Medicare coverage
Does Medicare Cover Cosmetic Surgery?
No. Medicare doesn’t cover most cosmetic surgery.
No
Source: Medicare.gov, Cosmetic surgery, checked October 23, 2026.
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Coverage at a glance
- Covered?
- No
- Which part
- Medicare.gov does not name one part for this item
- What you pay
- You usually pay all costs.
- Medicare.gov page
- Cosmetic surgery
Description
Cosmetic surgery usually focuses on changing a person's physical appearance rather that treating a medical condition.
From Medicare.gov, checked October 23, 2026.
Coverage details
Medicare usually doesn’t cover cosmetic surgery unless you need it because of accidental injury or to improve the function of a malformed body part. Medicare covers breast reconstruction if you had a mastectomy because of breast cancer.
Medicare usually requires prior authorization before you get these services that are sometimes (but not always) considered cosmetic:
- Blepharoplasty: Surgery on your eyelid to remove “droopy,” fatty, or excess tissue.
- Botulinum toxin injections: Injections used to treat muscle disorders, like spasms and twitches.
- Panniculectomy: Surgery to remove excess skin and tissue from your lower abdomen.
- Rhinoplasty (or “nose job”): Surgery to change the shape of your nose.
- Vein ablation: Surgery to close off veins.
Medicare might require prior authorization for these services whether you get them in a hospital outpatient department or ambulatory surgical center. If your procedure requires prior authorization before Medicare will pay for it, you don’t need to do anything. Your provider will send a prior authorization request and documentation to Medicare for approval before the procedure. If Medicare approves your prior authorization request, you should only need to pay your deductible and coinsurance.
Extra benefits from MA plans
Some Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) offer extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover - like vision, hearing, or dental. Contact the plan for more information.
From Medicare.gov, checked October 23, 2026.
Costs
You pay all costs for non-covered services, including most cosmetic surgery.
From Medicare.gov, checked October 23, 2026.
Related pages
- Does Medicare Cover Ambulance Services?
Yes
- Does Medicare Cover Skilled Nursing Facility Care?
Yes
- Does Medicare Cover Inpatient Rehabilitation?
Yes
- Does Medicare Cover Inpatient Hospital Stays?
Only in certain cases
- Does Medicare Cover Outpatient Hospital Services?
Yes
- Does Medicare Cover Outpatient Surgery?
Yes
- Medicare Part B deductible 2027
- Part D out-of-pocket max 2027
- Dual eligible: Medicare and Medicaid together
- 2027 Medicare plans by county
- Everything Medicare covers, A to Z
Questions
Does Medicare Cover Cosmetic Surgery?
No. Medicare doesn’t cover most cosmetic surgery.
How much do you pay for Cosmetic Surgery with Medicare?
Per Medicare.gov: You usually pay all costs.
Does a Medicare Advantage plan cover Cosmetic Surgery?
Medicare Advantage plans must cover what Original Medicare covers and some offer extra benefits. Check the plan's Evidence of Coverage. Rivvi does not recommend plans.
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Does Medicare Cover Cosmetic Surgery?
No. Medicare doesn’t cover most cosmetic surgery.
Checked against Medicare.gov 2026-10-23. Source: Rivvi