Insuring your cosmetic surgery procedures is now possible

We call these "therapeutic hazards." In fact, they are post-operative complications , most often involving difficult healing, infections, hematomas, and other surgical revisions. "There was still a gap in health coverage for these often costly complications, which remained the patient's responsibility. Until now, there were only two types of insurance in cosmetic surgery: professional liability insurance for the surgeon, which covers a failure by the practitioner, and "product" insurance, which covers, for example, a defective breast prosthesis," explains Pascale Buchberger, development manager at Medassure Beauty.

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While Social Security only covers corrective procedures, legal recourse often seems lengthy, costly, and uncertain. With nearly 900,000 cosmetic procedures recorded in France, including 323,600 surgical procedures according to Isaps (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery), insurers are beginning to look into this lucrative market. Medassure, founded in Germany about fifteen years ago, was the pioneer to position itself in this aesthetic care pathway in France.

The complication rate is not insignificant, it concerns 5 to 10% of breast augmentations with implants, which can cause capsular contractures, that is to say an inflammatory reaction of the body. But also 15% of breast reductions with rather healing problems, a loss of sensitivity and hematomas. And finally, 1 to 5% of blepharoplasties. These are real risks which have nothing to do with any dissatisfaction. " Most often, the surgeon redoes his act for free but the patient must pay the costs related to the operation. For example, the stay, the anesthesia, the care or the medication , continues Pascale Buchberger. In certain European countries like Germany, Spain and Italy but especially in South America where the interventions are much more numerous, these insurances have become a reflex and surgeons suggest them almost systematically to patients. In France, it is currently a little more difficult, some doctors fear that this will call into question their expertise.

To convince, these new types of insurance also rely on providing care, upon their return to France, to patients who undergo surgery abroad. " Attracted by lower rates, particularly in Turkey, Spain, Italy, or the Czech Republic, they often have to deal with the lack of structured post-operative follow-up, which can, in fact, increase the risk of complications."