Summary & Overview
CPT 15774: Autologous Fat Grafting for Soft-Tissue Augmentation
CPT code 15774 denotes autologous fat grafting for soft-tissue augmentation: harvesting fat by liposuction from one site and injecting up to 25 cc into another site on the face, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, orbits, genitalia, hands, and/or feet. The code captures a common reconstructive and cosmetic procedure used to correct contour defects, restore soft-tissue volume after trauma or surgery, and address atrophic changes. Nationally, this code is clinically relevant across aesthetic, reconstructive, and dermatologic practices and influences coverage, documentation, and billing for minimally invasive soft-tissue procedures.
Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context, typical sites of service, and expected billing considerations tied to this procedure. The publication outlines benchmarks for utilization and coding practice, summarizes payer coverage patterns where available, and highlights policy and documentation issues that commonly affect claim acceptance. Clinical scenarios and service settings are described to clarify when CPT code 15774 is appropriate.
Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and payer-specific policy details are noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 15774 describes autologous fat grafting in which the provider harvests fat by liposuction from one anatomical site and injects it into another site on the face, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, orbits, genitalia, hands, and/or feet to fill defects or reshape contours. This code specifically represents up to 25 cc of autologous fat used for injection.
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Service type: Autologous fat harvesting and injection (lipofilling/lipotransfer) for soft-tissue augmentation and contouring
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Typical site of service: Ambulatory surgical centers, hospital outpatient departments, and office-based procedure settings where minor surgical and cosmetic reconstructive procedures are performed
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 45-year-old patient presents to an outpatient ambulatory surgical center with volume loss and contour irregularities of the midface following prior trauma and soft-tissue atrophy. After evaluation by a board-certified plastic surgeon, the patient elects autologous fat grafting to restore facial volume. The procedure includes harvest of adipose tissue by liposuction from a donor site (commonly the abdomen or thigh), processing of the harvested fat, and injection of up to 25 cc of autologous fat into facial subcutaneous and subperiosteal planes to fill defects and reshape contours. The clinical workflow includes preoperative assessment and consent, sterile field preparation, infiltration and tumescent liposuction for fat harvest, fat processing (centrifugation or filtration), careful layered injection into target facial areas, hemostasis, dressing, and post-procedure recovery with routine postoperative instructions and follow-up. Typical sites of service are outpatient ambulatory surgery centers, hospital outpatient departments, and office-based surgical suites equipped for minor surgical procedures. Typical anesthesia ranges from local anesthesia with sedation to general anesthesia depending on patient factors and concurrent procedures.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
11 | Normal, uncomplicated procedure | Use when the service is performed under routine circumstances without unusual circumstances or complications |