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Official Description

Repair of brow ptosis (supraciliary, mid-forehead or coronal approach)

© Copyright 2026 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

The procedure described by CPT® Code 67900 involves the surgical repair of brow ptosis, which refers to the drooping or sagging of the eyelids due to laxity in the forehead muscles and descent of the soft tissues around the eyes. This condition can lead to functional visual impairment, particularly affecting the peripheral and superior visual fields. The surgical intervention aims to restore the position of the brow and improve both aesthetic appearance and visual function. The repair can be performed using various approaches, including a supraciliary incision located along the superior border of the eyebrow, a mid-forehead incision that follows preexisting horizontal furrows, or a coronal incision that is made along the hairline. Each approach is selected based on the specific needs of the patient and the extent of the brow ptosis. Prior to the procedure, the skin is meticulously marked while the patient is in an upright position, and local anesthesia is administered to ensure comfort during the surgery. The technique involves careful dissection and excision of excess skin and underlying tissues, followed by the closure of the incisions in layers to promote optimal healing and aesthetic outcomes.

© Copyright 2026 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The procedure is indicated for patients experiencing brow ptosis, which may manifest as sagging eyelids that can obstruct peripheral and superior visual fields. This condition is often due to laxity of the forehead muscles and descent of periorbital soft tissue. The surgical repair aims to alleviate functional visual impairment and improve the overall appearance of the brow and eyelids.

  • Brow Ptosis The primary indication for this procedure is the presence of brow ptosis, which can lead to visual obstruction and aesthetic concerns.

2. Procedure

The surgical procedure for brow ptosis repair involves several key steps, which may vary depending on the chosen approach.

  • Supraciliary Approach In this method, the surgeon makes an incision along the superior border of the eyebrow. The skin is carefully marked while the patient is upright, and local anesthetic is injected. The incision is extended to locate the frontalis muscle, and excess skin and subcutaneous tissue are excised en bloc to correct the ptosis.
  • Mid-Forehead Approach For this approach, a skin incision is made along the preexisting horizontal furrows of the forehead. The incision is carried down through the subcutaneous tissue to expose the corrugator supercilii and procerus muscles. These muscles are removed by incising the subgalea at the level of the glabella. After trimming the skin, the superior and inferior edges of the incision are approximated and closed in layers.
  • Coronal Approach This technique begins with an incision near the hairline, starting at the midline and extending laterally to the anterior or superior reflection of the ear. The skin and galea are incised, and the temporalis fascia is identified and preserved along with the superficial temporalis vessels. The galea is retracted to expose the pericranium, and a coronal flap is developed while ensuring the preservation of the seventh nerve near the orbital rims. The flap is turned down to allow further dissection in the subgaleal avascular plane, preserving the frontal branch of the facial nerve. A dissector is used to expose the supraorbital neovascular bundles, and the flap is turned down completely to reveal the supraorbital rim, periosteum over the zygomatic process of the frontal bone, and the superior aspect of the nasal bone in the glabellar region. The procerus, corrugator supercilii, and orbital orbicularis muscles are elevated with the forehead skin and frontalis muscle, and the muscle complex is excised. The skin is then pulled superiorly and trimmed, with vertical incisions made anteriorly in the coronal flaps. Additional skin is trimmed as necessary, and the apex of each incision is approximated to the posterior skin with sutures. Excess skin and galea are trimmed, and the galea is closed with sutures, followed by closure of the skin with sutures or staples.

3. Post-Procedure

Post-procedure care involves monitoring the patient for any complications and ensuring proper healing of the surgical site. Patients may experience swelling and bruising in the initial recovery period, which is expected. Follow-up appointments are necessary to assess the healing process and to remove sutures or staples if applicable. Patients are typically advised on activity restrictions and care of the incision sites to promote optimal recovery and minimize the risk of infection or other complications.

Short Descr REPAIR BROW DEFECT
Medium Descr REPAIR BROW PTOSIS
Long Descr Repair of brow ptosis (supraciliary, mid-forehead or coronal approach)
Status Code Active Code
Global Days 090 - Major Surgery
PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) 0 - Physician Service Code
Multiple Procedures (51) 2 - Standard payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply.
Bilateral Surgery (50) 1 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures applies.
Physician Supervisions 09 - Concept does not apply.
Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) 1 - Statutory payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure...
Co-Surgeons (62) 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Team Surgery (66) 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Diagnostic Imaging Family 99 - Concept Does Not Apply
APC Status Indicator Hospital Part B services paid through a comprehensive APC
ASC Payment Indicator Surgical procedure on ASC list in CY 2007; payment based on OPPS relative payment weight.
Type of Service (TOS) 2 - Surgery
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) P4E - Eye procedure - other
MUE 1
CCS Clinical Classification 19 - Other therapeutic procedures on eyelids, conjunctiva, cornea
51 Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d).
50 Bilateral procedure: unless otherwise identified in the listings, bilateral procedures that are performed at the same session, should be identified by adding modifier 50 to the appropriate 5 digit code. note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d).
LT Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body)
RT Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body)
59 Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25.
SG Ambulatory surgical center (asc) facility service
E3 Upper right, eyelid
GA Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case
GC This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician
E1 Upper left, eyelid
79 Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.)
76 Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
XS Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure
KX Requirements specified in the medical policy have been met
52 Reduced services: under certain circumstances a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician or other qualified health care professional. under these circumstances the service provided can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 52, signifying that the service is reduced. this provides a means of reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service. note: for hospital outpatient reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well-being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use).
78 Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician or other qualified health care professional following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that another procedure was performed during the postoperative period of the initial procedure (unplanned procedure following initial procedure). when this procedure is related to the first, and requires the use of an operating/procedure room, it may be reported by adding modifier 78 to the related procedure. (for repeat procedures, see modifier 76.)
22 Increased procedural services: when the work required to provide a service is substantially greater than typically required, it may be identified by adding modifier 22 to the usual procedure code. documentation must support the substantial additional work and the reason for the additional work (ie, increased intensity, time, technical difficulty of procedure, severity of patient's condition, physical and mental effort required). note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
47 Anesthesia by surgeon: regional or general anesthesia provided by the surgeon may be reported by adding modifier 47 to the basic service. (this does not include local anesthesia.) note: modifier 47 would not be used as a modifier for the anesthesia procedures.
53 Discontinued procedure: under certain circumstances, the physician or other qualified health care professional may elect to terminate a surgical or diagnostic procedure. due to extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient, it may be necessary to indicate that a surgical or diagnostic procedure was started but discontinued. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 53 to the code reported by the individual for the discontinued procedure. note: this modifier is not used to report the elective cancellation of a procedure prior to the patient's anesthesia induction and/or surgical preparation in the operating suite. for outpatient hospital/ambulatory surgery center (asc) reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use).
54 Surgical care only: when 1 physician or other qualified health care professional performs a surgical procedure and another provides preoperative and/or postoperative management, surgical services may be identified by adding modifier 54 to the usual procedure number.
55 Postoperative management only: when 1 physician or other qualified health care professional performed the postoperative management and another performed the surgical procedure, the postoperative component may be identified by adding modifier 55 to the usual procedure number.
58 Staged or related procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was: (a) planned or anticipated (staged); (b) more extensive than the original procedure; or (c) for therapy following a surgical procedure. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 58 to the staged or related procedure. note: for treatment of a problem that requires a return to the operating/procedure room (eg, unanticipated clinical condition), see modifier 78.
73 Discontinued out-patient hospital/ambulatory surgery center (asc) procedure prior to the administration of anesthesia: due to extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient, the physician may cancel a surgical or diagnostic procedure subsequent to the patient's surgical preparation (including sedation when provided, and being taken to the room where the procedure is to be performed), but prior to the administration of anesthesia (local, regional block(s) or general). under these circumstances, the intended service that is prepared for but cancelled can be reported by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 73. note: the elective cancellation of a service prior to the administration of anesthesia and/or surgical preparation of the patient should not be reported. for physician reporting of a discontinued procedure, see modifier 53.
74 Discontinued out-patient hospital/ambulatory surgery center (asc) procedure after administration of anesthesia: due to extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient, the physician may terminate a surgical or diagnostic procedure after the administration of anesthesia (local, regional block(s), general) or after the procedure was started (incision made, intubation started, scope inserted, etc). under these circumstances, the procedure started but terminated can be reported by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 74. note: the elective cancellation of a service prior to the administration of anesthesia and/or surgical preparation of the patient should not be reported. for physician reporting of a discontinued procedure, see modifier 53.
80 Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s).
AQ Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa)
AS Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery
CC Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed)
CR Catastrophe/disaster related
E2 Lower left, eyelid
E4 Lower right, eyelid
GW Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition
GY Item or service statutorily excluded, does not meet the definition of any medicare benefit or, for non-medicare insurers, is not a contract benefit
GZ Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary
XU Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service
Date
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Notes
1992-01-01 Added First appearance in code book in 1992.
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