Summary & Overview
CPT 15775: Preparation and Transfer of 1–15 Hair Grafts
CPT code 15775 represents a minor surgical hair transplantation procedure in which a provider prepares and transplants 1 to 15 hair grafts from a hair-bearing scalp site into a hairless target area. This code captures a focused micrografting technique commonly used in cosmetic and reconstructive settings for small alopecic defects. Nationally, the code matters for coverage determinations, bundled payment considerations for cosmetic versus reconstructive indications, and consistent reporting of outpatient skin and hair restoration procedures.
Key payers referenced include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical intent and typical settings, a summary of common modifiers used with this service, and guidance on the types of documentation and coding considerations that influence payer adjudication. The publication also covers benchmark rate comparisons where available, typical payer coverage approaches for cosmetic versus reconstructive indications, and implications for service-line planning in outpatient surgical centers. Data not available in the input is noted where specific payer policy details, associated ICD-10 diagnoses, and related codes would otherwise be listed.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 15775 describes a surgical hair grafting procedure in which the provider prepares 1 to 15 hair grafts harvested from a hair-bearing area of the scalp and transplants them into a site devoid of hair. The procedure involves creating small recipient holes in the bald or thinning target site using a punching instrument and transferring the grafts into those prepared sites.
-
Service type: Surgical hair transplantation (micrografting)
-
Typical site of service: Outpatient surgical suite or clinic-based procedure room where minor surgical skin procedures are performed
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult presenting with a focal area of localized hair loss or a cosmetic defect of the scalp (for example, a small stable alopecia patch following trauma, scar-related hairlessness, or localized male pattern hair loss requiring micrografting). The procedure is performed in an ambulatory surgery center or outpatient clinic procedure room under local anesthesia with or without sedation. The provider harvests 1–15 individual follicular unit grafts from a donor site of the scalp that bears hair, prepares the recipient site by creating multiple small recipient holes or slits using a punch or needle instrument, and transfers and orients the harvested grafts into the recipient sites to achieve hair restoration and improved cosmesis. Typical workflow steps include pre-procedure evaluation and counseling, donor site planning and tumescent/local anesthetic infiltration, graft harvesting and trimming, recipient-site creation, graft insertion, hemostasis and dressing, and immediate post-procedure instructions. Indications often include small traumatic or surgical scars, stable cicatricial alopecia patches amenable to grafting, or cosmetic grafting for limited hair restoration.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
11 | Normal (default) service | Use when the procedure is performed without complications or unusual circumstances and represents the usual service. |