon Face"
NCD14
Effective: May 1, 1989
Updated: December 31, 2025
Policy Summary
Medicare excludes coverage for surgical procedures performed solely to improve appearance under §1862(a)(10), with limited exceptions for prompt repair of accidental injury and improvement of a malformed body member that coincidentally serves a cosmetic purpose. Surgery to correct 'moon face' caused by cortisone (corticosteroid) therapy does not meet those exceptions and is not covered.
Coverage Criteria Preview
Key requirements from the full policy
"Surgery for the prompt repair of an accidental injury is an exception to the cosmetic surgery exclusion and may be covered."
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