Summary & Overview
CPT 17380: Electrosurgical Hair Removal with Short Wave Diathermy
CPT code 17380 identifies electrosurgical hair removal using short wave diathermy to destroy and remove unwanted hair and prevent regrowth. Nationally, this code captures a commonly performed dermatologic cosmetic and medical procedure with implications for coverage policy, coding accuracy, and appropriate site-of-service billing. Accurate reporting of 17380 matters for consistent claims adjudication and proper separation of cosmetic versus medically necessary services.
Key payers in this coverage analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication reviews payer coverage patterns, common billing and documentation issues, and clinical context differentiating cosmetic from medically indicated hair removal.
Readers will learn the clinical definition and typical settings for the procedure, common payer coverage themes and variations, documentation elements that support medical necessity, and how 17380 relates to other dermatologic procedure coding. The report also highlights typical modifiers used with similar services and notes when additional procedure codes or site-of-service considerations may apply. Data not available in the input is identified where relevant.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 17380 describes the destruction and removal of unwanted hair using short wave diathermy current. This procedure is a hair removal service that destroys hair follicles to prevent further hair growth.
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Service type: Electrosurgical hair removal
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Typical site of service: Outpatient dermatology clinic, ambulatory surgical center, or physician office
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 28-year-old female presents to a dermatology clinic seeking permanent removal of multiple localized areas of unwanted terminal hair on the upper lip and chin. She has attempted topical depilation and waxing with recurrent regrowth and desires definitive treatment. After a focused history and skin/lesion exam, the dermatologist discusses electrolysis using short wave diathermy to destroy individual hair follicles. The clinical workflow includes informed consent, identification and marking of treatment sites, topical or local anesthesia if needed, sequential insertion of a fine probe into hair follicles, application of short wave diathermy current to thermally destroy follicular structures, extraction of the treated hairs, post-procedure wound care instructions, and scheduling of follow-up treatments at 4–8 week intervals until clinical endpoint is achieved. Billing uses 17380 for destruction of unwanted hair by short wave diathermy. Typical documentation includes indication, number and location of hairs treated, anesthesia used, procedural steps, immediate response, and aftercare instructions.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier — standard reporting | Use for routine, uncomplicated single-provider electrolysis services. |
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when work required is substantially greater than typical (e.g., extensive resistant hair over large areas). |
23 | Unusual anesthesia | Use when general or regional anesthesia is required for the procedure due to patient factors. |
24 | Unrelated E/M by same physician during post-op period | Use when an unrelated evaluation occurs during global postoperative period. |
26 | Professional component | Use if billing only the physician professional component separate from facility technical services. |
50 | Bilateral procedure | Use when symmetric bilateral sites are treated and payer accepts bilateral modifier. |
51 | Multiple procedures | Use when 17380 is reported with other CPT procedures during the same session and payer requires modifier for multiple procedures. |
52 | Reduced services | Use when the service is partially reduced or discontinued. |
53 | Discontinued procedure | Use when the procedure is started but discontinued for reasons beyond control. |
59 (Not in provided list) | Data not available in the input. | Data not available in the input. |
| Taxonomy Code | Specialty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2080P0800X | Dermatology | Most common specialty performing electrolysis/diathermy for hair removal. |
| 207Q00000X | Family Medicine | May perform minor dermatologic procedures in outpatient office. |
| 208100000X | Plastic Surgery | May perform hair removal related to reconstructive or cosmetic procedures. |
| 208000000X | General Practice | Office-based providers performing cosmetic minor procedures. |
Related Diagnoses
| ICD-10 Code | Description | Clinical Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Data not available in the input. | Data not available in the input. | Data not available in the input. |
Related CPT Codes
| CPT Code | Description | Relationship to This Procedure |
|---|---|---|
17000 | Destruction (e.g., laser surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, not for vascular lesions) of benign lesions other than skin tags or cutaneous vascular proliferative lesions; up to 14 lesions | May be used for concurrent destruction of benign lesions during the same visit when multiple superficial lesions are treated. |
11721 | Debridement of nail(s) by any method(s); 1–5 toenails (for onychomycosis-related thickened nails) | May be performed by the same provider for concurrent nail procedures but unrelated to hair removal. |
99070 | Supplies and materials (except spectacles), provided by the physician over and above those usually included with the office visit | Used to report disposable probes, topical anesthetics, or sterile supplies not included in base procedure reimbursement. |
99051 | Service(s) provided in the office at times other than regularly scheduled office hours | May apply if electrolysis is performed during unusually timed hours and payer allows. |
69200 | Removal of impacted cerumen (not directly related) | Data not available in the input. |