Breast augmentations, tummy tucks and liposuction sometimes on the military's buck

Nip and tuck ... sometimes on the military's buck
By Charlie Reed, Stars and Stripes

The military is adamant: It does not pay for unnecessary plastic surgery.

But an audit of patient records released by the Pentagon in February shows that’s not always the case.

The audit found that military doctors were regularly performing breast augmentations, tummy tucks, liposuction and other purely cosmetic surgery without always charging patients as required.

"It raises a concern because it’s not allowed," said Navy Cmdr. James Ellzy, director of clinical quality for military health service at the Pentagon, who oversaw the review.

The military keeps plastic surgeons and reconstructive specialists on its payroll to treat war-mangled troops and others disfigured in accidents or by disease or birth defects.

Because a majority of military doctors don’t perform those medically necessary surgeries on a consistent basis, to keep their skills sharp they are allowed to perform cosmetic plastic surgery for paying patients.

Like most medical care, necessary plastic surgery is provided free by Tricare, the Defense Department agency that manages military health care benefits.

Plastic surgery deemed cosmetic must be paid by patients out of pocket, similar to medical insurance practices in the civilian world.

However, some servicemembers, dependents and retirees are undergoing purely cosmetic surgery on the military’s dime, according to the Pentagon audit.
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