Summary & Overview
CPT 15782: Dermabrasion/Skin Resurfacing, Non-Facial
CPT code 15782 represents a dermatologic skin resurfacing procedure—dermabrasion or sanding—performed on parts of the body other than the face to remove acne scars, lesions, or tattoos. This code captures a common outpatient procedural service that intersects clinical dermatology and cosmetic/medical skin care, with implications for coverage policies and coding accuracy across national payers. Accurate coding for this procedure matters for clinical documentation, benefit determinations, and claims processing given variation in coverage for cosmetic versus medically necessary indications.
Key payers referenced in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of the procedure and where it is typically performed, plus national benchmarking and policy context where available. The publication summarizes common payer considerations, billing nuances, and clinical indications tied to procedural coding. It also outlines typical settings of care and the types of documentation that influence payer determinations. Data not available in the input will be noted where applicable.
This summary is intended for clinicians, coding professionals, and policy analysts seeking a concise national-level briefing on CPT code 15782, its clinical context, and the payer landscape relevant to outpatient skin resurfacing on non-facial body sites.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 15782 describes a dermatologic procedure in which a provider removes acne scars, lesions, or tattoos from an area of the body other than the face by lightly sanding the surface of the skin with a specialized tool. This service is a form of skin resurfacing (dermabrasion) targeted at non-facial body sites.
Service type: Skin resurfacing / dermabrasion (non-facial)
Typical site of service: Ambulatory surgical center or outpatient clinic / procedure room, where minor dermatologic procedures are commonly performed.
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 28-year-old patient presents to a dermatology clinic for removal of acne scarring on the upper back that has been cosmetically bothersome despite topical therapy. After counseling and informed consent, the patient is prepared in an outpatient procedure room. Local anesthesia (topical or intradermal) is administered to the treatment area. The provider uses a specialized dermabrasion handpiece to lightly sand the epidermal surface and superficial dermis over a delineated area on the trunk, taking care to avoid facial regions (this code is for body sites other than the face). Hemostasis is achieved with topical agents and sterile dressings are applied. The patient is given wound care and activity instructions and scheduled for follow-up to assess healing and scar improvement. Typical sites of service include an ambulatory surgery center, hospital outpatient department, or dermatologist office procedure suite. The service is coded as 15782 for dermabrasion of an area of the body other than the face.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when work, time, or intensity substantially exceeds typical for 15782 (document rationale). |
23 | Unusual anesthesia | Use when general anesthesia or deep sedation is required for 15782 and not normally used. |
26 | Professional component | Use if only the professional interpretation or performance portion is billed separately from technical services. |
50 | Bilateral procedure | Use when symmetric areas on both sides of the body are treated and payer allows bilateral reporting (rare for dermabrasion). |
51 | Multiple procedures | Use when 15782 is performed in the same session with other distinct procedures (list multiple procedures). |
52 | Reduced services | Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as planned. |
53 | Discontinued procedure | Use when the procedure is terminated before completion for patient-related or surgical reasons. |
58 | Staged or related procedure or service by same physician during post-op period | Use when 15782 is planned as a staged procedure during the global period. |
76* | Repeat procedure by same physician | Use if the same service is repeated later the same day by the same provider. |
77* | Repeat procedure by another physician | Use if the same service is repeated later the same day by a different physician. |
| Taxonomy Code | Specialty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
207N00000X | Dermatology | Most common specialty performing dermabrasion procedures. |
207P00000X | Plastic Surgery | Performs scar revision and body resurfacing, often for aesthetic or reconstructive indications. |
208000000X | General Surgery | May perform dermabrasion in hospital settings for select reconstructive cases. |
363L00000X | Cosmetic Dermatology (subset of Dermatology) | Providers focused on aesthetic skin procedures and resurfacing techniques. |
*Note: Modifiers 76 and 77 were not in the provided modifier list; they are commonly used CMS modifiers for repeats but are not included in the raw data and therefore are not available for use. If strict adherence to the provided modifier list is required, exclude these.
Related Diagnoses
| ICD-10 Code | Description | Clinical Relevance |
|---|---|---|
L70.0 | Acne vulgaris | Common indication when hypertrophic or atrophic acne scarring on the body prompts resurfacing. |
L91.8 | Other hypertrophic and atrophic disorders of skin | Includes scar conditions treated with dermabrasion to improve contour and texture. |
L57.0 | Actinic keratosis | Surface lesions sometimes treated with destruction prior to cosmetic resurfacing of adjacent skin. |
R23.0 | Dermatitis, unspecified (skin discoloration) | Post-inflammatory changes or textural skin issues that may lead to consideration of dermabrasion. |
Z41.1 | Encounter for cosmetic surgery for skin | Administrative code used when the procedure is performed for cosmetic purposes. |
Related CPT Codes
| CPT Code | Description | Relationship to This Procedure |
|---|---|---|
15780 | Dermabrasion; full face | Performed for facial resurfacing—distinct from 15782 which is for non-face body areas; may be used when facial areas are treated instead. |
13131 | Secondary closure of surgical wound, face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips; 1.1 cm to 2.5 cm | Used when excisional scar revision is performed in conjunction with dermabrasion for improving results. |
17260 | Destruction, premalignant lesion (e.g., actinic keratoses), face, scalp, hands, neck, trunk, arms, legs; first lesion | May be performed in the same patient for removal of premalignant lesions on the body prior to or separate from resurfacing. |
99213 | Office or other outpatient visit for evaluation and management, established patient, low to moderate complexity | Typical pre- or post-procedure E/M visit associated with counseling and follow-up for 15782. |
99024 | Postoperative follow-up visit, included in global service | Used to indicate routine postoperative follow-up related to a global surgical package when payer requires reporting. |