Billing code
Z177A — Laceration repair — 5.1 to 10 cm, face or layered/bleeders
Facial/layered laceration, 5.1–10 cm
Bill for repairing a 5.1 to 10 cm laceration on the face, or one needing tied bleeders or layered closure.
Watch for: Tissue adhesive closure pays 50%, and it isn't payable with wound debridement codes.
| Provider | Specialist | Assistant | Anaesthetist | Non-anaesthetist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $78.15 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $95.76 | $95.76 |
- Code
- Z177A
- Description
- Laceration repair — 5.1 to 10 cm, face or layered/bleeders
- FHO+ basket
- Not in the FHO+ base rate basket (Schedule 2 or 2B).
- Effective date
- Apr 1, 2026
- Termination date
- No end date
Explanation
Updated October 26, 2026
Repair of a 5.1 to 10 cm laceration on the face, or one needing tying of bleeders and/or closure in layers.
What it covers
Z177 is repair of a laceration 5.1 to 10 cm long that is on the face and/or needs tying of bleeders and/or closure in layers; a simple 5.1–10 cm repair elsewhere is Z175 (M15).
Repairs that take at least 20 minutes and meet the complex criteria (e.g. aligning the vermilion border, eyebrow, eyelid or pinna, or three or more layers) are Z187 or Z188 instead (M15).
Billing rules
- Closure with tissue adhesive (such as cyanoacrylate) is paid at 50% (M15).
- Add E530 when inhalation general anaesthesia (other than 50% N2O/O2) is used and the repair is the sole procedure (M15).
- Add E531 for extensive debridement, by independent consideration (M15, GP12).
- Add E542 when performed outside hospital (M15).
- Suture removal alone is billed as a visit (M15).
- Not payable with wound or ulcer debridement codes (M10).
- A Z code is an independent operative procedure: if your decision-to-operate visit was in the prior 12 months, only a minor (GP) or partial (specialist) assessment is payable before it the same day (SP4 §13).
- FHO: a Schedule 4 office procedure for the office procedures special payment; tissue adhesive repairs pay 50% (Agreement p.67 §8.7, p.95).
Often billed with
- E542 outside hospital (M15).
- E530 when inhalation general anaesthesia is used for the repair alone (M15).
Related codes: Z176, Z154, Z175, Z179, Z190, Z187, E530, E542
Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Integumentary System Surgical Procedures, Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue, page M15.
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