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CPT 21137: Forehead Reduction and Contouring
CPT code 21137 represents surgical forehead contouring or forehead reduction performed to decrease forehead height and lower the brow or hairline. Widely used in cosmetic and some reconstructive facial surgeries, the code captures procedures that alter frontal bone and soft-tissue contours for aesthetic or corrective purposes. Nationally, this code is relevant for surgical specialties that provide facial cosmetic and reconstructive services and for payers that manage coverage of elective versus medically necessary facial procedures.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context and typical sites of service, along with benchmarks and payment considerations where available. The publication summarizes common billing and claim considerations associated with forehead reduction, clarifies when the procedure is typically performed in ambulatory surgical centers or hospital operating rooms, and highlights policy and coding topics that affect coverage determinations.
What readers will learn: clinical description and service setting for CPT code 21137, typical payer coverage scope, and practical billing context including common modifiers and claim components. Data not available in the input will be noted explicitly in specific sections.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 21137 describes a forehead contouring/forehead reduction procedure intended to reduce forehead size and lower the brow or hairline. The procedure is commonly performed as cosmetic surgery but may also be used to correct a facial abnormality.
Service type: Surgical — Cosmetic/Reconstructive Forehead Reduction
Typical site of service: Ambulatory surgical center or hospital operating room