Does plastic surgery count as medical expense?

1missyrozsa — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 08:57:40 GMT

Re: Does plastic surgery count as medical expense?

DoninGA — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 19:05:17 GMT

Only if -

You can include in medical expenses the amount you pay for cosmetic surgery if it is necessary to improve a deformity arising from, or directly related to, a congenital abnormality, a personal injury resulting from an accident or trauma, or a disfiguring disease.

Re: Does plastic surgery count as medical expense?

Critter-3 — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 19:05:39 GMT

https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc502

Operations

You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay for legal operations that aren't for cosmetic surgery. See Cosmetic Surgery under What Expenses Aren't Includible, later.

Cosmetic Surgery

Generally, you can't include in medical expenses the amount you pay for cosmetic surgery. This includes any procedure that is directed at improving the patient's appearance and doesn't meaningfully promote the proper function of the body or prevent or treat illness or disease. You generally can't include in medical expenses the amount you pay for procedures such as face lifts, hair transplants, hair removal (electrolysis), and liposuction.

Example.

An individual undergoes surgery that removes a breast as part of treatment for cancer. She pays a surgeon to reconstruct the breast. The surgery to reconstruct the breast corrects a deformity directly related to the disease. The cost of the surgery is includible in her medical expenses.

Re: Does plastic surgery count as medical expense?

SweetieJean — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 19:06:55 GMT

It depends. You cannot deduct most cosmetic surgeries. See:

2021 Publication 502 (irs.gov) at page 15.

topic Does plastic surgery count as medical expense? in Deductions & credits

Does plastic surgery count as medical expense?

Re: Does plastic surgery count as medical expense?

Re: Does plastic surgery count as medical expense?

Operations

Cosmetic Surgery

Re: Does plastic surgery count as medical expense?