Dermatology Coding Alert
Reader Question:
15825 or 15828 Best Bet for Rhytidectomy
Published on Thu Oct 25, 2012
Question:
Montana Subscriber
Answer:
Yes, this is a billable procedure, but payment may be another issue. The procedure you describe is referred to as rhytidectomy or the "elimination of wrinkles from, or reshaping of, the face, by excising any excess skin and tightening the remainder," according to Stedman's Concise Medical Dictionary.You should code this procedures using 15825 (Rhytidectomy: neck with platysmal tightening [platysmal flap, P-flap]) if the dermatologist also completed platysmal tightening. If the dermatologist did not complete platysmal tightening, you should report 15828 (Rhytidectomy; cheek, chin and neck), and append modifier 52 for reduced services.
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