Summary & Overview
CPT 30120: Excision/Abrasion of Diseased Nasal Skin (Rhinophyma)
CPT code 30120 denotes surgical excision or abrasion of diseased nasal skin tissue due to rhinophyma, a condition that produces hypertrophic, thickened skin and enlarged sebaceous glands on the nose. Nationally, this code captures procedures that address both functional and cosmetic sequelae of advanced rosacea-related tissue overgrowth and is relevant for surgical specialists, facility billing, and payer coverage policy. Key payers included in the analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical context for the procedure, common sites of service, and what to expect in billing and claims handling for this service line. The publication outlines typical billing considerations, common modifiers reported with this service, and the clinical indications that justify surgical intervention. It also highlights benchmarking elements and policy updates that affect coverage and documentation expectations for reconstructive or debulking procedures of the nose. Data not available in the input is noted where specific payer policies, related ICD-10 codes, and associated taxonomies are not provided.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 30120 describes a surgical procedure to excise or abrade diseased skin tissue of the nose caused by rhinophyma, a condition characterized by localized congestion, swelling, thickened skin, and enlarged sebaceous glands—most commonly affecting the tip of the nose. This procedure involves removal of hypertrophic tissue to restore nasal contour and skin integrity.
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Service type: Surgical excision/abrasion of diseased nasal skin
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Typical site of service: Ambulatory surgery center or hospital outpatient surgical setting; may also be performed in an office-based surgical suite depending on clinical circumstances and facility capabilities.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A patient is a 58-year-old male with progressive nasal contour deformity, enlarged sebaceous glands, thickened erythematous skin and nodularity consistent with rhinophyma causing cosmetic deformity and obstruction of the external nasal valve. Prior conservative medical therapy (topical agents and oral isotretinoin) provided inadequate improvement and the patient requests surgical correction. The otolaryngologist or facial plastic surgeon evaluates the patient in clinic, documents failed medical therapy, obtains informed consent, reviews risks (bleeding, infection, scarring, contour irregularity), and schedules the patient for excision/abrading of diseased nasal skin.
The procedure is typically performed in an outpatient ambulatory surgery center or hospital outpatient department under local anesthesia with sedation or monitored anesthesia care, or under general anesthesia when indicated. The surgeon debulks hypertrophic tissue using scalpel excision, dermabrasion, electrosurgical shaving, or tangential excision followed by contouring and hemostasis. Specimens are sent to pathology if malignancy is suspected. Postoperative instructions address wound care, infection signs, and follow-up for possible revision or reconstructive procedures.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | Exempt from National Coverage Determinations | Rarely used; when payor-specific administrative code requires an exemption indicator |