Will Insurance Pay For Brow Bone Reduction?

Q: Dr. Eppley, the forehead bone above my eyes is pumped out or sticks out which makes me looking different. It just curved out like bumps. I have good insurance which covers everything 100 % but I’m not sure if it covers plastic surgery. My questions are what is the best surgery to remove some of the bone thickness and will you accept insurance?

A: Brow bone prominence or protrusion, contrary to popular perception, is not caused by increased bone thickness. Rather it develops because of overgrowth or excessive pneumatization of the frontal air cavity sinus. Thus the large brow bones actually have a very thin layer of covering bone. To reduce them requires an osteotomy of the anterior table of the frontal sinus bone, reshaping it, and then and then replacing it. This is the only way to reduce a large brow bone, particularly in a man. This is a cosmetic condition not a medical necessary one that improves appearance but not function. Therefore  brow bone reduction surgery is not covered by insurance no matter what plan one may have.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana