Reasons for Surgery: Medical Necessity and Common Procedures

Medical necessity

* Life-threatening conditions: Surgery may be necessary to save a person's life, such as in the case of a heart attack, stroke, or cancer.

* Serious injuries: Surgery may be needed to repair serious injuries, such as a broken bone, a burn, or a laceration.

* Chronic diseases: Surgery may be necessary to treat chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, or arthritis.

* Quality of life: Surgery may be necessary to improve a person's quality of life, such as in the case of cosmetic surgery or gender reassignment surgery.

Elective surgery

* Elective surgery is surgery that is not medically necessary, but is chosen by the patient. Elective surgery may be performed for a variety of reasons, such as:

* To improve appearance: Elective surgery can be performed to improve a person's appearance, such as through breast augmentation, liposuction, or rhinoplasty.

* To correct a birth defect: Elective surgery can be performed to correct a birth defect, such as a cleft lip or palate, or a heart defect.

* To enhance athletic performance: Elective surgery can be performed to enhance athletic performance, such as through knee surgery, shoulder surgery, or ACL reconstruction.

* To improve sexual function: Elective surgery can be performed to improve sexual function, such as through penile enlargement or vaginoplasty.