2025 CPT code 15823
Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Integumentary System Feed
Blepharoplasty, upper eyelid; with excessive skin weighting down lid.
Modifiers are applicable to this code. Modifier 50 is used for bilateral procedures. Modifier 59 may be used if performed with other distinct procedures.
Medical necessity for 15823 is established when the excess upper eyelid skin interferes with vision or causes significant functional impairment.For cosmetic procedures, documentation should support the patient's concern and the impact on their quality of life.
The physician is responsible for the entire surgical process, from preoperative evaluation and patient counseling through the procedure itself and postoperative care. This includes assessing the patient's suitability for surgery, marking the eyelids for incision, performing the surgical removal of excess skin and other tissues, closing the incisions, and managing any complications.
In simple words: This procedure removes excess skin from the upper eyelid that may be causing the eyelid to droop or obstruct vision.The surgeon makes a small cut in the natural crease of the eyelid, removes the extra skin and sometimes a small amount of fat or muscle, and then closes the incision.The scar is usually hidden in the eyelid's natural crease.
This code describes a surgical procedure to correct drooping upper eyelids due to excess skin.The procedure involves removing excess skin, and sometimes muscle and fat, through an incision made in the natural crease of the upper eyelid. This incision is designed to be hidden when the eye is open.The procedure can be performed for cosmetic reasons or to improve vision when excess skin obstructs the visual field.
Example 1: A 65-year-old patient has significant excess skin on their upper eyelids, causing both cosmetic concerns and a noticeable obstruction of their superior visual field. The physician performs a 15823 procedure to remove the excess skin and improve both their appearance and field of vision., A 40-year-old patient has genetically inherited drooping upper eyelids that make them appear tired and older than their actual age. They elect to undergo a 15823 procedure for purely cosmetic reasons to improve their appearance., A patient has undergone previous upper eyelid surgery, but due to further skin laxity with age, requires a secondary blepharoplasty. 15823 is used again to address the recurrent excess skin.
Documentation should include pre- and postoperative photos, measurements of the visual field if vision is impaired, a detailed operative report describing the techniques used, tissues removed, and any complications encountered. Medical necessity should be clearly documented, particularly if vision is impaired.
** For bilateral blepharoplasty, add modifier 50.
- Specialties:Ophthalmology, Plastic Surgery, Oculoplastic Surgery
- Place of Service:Ambulatory Surgical Center, Hospital Outpatient, Office