740 Form

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Medical Policy Blepharoplasty, Blepharoptosis Repair and Brow Ptosis Repair Table of Contents • Policy: Commercial • Description • Information Pertaining to All Policies
• Authorization Information • Policy History • References
• Coding Information

Policy Number: 740 BCBSA Reference Number: N/A Related Policies
Plastic Surgery, #068 Policy Commercial Members: Managed Care (HMO and POS), PPO, and Indemnity

Children Upper eyelid blepharoplasty or blepharoptosis repair is considered MEDICALLY NECESSARY when BOTH of the following criteria are met:

1. Individual is less than or equal to 9 years of age; AND

2. Intervention is intended to relieve obstruction of central vision which, in the judgment of the treating physician, is severe enough to produce occlusion amblyopia.

   Note: Children older than 9 are not at risk for occlusion amblyopia.

   Children >9 and Adults Upper eyelid blepharoplasty or blepharoptosis repair is considered MEDICALLY NECESSARY for ANY of the following conditions:

3. Difficulty tolerating a prosthesis in an anophthalmic socket; OR
4. Repair of a functional defect caused by trauma, tumor or surgery; OR
5. Periorbital sequelae of thyroid disease; OR

6. Nerve palsy.

   Note: For cases where combined procedures (for example, blepharoplasty and brow lift) are requested, the individual must meet the criteria for each procedure.

   Blepharoplasty Unilateral or bilateral upper eyelid blepharoplasty is considered MEDICALLY NECESSARY to relieve obstruction of central vision when ALL of the following criteria are met:

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1. Documented complaints of interference with vision or visual field-related activities such as difficulty reading or driving due to upper eyelid skin drooping, looking through the eyelashes or seeing the upper eyelid skin; AND
2. There is either redundant skin overhanging the upper eyelid margin and resting on the eyelashes or significant dermatitis on the upper eyelid caused by redundant tissue, AND

3. Upper field must improve by at least 20 degrees with eyelid taped compared to visual field with untaped lid, OR visual field obstruction by lid or brow must limit upper field to within 30 degrees of fixation.

   Blepharoptosis Repair Blepharoptosis repair is considered MEDICALLY NECESSARY to relieve obstruction of central vision when ALL of the following criteria are met:

4. Documented complaints of interference with vision or visual field-related activities such as difficulty reading or driving due to eyelid position; AND

5. Upper field must improve by at least 20 degrees with eyelid taped compared to visual field with untaped lid, OR visual field obstruction by lid or brow must limit upper field to within 30 degrees of fixation.

   Brow Lift Brow lift (i.e., repair of brow ptosis due to laxity of the forehead muscles) is considered MEDICALLY NECESSARY when ALL of the following criteria are met: • Upper field must improve by at least 20 degrees with eyelid taped compared to visual field with untaped lid, OR visual field obstruction by lid or brow must limit upper field to within 30 degrees of fixation.

   Note: Conjunctival irritation or eye disease related to ectropion, entropion, metabolic disease, trauma or other conditions may require surgical intervention using a variety of ophthalmologic procedures. These conditions are not discussed in this document. The medical necessity of the surgical correction of these problems should be determined by considering the specific underlying medical and ophthalmologic issues.

   Not Medically Necessary: Blepharoplasty, blepharoptosis repair, or brow lift for visual field defects is considered NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY when the criteria noted above are not met.

   Cosmetic and Not Medically Necessary: Blepharoplasty, blepharoptosis repair, or brow lift is considered cosmetic and NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY when performed to improve an individual's appearance in the absence of any signs or symptoms of functional abnormalities.

   Lower lid blepharoplasty that does not meet the above conjunctival irritation criteria is considered cosmetic and NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY.

   Reconstructive: Blepharoplasty, blepharoptosis repair or brow lift procedures which are intended to correct a significant variation from normal related to accidental injury, disease, trauma, treatment of a disease or congenital defect are considered reconstructive in nature.

   Prior Authorization Information
   Inpatient • For services described in this policy, precertification/preauthorization IS REQUIRED for all products if the procedure is performed inpatient.
   Outpatient

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• For services described in this policy, see below for products where prior authorization might be required if the procedure is performed outpatient.

Outpatient Commercial Managed Care (HMO and POS) Prior authorization is required. Commercial PPO
Prior authorization is required.

Requesting Prior Authorization Using Authorization Manager Providers will need to use Authorization Manager to submit initial authorization requests for services. Authorization Manager, available 24/7, is the quickest way to review authorization requirements, request authorizations, submit clinical documentation, check existing case status, and view/print the decision letter. For commercial members, the requests must meet medical policy guidelines.
To ensure the service request is processed accurately and quickly: • Enter the facility’s NPI or provider ID for where services are being performed. • Enter the appropriate surgeon’s NPI or provider ID as the servicing provider, not the billing group.

Authorization Manager Resources Refer to our Authorization Manager page for tips, guides, and video demonstrations.

CPT Codes / HCPCS Codes / ICD Codes
Inclusion or exclusion of a code does not constitute or imply member coverage or provider reimbursement. Please refer to the member’s contract benefits in effect at the time of service to determine coverage or non-coverage as it applies to an individual member.

Providers should report all services using the most up-to-date industry-standard procedure, revenue, and diagnosis codes, including modifiers where applicable.

The following codes are included below for informational purposes only; this is not an all-inclusive list.

The above medical necessity criteria MUST be met for the following codes to be covered for Commercial Members: Managed Care (HMO and POS), PPO, Indemnity, Medicare HMO Blue and Medicare PPO Blue: CPT Codes CPT codes:

Code Description 15820 Blepharoplasty, lower eyelid; 15821 Blepharoplasty, lower eyelid; with extensive herniated fat pad 15822 Blepharoplasty, upper eyelid; 15823 Blepharoplasty, upper eyelid; with excessive skin weighting down lid 67900 Repair of brow ptosis (supraciliary, mid-forehead or coronal approach)
67901 Repair of blepharoptosis; frontalis muscle technique with suture or other material (eg, banked fascia) 67902 Repair of blepharoptosis; frontalis muscle technique with autologous fascial sling (includes obtaining fascia) 67903 Repair of blepharoptosis; (tarso) levator resection or advancement, internal approach 67904 Repair of blepharoptosis; (tarso) levator resection or advancement, external approach 67906 Repair of blepharoptosis; superior rectus technique with fascial sling (includes obtaining fascia) 67908 Repair of blepharoptosis; conjunctivo-tarso-Muller's muscle-levator resection (eg, Fasanella-Servat type)

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ICD-10 Procedure Codes ICD-10-PCS codes: Code Description 08SN0ZZ Reposition Right Upper Eyelid, Open Approach 08SN3ZZ Reposition Right Upper Eyelid, Percutaneous Approach 08SNXZZ Reposition Right Upper Eyelid, External Approach 08SP0ZZ Reposition Left Upper Eyelid, Open Approach 08SP3ZZ Reposition Left Upper Eyelid, Percutaneous Approach 08SPXZZ Reposition Left Upper Eyelid, External Approach 08SQ0ZZ Reposition Right Lower Eyelid, Open Approach 08SQ3ZZ Reposition Right Lower Eyelid, Percutaneous Approach 08SQXZZ Reposition Right Lower Eyelid, External Approach 08SR0ZZ Reposition Left Lower Eyelid, Open Approach 08SR3ZZ Reposition Left Lower Eyelid, Percutaneous Approach 08SRXZZ Reposition Left Lower Eyelid, External Approach

Description Blepharoplasty is a procedure to correct drooping of the upper eye lid. This surgery is performed on the anterior lamellae which consists of skin and the orbicularis oculi muscle. Multiple conditions can cause drooping of the upper eye lid such as thyroid eye disease, floppy eyelid syndrome, blepharochalasis syndrome, trauma or any other condition that can cause stretching of the upper eyelid skin.

Blepharoptosis (or ptosis) repair is a procedure to correct the downward displacement of the upper eyelid margin. This surgery is performed on the posterior lamellae which consists of conjunctiva, tarsus, Müller's muscle, and the levator muscle with its aponeurosis. Blepharoptosis can result from myogenic, involutional, neurogenic, mechanical, or developmental causes.

Brow ptosis repair is a procedure to bring a drooping eyebrow to its correct anatomical position. Brow ptosis is a natural part of aging but can also be caused by medical conditions such as Bell’s palsy, muscular dystrophy and other conditions that can affect the muscles and nerves of the face.

Summary
Blepharoplasty, bleparoptosis repair and brow ptosis repair can be performed for cosmetic purposes or to correct functional impairment/vision obstruction. When the purpose of these surgeries is to improve appearance or for any other purpose other than the criteria outlined above, they are considered not medically necessary.

Policy History Date Action 1/2025 Annual policy review. Description, summary and references reviewed. New references added. Policy statements unchanged. 1/2025 9/2023 Policy clarified to include prior authorization requests using Authorization Manager.
8/2022 Policy updated with literature review through August 2022. No references added. Policy statements unchanged. 6/2022 Prior authorization information clarified for PPO plans. Effective 6/1/2022. 5/2021 Policy updated with literature review through April 2021. References added. Policy statements unchanged. 1/2021 Medicare information removed. See MP #132 Medicare Advantage Management for local coverage determination and national coverage determination reference. Clarified coding information.
5/2020 Policy updated with literature review through April 2020, no references added. Policy statements unchanged. 8/2016 Policy statement on blepharoplasty clarified. 8/19/2016

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12/2015 Photograph requirements for blepharoplasty removed. 12/1/2015.
10/1/2015 New medical policy describing medically necessary and not medically necessary indications; transferred from medical policy #068, Plastic Surgery. Effective 10/1/2015.
Information Pertaining to All Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical Policies Click on any of the following terms to access the relevant information: Medical Policy Terms of Use Managed Care Guidelines Indemnity/PPO Guidelines Clinical Exception Process Medical Technology Assessment Guidelines References

1. American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (ASPRS). Recommended Insurance Coverage Criteria for Third Party Payers: Blepharoplasty. December 2020. Available at https://www. plasticsurgery.org/documents/Health-Policy/Reimbursement/insurance-2020-blepharoplasty.pdf.
2. Aldave AJ, Maus M, Rubin PA. Advances in the management of lower eyelid retraction. Facial Plast Surg. 1999; 15(3):213-224.
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4. Boboridis K, Assi A, Indar A, et al. Repeatability and reproducibility of upper eyelid measurements. Br J Ophthalmol. 2001; 85(1):99-101.
5. Castro E, Foster JA. Upper lid blepharoplasty. Facial Plast Surg. 1999; 15(3):173-178.
6. Edmonson BC, Wulc AE. Ptosis evaluation and management. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2005; 38(5):921-946.
7. Federici TJ, Meyer DR, Lininger LL. Correlation of the vision-related functional impairment associated with blepharoptosis and the impact of blepharoptosis surgery. Ophthalmology. 1999; 106(9):1705-
9. Fung S, Malhotra R, Selva D. Thyroid orbitopathy. Aust Fam Physician. 2003; 32(8):615-620.
10. Hoenig JA. Comprehensive management of eyebrow and forehead ptosis. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2005; 38(5):947-984.
11. Karesh JW. Blepharoplasty: an overview. Atlas Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am. 1998; 6(2):87-109.
12. Meyer DR, Linberg JV, Powell SR, Odom JV. Quantitating the superior visual field loss associated with ptosis. Arch Ophthalmol. 1989; 107(6):840-843.
13. Meyer DR, Stern JH, Jarvis JM, Lininger LL. Evaluating the visual field effects of blepharoptosis using automated static perimetry. Ophthalmology. 1993; 100(5):651-658.
14. Mullins JB, Holds JB, Branham GH, Thomas JR. Complications of the transconjunctival approach: a review of 400 cases. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1997; 123(4):385-388.
15. Patel BC. Surgical management of essential blepharospasm. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2005; 38(5):1075-1098.
16. Rizk SS, Matarasso A. Lower lid blepharoplasty: analysis of indications and the treatment of 100 patients. Plast Reconstruc Surg. 2003; 111(3):1299-1306.
17. Sabiston DC Jr. Textbook of Surgery: The Biological Basis of Modern Surgical Practice. 15th ed., (Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, Co., 1997), PP. 1326 & 1327.
18. Sakol PJ, Mannor G, Massaro BM. Congenital and acquired blepharoptosis. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 1999; 10(5):335-339.
19. Small RG, Meyer DR. Eyelid metrics. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 2004; 20(4):266-267.
20. Small RG, Sabates NR, Burrows D. The measurement and definition of ptosis. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 1989; 5(3):171-175.
21. Barmettler A, Wang J, Heo M, Gladstone GJ. Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty: A Novel Method to Predict and Improve Outcomes. Aesthet Surg J. 2018 Oct 15;38(11):NP156-NP164.
22. Bhattacharjee K, Ghosh S, Ugradar S, Azhdam AM. Lower eyelid blepharoplasty: An overview. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2020 Oct;68(10):2075-2083.

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22. Tao JP, Aakalu VK, Wladis EJ,.Bioengineered Acellular Dermal Matrix Spacer Grafts for Lower Eyelid Retraction Repair: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Ophthalmology. 2020 May;127(5):689-695