Whether your plastic surgery is covered by workers' comp depends on what kind of procedure you're talking about. Elective cosmetic surgery rarely is covered by workers' compensation.
However, reconstructive surgery necessary to correct an issue caused by a workplace accident should be covered. To ensure this, the plastic surgeon you choose has to be certified by the Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC).
As a workers' comp attorney with over 34 years of experience in Ohio, I've helped clients get approval for various kinds of medical treatment by the BWC, including reconstructive procedures. Here's what you should know.
When Plastic Surgery May Be Deemed Medically Necessary
Certain catastrophic workplace injuries require the expertise of a reconstructive surgeon for you to function again. Examples of conditions that may be approved for plastic surgery include:
- Crushing injuries. When bones are crushed by falling objects, in machinery accidents, or by a forklift, reconstructive surgery is often required over and above the work an orthopedic surgeon may do.
- Scalp avulsion. This horrific injury occurs if hair gets caught in machinery and the scalp, and sometimes part of the face, is torn off. Correcting this condition requires multiple complicated surgeries by a skilled plastic surgeon.
- Degloving. This is another form of avulsion where the skin is torn away from the underlying tissue, usually in the hand or foot. Skin grafts and extensive follow-up care may be necessary.
- Burns. A severe burn destroys nerve endings and can limit the functionality of the affected body part. A plastic surgeon may restore some functioning through ongoing procedures.
- Facial fractures. There are over a dozen bones in the human face. When a vehicle crash or crushing accident causes facial fractures, reconstructive surgery may be necessary.
You may have cosmetic surgery to fix scarring or disfigurement caused by a workplace accident. But if the injury doesn't affect your physical functioning, these procedures will likely be considered elective and won't be covered by workers' comp.
Talk to a Workers' Comp Attorney Before Filing a Claim
Any time a non-traditional type of treatment is indicated after a workplace injury, talk to a workers' comp attorney about improving your odds of approval. If your doctor thinks that plastic or reconstructive surgery is necessary for your full recovery, it should be covered by workers' comp. Contact the Monast Law Office to discover how we may help. In the meantime, we invite you to request a free download of our helpful book, The Worker's Guide to Injury Compensation in Ohio.
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