Face Lift: FSA Eligibility

What is a face lift?

A face lift is also called a rhytidectomy. A face lift is a cosmetic surgery procedure that reduces the appearance of wrinkles and aging by removing excess facial skin, sometimes to include the tightening of underlying tissues. The primary targets of a facelift include sagging skin in the middle of the face, creases around eyelids including creases at the lower eyelids and creases extending from the nose to the corners of the mouth. Face lifts are also used to alleviate the loss of skin tone in the lower face which can result in the appearance or emphasis of jowls, the sagging of skin and loss of tone which can result in the appearance or emphasis of a double skin, or gauntness in the face (American Society of Plastic Surgeons). Face lifts include a variety of different procedures to deal with these cosmetic issues. The procedures are cosmetic in nature and designed to improve physical appearance, and thus are not eligible for reimbursement with any of the consumer-directed healthcare plans.

A face lift is a cosmetic procedure that will not stop or slow the aging process. It will only adjust the appearance of aging, and is a temporary measure with side effects including discomfort, scarring, loss of sensation, nerve damage bruising, hair loss, tissue loss, and more. A face lift is a surgical procedure and it carries the same risk as any other surgery that involves cutting skin. Some face lift procedures are considered to have fewer potential side effects and/or lower risks of side effects, but all facial surgeries designed to improve cosmetic appearance will carry some risk (Medical News Today).