icd-10-pcs code for chemabrasion (chemical peel) to treat facial acne scarring

by Miss Kendra Jones IV 3 min read

15788 Chemical peel, facial, epidermal 15789 Chemical peel, facial, dermal 15792 Chemical peel, nonfacial epidermal 15793 Chemical peel, nonfacial, dermal The following ICD Diagnosis Codes are considered medically necessary when submitted with the CPT codes above if medical necessity criteria are met: ICD 10 Diagnosis Codes

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What are the chemical peels for acne treatment?

Chemical Peels for Acne 1 Professionally administered chemical peels,... 2 Chemical peels are acids, which are applied to... 3 Superficial Peels - Treats Acne. Superficial peels penetrate only the surface layer of skin,... 4 Moderate Peels - Treats Acne and Light Scarring. 5 Deep Peels - Treats Scarring. Deep peels...

What are the different types of chemical peels?

The main types of professionally administered chemical peels include (1) superficial, (2) medium, and (3) deep peels. Superficial peels are usually used for the treatment of acne, medium peels are used for the treatment of both acne and acne scars, and deep peels are usually only used to treat acne scars.

What is the difference between a superficial and a chemical peel?

Superficial peels are usually used for the treatment of acne, medium peels are used for the treatment of both acne and acne scars, and deep peels are usually only used to treat acne scars. Chemical peels, especially superficial peels, can be used alongside other medications.

What are the side effects of chemical peels?

Because chemical peels do not provide full clearing of acne, they are normally used alongside other treatments. Side effects include skin redness, peeling for a few days after the procedure, and temporary darkening of the skin, particularly in darker-skinned individuals.

What is the CPT code for chemical peel facial dermal?

CPT® 15788 in section: Chemical peel, facial.

Does insurance cover chemical peels for acne?

Most health insurance plans don't cover the cost of chemical peels unless the health insurer considers the treatments to be medically necessary. With insurance coverage, out-of-pocket costs for a chemical peel can include deductibles, coinsurance and copays.

How do you use TCA for acne scars?

TCA is focally applied to the base of the atrophic scar. The instrument is removed at the start of frosting of the skin surface (usually within 10 seconds). The procedure is repeated for appropriate remaining scars. The skin is intermittently cleansed using saline/chlorhexidine soaked gauze.

Does Medicare pay for chemical peels?

Medicare HMO BlueSM and Medicare PPO BlueSM Members Dermal chemical peels used to treat patients with numerous (>10) actinic keratoses or other premalignant skin lesions, such that treatment of the individual lesions becomes impractical, may be considered MEDICALLY NECESSARY.

Is chemical peel good for acne scars?

Yes, chemical peels help with acne scars. Chemical peels work beneath the surface of the skin to turn over new skin cells and promote new skin cell growth, which can help lessen the appearance of acne scars over time.

How much are chemical peels for acne scars?

Light peels can cost as low as $150, and deep peels can cost $3,000 or more (specifically if it requires anesthesia, or in-patient stays). According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the current average cost of a chemical peel is $673.

Will TCA peel remove acne scars?

A superficial peel of 25% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) followed by manual dermasanding in separate sessions is effective in the treatment of mild to moderate acne scars, according to results of a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.

What is the difference between TCA and TCA Cross?

The main difference between TCA Cross and a TCA chemical peel is that TCA Cross treats the individual acne scars, with a very high concentration (50 to 100%)of trichloroacetic acid.

Which chemical peel is best for scars?

Best Chemical Peel for Acne ScarsGlycolic acid: all skin types.Phytic acid: sensitive skin.Salicylic acid: oily, dirty skin.Lactic acid: dark spots.Mandelic acid: dark skin and large pores.

Does Medicare cover acne treatment?

Medicare does not cover dermatologic procedures that are routine, such as a whole-body skin exam, or cosmetic like laser hair removal or acne treatment in nature. Cosmetic procedures are not covered unless you need them because of accidental injury or to improve the function of a malformed body part.

What are chemical peels for face?

Chemical peels are used to treat wrinkles, discolored skin and scars — usually on the face. They can be done alone or combined with other cosmetic procedures. And they can be done at different depths, from light to deep. Deeper chemical peels offer more-dramatic results but also take longer to recover from.

Does Medicare cover PDT treatment?

Coverage is extended for surgical or medical treatment methods, including but not limited to cryosurgery with liquid nitrogen, curettage, excision, and photodynamic therapy (PDT), without restrictions based on patient or lesion characteristics.

What is chemical peeling?

chemical peel is a controlled removal of various layers of the skin with the use of a chemical agent. The most common use of chemical peeling is the treatment of photoaged skin. Chemical peeling has also been used for other conditions, including actinic keratoses, active acne, and acne scarring.

How long does a chemical peel last?

These changes can be long-term, lasting 15 to 20 years and may be permanent in some patients. Potential local complications include scarring, infection, hypopigmentation, hyperpigmentation, activation of herpes simplex, and toxic shock syndrome.1

What is a medium depth peel?

Medium-depth peels (dermal peels) extend into the epidermis to the papillary dermis. They are used for moderate photoaging, actinic keratoses, pigmentary dyschromias, and mild acne scarring. In the past, 50% TCA was a common chemical agent for medium-depth peels, but its use has decreased due to high rates of complications (eg, pigmentary changes, scarring). Currently, the most frequently used agent is a combination of 35% TCA with Jessner solution or 70% glycolic acid. Phenol 88% alone is also used for medium-depth peels. The healing process involves mild-to-moderate edema, followed by the appearance of new, erythematous epithelium. Patients are advised to wait at least three months before resuming skincare services (eg, superficial chemical peels) and repeat medium-depth chemical peels should not be performed for at least one year.

What is superficial peel?

Superficial peels (epider mal peels) affect the epidermis and the interface of the dermis-epidermis. This depth is considered appropriate for treating mild photoaging, melasma, comedonal acne, and postinflammatory erythema. Common chemical agents used for superficial peels include low concentrations of glycolic acid, 10% to 20% trichloroacetic acid (TCA), Jessner solution (a mixture of resorcinol, salicylic acid, lactic acid, and ethanol), tretinoin, and salicylic acid. As part of the treatment process, superficial peels generally cause mild erythema and desquamation, and healing time ranges from one to four days, depending on the strength of the chemical agent. With superficial peels, patients often undergo multiple sessions, generally, six to eight peels performed weekly or biweekly.

Is a chemical peel necessary for acne?

Epidermal chemical peels used to treat patients with active acne that has failed a trial of topical and/or oral antibiotic acne therapy are considered MEDICALLY NECESSARY. In this setting, superficial chemical peels with 40% to 70% alpha hydroxy acids are used as a comedolytic therapy. (Alpha hydroxy acids can also be used in lower concentrations [8%] without the supervision of a physician.)

What is chemical peeling?

Chemical peeling refers to the application of a cauterant to the skin for the purpose of causing a superficial destruction of the epidermis and upper layer of dermis. After healing, the treated area has a new epithelium and a somewhat more youthful appearance. Several agents can be used toperform the chemical peel, ...

Do you need sterile solution for skin preparation?

A table containing the solutions and syringes should be created according to preferences. The procedure may or may not require a sterile set-up depending on the surgeon’s preference. The skin preparation solution is only used to decrease the skin.

What is dermabrasion and chemical peel?

Dermabrasion and chemical peels are skin resurfacing procedures that remove the epidermis and superficial layers of skin to allow re-epithelialization. Dermabrasion and /or chemical peels are types of treatment that are generally employed for treating large areas where lesions are multiple and diffuse.

Does dermabrasion insurance cover chemical peels?

Coverage for dermabrasion and/or chemical peel treatments varies across plans and may be subject to the provisions of a cosmetic and/or reconstructive surgery benefit, and may be governed by state mandates. Refer to the customer’s benefit plan document for coverage details.

Is dermabrasion considered cosmetic?

When performed solely for the purpose of altering appearance or self-esteem, or to treat psychological symptomatology or psychosocial complaints related to one’s appearance, dermabrasion and chemical peels are considered cosmetic and not medically necessary. Examples of conditions for which dermabrasion and chemical peels are considered cosmetic include but are not limited to the following:

How much acid is needed for a chemical peel?

Getting chemical peels usually involves several visits to a skincare professional such as an esthetician/cosmetician (can administer up to 30% acid), or nurse/doctor (can administer up to 70% acid).

What is the strength of a chemical peel?

Moderately penetrating chemical peels normally use trichloroacetic acid (TCA) in 35-50% strength, which penetrates more deeply into the skin than superficial peels. TCA causes peeling of deeper layers of the skin and increases production of collagen, elastin, and other proteins which give skin its elasticity. 16 However, since 50% strength TCA can cause complications, including scarring at times, doctors now often prep the skin using other methods, and then apply only 20-35% TCA. This produces similar results with fewer complications. The methods of prepping the skin before 20-35% TCA include: (1) freezing the skin with CO2 and acetone, (2) applying Jessner's solution, a type of peel that consists of a combination of lactic acid (which helps exfoliate skin), salicylic acid (which helps skin penetration), and resorcinol (which helps break down hardened skin and treats acne), and (3) applying 70% glycolic acid. 17

What is a superficial peel?

Superficial peels are lower strength than moderate or deep peels and normally use acids that belong to the alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) or beta hydroxy acid (BHA) families. The most common types of acids used are glycolic acid (AHA) and salicylic acid (BHA). 1. Both glycolic and salicylic acid peels are typically administered at a concentration ...

How does a deep peel work?

Deep peels work by breaking down proteins in skin and stimulating production of collagen in the regenerated skin. 20. Warning: Because deep peels use very strong acids, the procedure is akin to plastic surgery and must be administered by a skilled and highly trained dermatologist.

Is a chemical peel effective for acne vulgaris?

The review authors wrote, "Commonly used chemical peels appear to be similarly effective for mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris and well tolerated. However, based on current limited evidence, a robust conclusion cannot be drawn regarding any definitive superiority or equality among the currently used chemical peels.". 8.

Is chemical peel good for acne?

The review authors concluded that all commonly used chemical peels seem to be similarly effective for mild-to-moderate acne and have few side effects. However, the authors stressed the low quality of the studies and emphasized the need for more research on this topic. 8.

Does TCA peel work on acne?

Effectiveness for acne: Moderate peels are not normally used to treat acne. Therefore, we do not have any studies reporting on the effectiveness of moderate depth peels on acne. One clinical study did investigate the effect of TCA on acne, but in superficial peel percentages, on darker skinned people.

What is chemical peel?

With chemical peels/chemical exfoliation, a chemical solution is applied to the skin, resulting in destruction of the superficial layer, allowing a new layer of skin regeneration.

How does RF work for acne scars?

Simmons and colleagues (2014) noted that a more recent technique for the treatment of acne scars is non-ablative radiofrequency (RF) that works by passing a current through the dermis at a preset depth to produce small thermal wounds in the dermis which , in turn, stimulates dermal remodeling to produce new collagen and soften scar defects. This review article demonstrated that out of all RF modalities, micro-needle bipolar RF and fractional bipolar RF treatments offered the best results for acne scarring. An improvement of 25 % to 75 % can be expected after 3 to 4 therapeutic sessions using 1 to 2 passes per session. Results were optimal approximately 3 months after final treatment.Common adverse effects (AEs) can include transient pain, erythema, and scabbing. The authors concluded that further studies are needed to determine what RF treatment modalities work best for specific scar subtypes, so that further optimization of RF treatments for acne scars can be determined. They also stated that available studies using RF treatments on acne scarring did not address the long-term sustainability of responses to treatment; although the results of this review were promising, more studies with longer follow-up are needed to determine the place of RF in the treatment of acne scarring.

Does Aetna recommend microdermabrasion?

Aetna considers dermabrasion for removal of acne scars cosmetic. Dermabrasion and microdermabrasion are considered experimental and investigational in treating active acne because it has been shown to increase inflammation associated with active acne.