ÿWPCG( …# VUNa %¯ 0 oµw@$ 4d x 0³‡ 0D: 0J~ 0TÈ 0^ 0hz 0râ 0|T 0†Ð V 0^ 1uî 0dcU>Ç BU*"B)LDCu AM¸U* D3/5bâ— 0@yƹLWË/"v~QvÓÏ AO¢&Æñ& 0D·' D/û' B*(˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0 (ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX(GÂl$¡¡Ó  ÓÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€X¥9XXXÔ D‘I’D“D”E•«–—D˜Ó€¢DÒ 3|x¢(c(3 $¤¤Ý ƒÂl!ÝÓ  ÓÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€Xv;XXXÔÝ  Ýà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman d< Œ 9p`(Times% Line 7 d&&&&7Border 1dd€-'Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial$$$$'ÿÿdxd +Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€#ÔÓ  ÓÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÝ  ÝÔ€)ÔÔ€)ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€)XÔÌÌSeptemberÏ23,Ï1996ÌÌCecilÏW.ÏCrowsonÌAppellateÏCourtÏClerkÔ  Ôó ó ØÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€#ÔÓ  ÓÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý"For€òòserious€disfigurementóó€to€the€head,€face€or€hands,€not€resulting€from€the€loss€of€aÏmember€or€other€injury€specifically€compensated,€so€altering€the€personal€appearance€of€the€injuredÏemployee€as€to€òòmaterially€affect€such€injured€employeeððs€employabilityóó€in€the€employment€in€whichÏsuch€injured€employee€was€injured€or€other€employment€for€which€such€injured€employee€is€thenÏqualified,€sixty„six€and€two„thirds€percent€(66ðAð%)€of€the€average€weekly€wages€for€such€periodÏas€the€court€may€determine,€not€exceeding€two€hundred€(200)€weeks.€€The€benefit€herein€providedÏshall€not€be€awarded€in€any€case€where€the€injured€employee€is€compensated€under€any€otherÏprovision€of€the€Workersðð€Compensation€Law€.€.€.€.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„207(3)(E)(1995ÏSupp.)(emphasis€added).Ì("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò ¼Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€#ÔÓ  ÓÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý"The€employer€or€the€employerððs€agent€shall€furnish€free€of€charge€to€the€employee€suchÏmedical€and€surgical€treatment,€medicine,€medical€and€surgical€supplies,€crutches,€artificialÏmembers,€and€other€apparatus,€including€prescription€eyeglasses€and€eye€wear,€such€nursingÏservices€as€ordered€by€the€attending€physician€and€hospitalization,€including€such€dental€workÏmade€reasonably€necessary€by€accident€as€herein€defined,€as€may€be€reasonably€required€.€.€.€.ðð€ÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„204(a)(1)(1991€Repl.).Ì BÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€#ÔÓ  ÓÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý"Where€the€nature€of€the€injury€or€occupational€disease€.€.€.€is€such€that€it€does€not€disableÏthe€employee€but€reasonably€requires€medical,€surgical,€or€dental€treatment€or€care,€medicine,Ïsurgery€and€dental€treatment,€medicine,€medical€and€surgical€supplies,€crutches,€artificial€members,Ïand€other€apparatus€shall€be€furnished€by€the€employer.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„204(b)(1995ÏSupp.).Ì MÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€#ÔÓ  ÓÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝThe€causation€element€requires€the€employee€to€prove€that€the€injury€for€which€benefits€areÏsought€arose€out€of€and€occurred€in€the€course€of€the€employment.€€òòBrimhall€v.€Home€Ins.€Co.óó,Ï694€S.W.2d€931,€932€(Tenn.€1985).€€An€injury€arises€out€of€the€employment€when€there€is,Ïapparent€to€the€rational€mind€considering€all€the€circumstances,€a€causal€connection€between€theÏconditions€under€which€the€work€is€required€to€be€performed€and€the€resulting€injury.€€òòFink€v.ÏCaudleóó,€856€S.W.2d€952,€958€(Tenn.€1993).€€An€injury€occurs€in€the€course€of€employment€if€itÏoccurs€while€the€employee€is€performing€a€duty€the€employee€was€employed€to€do.€€òòIdóó.€Ì %Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€#ÔÓ  ÓÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝAs€part€of€this€ð ðinvolvement€teamðð€the€employee€interacts€with€management€personnel€asÏwell€as€co„workers.ÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'@Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  BA Op Geneva ÒÒ  BA Op Geneva Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€#ÔÓ  ÓÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÝ  ÝÑ Œ ÑÑ  ÑÔ€#¼ÔÑ\R AØ'\Ñòò›Ñ7€v;XXdìdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑØ ØÓ&€%%Xàd&Óœ›à@ àóóIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OFÏTENNESSEEÌÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLEÌÌÌLEE€R.€WILKES,à àà àà àà à)à àòòò òFORÏPUBLICATIONó óÌà àà àà àà àà àà àóó)òòÌà àóóPlaintiff,à àà àà àà à)à àœò òòòFiled:ÏSeptember€23,€1996ó ó›Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àóó)Ìvs.à àà àà àà àà àà à)à àSumner€ChanceryÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌTHE€RESOURCE€AUTHORITYà à)à àHon.€Tom€E.ÏGray,€ChancellorÌOF€SUMNER€COUNTY,€à àà à)ÌTENNESSEE€and€ROYALà àà à)à àNo.€01S01„9506„CH„00098ÌÙ€€ÙœßL€(+';+'h|1s` ‚- `€€Lß›INSURANCE€COMPANY,à àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àDefendants.à àà àà àà à)ÌÌÌÌÌòòFor€the€Defendantsóó:à àà àà àà àòòFor€the€Plaintiffóó:ÌÌRandolph€A.€Veazeyà àà àà àà àThomas€JayÏMartin,€Jr.ÌConnie€Jonesà àà àà àà àà àDavid€AlanÏSimpsonÌGLASGOW€&€VEAZEYà àà àà àGallatin,€TNÌNashville,€TNÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àO€P€I€N€I€O€NÌÌÌÌÌœÌÌÌTRIAL›€COURT€AFFIRMEDà àà àà àà àà àWHITE,€J.ÌÓ` Ü` ˜XÓÓÓœ›à àIn€this€workersðð€compensation€action,€we€granted€the€employeeððsÏmotion€for€review€pursuant€to€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€Section€œ50„6„225(e)(1995›€Supp.)€to€decide€whether€the€employer€is€responsible€for€medicalÏexpenses€and€temporary€total€disability€benefits€associated€with€reconstructiveÏsurgery€to€the€employeeððs€chin.€€Also€at€issue€is€the€trial€courtððs€award€of€nineÏpercent€permanent€partial€disability€and€attorneyððs€fees.€€For€the€reasons€statedÏbelow,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.€€ÌÌÓ  Óò òI.ó óÌÓ  Óà àThe€employee,€Lee€R.€Wilkes,€is€twenty„eight€years€old€and€has€aÏhigh„school€equivalency€degree.€€His€work€history€consists€primarily€of€physicalÏlabor€and€€machine€operation.€€At€the€time€of€the€injury€giving€rise€to€this€suit,€heÏwas€working€as€an€equipment€operator€at€defendant€employerððs€garbage€disposalÏfacility€in€Sumner€County.€€ÌÌà àWhile€performing€his€duties€for€the€employer€on€October€24,€1990,ÏWilkes€was€struck€in€the€face€by€a€cable€that€had€snapped.€€The€accident€resultedÏin€a€deep€laceration€running€from€his€lower€lip€to€the€cleft€of€his€chin.€€WilkesÏwas€taken€to€a€hospital€where€he€received€twelve€stitches€to€the€interior€of€his€lipÏand€twelve€to€the€exterior.€€The€injury€caused€the€employee€to€miss€a€week€ofÏwork.€€ÌÌà àAlthough€the€wound€has€closed€completely,€Wilkesðð€face€bears€aÏnoticeable€scar€measuring€one€and€one„half€centimeters€in€length€and€one„halfÏcentimeter€in€width.€€The€scar€has€made€him€overly€conscious€of€his€appearance.€ÍHe€does€not€express€or€assert€himself€like€he€did€prior€to€the€injury,€tries€not€toÏcall€attention€to€himself€in€meetings€or€gatherings€at€work,€and€has€difficultyÏlooking€at€people€during€conversations€at€work€and€elsewhere.€€He€attempts€toÏhide€the€scar€by€wearing€a€beard.€€ÌÌà àThe€employee€filed€suit€seeking€benefits€for€temporary€andÏpermanent€partial€disability.€€He€also€sought€medical€expenses€associated€with€theÏinjury,€namely€those€related€to€reconstructive€surgery,€to€improve€the€appearanceÏof€the€scar.€€According€to€the€employeeððs€reconstructive€plastic€surgeon,€Dr.ÏGlenn€Buckspan,€the€procedure€sought€by€the€employee€would€be€performed€asÏan€outpatient€procedure,€and€the€employee€would€be€out€of€work€for€three€toÏfour€weeks€recuperating.€€At€oral€argument,€counsel€estimated€the€costs€of€theÏprocedure€at€approximately€five€to€six€thousand€dollars.ÌÌà àAt€trial,€the€chancellor€awarded€the€employee€nine€percentÏpermanent€partial€disability€to€the€face,€which€equates€to€four€and€one„halfÏpercent€to€the€whole€body,€for€a€judgment€of€$3,461.58.€€The€chancellor€alsoÍdetermined€that€the€employee€suffered€from€a€loss€of€confidence€and€self„esteemÏas€a€result€of€the€scar,€and€that€the€reconstructive€surgery€was€reasonablyÏnecessary.€€Thus,€the€court€awarded€medical€expenses€related€to€the€proposedÏoutpatient€reconstructive€surgery,€plus€temporary€total€disability€benefits€for€aÏrecuperation€period€following€surgery.€€The€court€declined€to€award€attorneyððsÏfees€assessed€against€the€medical€expenses€associated€with€the€surgery.€ÌÌà àThe€Special€Workersðð€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€reversed€the€trialÏcourt€because€the€employeeððs€ð ðdisfigurement€has€[not]€so€altered€his€appearance€asÏto€materially€affect€his€employability.ðð€€We€granted€the€employeeððs€motion€forÏfull€court€review,€and€now€review€the€trial€courtððs€conclusions€of€fact€òòde€novoóó,Ïaccompanied€by€a€presumption€of€correctness€unless€the€preponderance€of€theÏevidence€is€otherwise.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(2)(1995€Supp.);€òòSpencerÏv.€Towson€Moving€&€Storage€Inc.óó,€922€S.W.2d€508,€509€(Tenn.€1996).ÌÌÓ  Óò òII.ó óÌÓ  Óà àThe€first€and€primary€issue€to€be€resolved€concerns€the€liability€ofÍthe€employer€for€reconstructive€surgery€requested€by€the€employee€to€improveÏthe€appearance€of€the€scar.€€The€employer€contends€that€the€employee€is€notÏentitled€to€the€surgery€because€he€has€sustained€no€vocational€or€anatomicalÏimpairment.€€Also,€relying€upon€the€so„called€ð ðdisfigurement€statute,ðð€Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€ðð€50„6„207(3)(E)€(1995€Supp.),× ƒ, ××  ×€the€employer€asserts€that€theÏemployeeððs€scar€does€not€materially€affect€employability€in€the€line€of€work€forÏwhich€the€employee€is€qualified.€€In€response,€the€employee€maintains€that€hisÏscar€is€a€serious€disfigurement€materially€affecting€his€employment,€therebyÏtriggering€the€provisions€of€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€Section€œ50„6„207(3)(E)(1995›€Supp.).ÌÌà àAn€employer€must€furnish€medical€treatment€to€an€injured€employeeÏð ðas€ordered€by€the€attending€physician€.€.€.€made€reasonably€necessary€by€accidentÍ.€.€.€as€may€be€reasonably€required€.€.€.€.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„204(a)(1)(1991€œRepl.).× ƒ. ××  ×›€€Significantly,€this€rule€applies€even€when€the€nature€ofÏthe€injury€ð ðis€such€that€it€does€not€disable€the€employee€but€reasonably€requiresÏmedical€.€.€.€treatment€or€care€.€.€.€.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€œ50„6„204(b)(1991ÏRepl.).›× ƒ/ ××  ×€€ÌÌà àIn€òòCarver€v.€Sparta€Electric€Systemóó,€690€S.W.2d€218€(Tenn.€1985),Ïthe€employee€sustained€burns€to€his€head€and€hands€in€the€course€and€scope€of€hisÏemployment.€€The€injury€to€his€head€was€such€that€it€left€a€scarred€and€baldedÏarea€approximately€two€by€four€inches€in€size.€€As€in€the€present€case,€theÏemployee€in€òòCarveróó€wanted€to€have€reconstructive€surgery€to€improve€hisÍappearance.€€The€employer€in€òòCarveróó,€like€the€employer€here,€argued€that€theÏreconstructive€surgery€was€not€reasonably€required€within€the€meaning€ofÏTennessee€Code€Annotated€Section€50„6„204(b).€€The€trial€court€disagreed,Ïfinding€that€the€surgery€was€necessary€to€improve€the€employeeððs€appearance.€ÏòòCarver€v.€Sparta€Electric€Systemóó,€690€S.W.2d€at€221.€€We€affirmed,€notingÏð ð[t]here€is€nothing€in€the€record€to€indicate€that€[the€employeeððs]€furtherÏ[reconstructive]€treatment€is€not€reasonably€necessary.ðð€€òòIdóó.€ÌÌà àUnder€the€unambiguous€medical€treatment€provision€of€TennesseeÏCode€Annotated€Section€50„6„204(b),€an€employeeððs€injury€need€not€affect€theÏemployeeððs€employability€or€otherwise€result€in€vocational€impairment.€€Rather,Ïthe€medical€treatment€sought€must€be€ð ðreasonably€necessary.ðð€€òòIdóó.;€òòClayton€v.ÏPizza€Hut,€Inc.óó,€673€S.W.2d€144,€145„46€(Tenn.€1984)(observing€that€anÏemployee€is€entitled€to€necessary€medical€expenses€for€treatment€of€injuriesÏresulting€in€permanent€disfigurement€which€was€not€disabling€and€did€not€affectÏemployability).€€Simply€stated,€the€fact€that€an€employee€has€sustained€noÏvocational€impairment€as€a€result€of€the€disfigurement€is€irrelevant€for€purposesÍof€obtaining€treatment€under€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€Section€50„6„204(b).€ÏòòCarver€v.€Sparta€Electric€Systemóó,€690€S.W.2d€at€221.€€Thus,€we€hold€that€whenÏreconstructive€surgery€or€other€treatment€will€be€reasonably€effective€inÏimproving€a€permanent€disfigurement€resulting€from€a€work„related€injury,€suchÏsurgery€or€other€treatment€is€ð ðreasonably€requiredðð€under€Tennessee€CodeÏAnnotated€Section€50„6„204(b).€€This€is€true€even€in€the€absence€of€vocationalÏimpairment€that€would€otherwise€entitle€the€employer€to€permanent€partial€orÏpermanent€total€disability€benefits.€€ÌÌà àIn€the€present€case,€medical€testimony€establishes€that€the€proposedÏreconstructive€procedure€will€improve€the€employeeððs€appearance,€therebyÏbringing€him€closer€to€the€appearance€he€enjoyed€prior€to€his€injury€on€the€job.€ÏThe€employee€testified€that€he€wants€to€have€the€surgery€to€improve€theÏappearance€of€the€scar.€€The€scar€makes€him€self„conscious,€and€he€does€not€tendÏto€be€as€open€with€people€as€he€was€before.€€He€now€wears€a€beard€to€conceal€theÏscar.€€A€photograph€contained€in€the€record€shows€that€the€scar€is€prominentlyÏlocated€and€immediately€noticeable.€€We€agree€with€the€trial€courtððs€finding€thatÍthe€reconstructive€surgery€is€reasonably€necessary€within€the€meaning€ofÏTennessee€Code€Annotated€Section€50„6„204(b),€even€accepting€for€purposes€ofÏargument€the€employerððs€claim€that€the€employee€has€sustained€no€vocationalÏimpairment.€€ÌÌÓ  Óò òIII.ó óÌÓ  Óà àHaving€determined€that€the€employee€is€entitled€to€medical€expensesÏassociated€with€the€proposed€reconstructive€surgery€under€Tennessee€CodeÏAnnotated€Section€50„6„204(b),€we€turn€to€the€issue€of€temporary€total€disabilityÏbenefits.€€The€employer€claims€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€finding€that€theÏemployee€was€entitled€to€such€benefits€while€recuperating€from€the€surgery.€€WeÏdisagree.ÌÌà àTemporary€total€disability€refers€to€that€period€of€time€in€which€theÏemployee€is€unable€to€work€because€of€the€injury€and€is€ð ðrecuperating€as€far€asÏthe€nature€of€[the]€injury€permits.ðð€€òòGluck€Brothers,€Inc.€v.€Coffeyóó,€431€S.W.2dÏ756,€759€(Tenn.€1968);€òòSimpson€v.€Satterfieldóó,€564€S.W.2d€953,€955€(Tenn.Í1978).€€"[T]o€make€out€a€prima€facie€case€of€entitlement€to€temporary€totalÏdisability,€an€employee€must€prove€that€[the€employee]€was€(1)€totally€disabled€toÏwork€by€a€compensable€injury;€(2)€that€there€was€a€causal€connection€between€theÏinjury€and€[the]€inability€to€work;€and€(3)€the€duration€of€that€period€of€disability.€ÏTemporary€total€disability€benefits€are€terminated€either€by€the€ability€to€returnÏto€work€or€attainment€of€maximum€recovery.ðð€€òòSimpson€v.€Satterfieldóó,€564ÏS.W.2d€at€955.ÌÌà àHere,€the€medical€testimony€is€undisputed€that€the€employee€willÏrequire€three€to€four€weeks€away€from€work€immediately€following€theÏreconstructive€surgery.€€As€such€is€necessary€to€ensure€maximum€benefit€fromÏthe€procedure,€we€agree€with€the€trial€courtððs€award€of€temporary€total€disabilityÏbenefits€during€the€period€of€recuperation.€€Holding€to€the€contrary€would€notÏonly€deprive€the€employee€of€benefits€provided€by€the€workersðð€compensationÏscheme,€but€would€also€jeopardize€the€healing€process.€€Dr.€Buckspan€testifiedÏthat€because€of€the€employeeððs€ð ðoccupation€with€multiple€environmentalÏexposures,€it€would€be€[his]€recommendation€that€[the€employee]€not€return€toÍwork€until€after€a€period€of€approximately€two€to€four€weeks€so€that€there€wouldÏbe€no€problems€with€healing.ðð€€ÌÌÌÓ  Óò òIV.ó óÌÓ  Óà àAlso€disputed€is€the€trial€courtððs€finding€of€nine€percent€permanentÏpartial€disability€to€the€face€(or€four€and€one„half€percent€to€the€whole€body).€ÏThe€courtððs€award€was€based€upon€the€disfigurement€statute.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ððÏ50„6„207(3)(E)€(1995€Supp.).€€As€stated€above,€the€employer€contends€there€is€noÏevidence€to€support€the€courtððs€finding€that€the€injury€sustained€by€the€employeeÏso€altered€his€appearance€as€to€materially€affect€his€employment.€€The€employerÏthus€claims€that€it€was€error€to€award€permanent€partial€disability€benefits.ÌÌà àPermanent€partial€disability€benefits€may€be€awarded€when€a€workerÏsustains€a€ð ðserious€disfigurementðð€to€the€head,€face€or€hands€that€alters€theÏemployeeððs€appearance€to€the€extent€that€it€ð ðmaterially€affect[s]€such€injuredÏemployeeððs€employability.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„207(3)(E)(1995€Supp.).€ÍWhen€benefits€are€sought€under€the€disfigurement€statute,€the€burden€is€on€theÏemployee€to€prove€that€(1)€a€serious€disfigurement€has€been€sustained,€(2)€theÏdisfigurement€materially€affects€the€employment,€(3)€the€condition€is€permanent,Ïand€(4)€a€work„related€injury€caused€the€disfigurement.× ƒ0 ××  ×ÌÌà àHere,€there€is€no€dispute€that€the€employeeððs€scar€resulted€from€beingÏstruck€in€the€face€with€a€cable€in€the€course€and€scope€of€his€employment.€€Thus,Ïthe€causation€element€has€been€satisfied.€€Also,€medical€testimony€establishes€thatÏthe€scar€is€permanent,€although€its€appearance€will€improve€after€surgery.€ÏMoreover,€we€have€no€difficulty€concluding€that€the€scar€qualifies€as€a€ð ðseriousÏdisfigurement.ðð€€It€is€an€obvious€deformity,€immediately€noticeable,€andÏprominently€located€on€the€face.€€According€to€the€only€medical€expert€to€testify,ÏDr.€Buckspan,€the€ð ðentire€area€is€rough€and€irregular,ðð€and€facial€hair€will€notÍgrow€in€the€scar.€€Dr.€Buckspan€described€the€scar€as€a€ð ðvery€obvious€deformityÏand€not€one€that€you€have€to€look€at€very€hard€to€see.ðð€€A€photograph€of€the€scarÏcontained€in€the€record€supports€Dr.€Buckspanððs€opinion.ÌÌà àWe€also€conclude€that€the€scar€has€materially€affected€the€employeeÏvocationally.€€It€is€true,€as€pointed€out€by€the€employer,€that€the€employee€retainsÏno€anatomical€impairment€or€physical€disfunction€from€the€scar.€€Physically,€theÏemployee€can€meet€the€demands€of€his€job.€€However,€anatomical€disability€andÏvocational€impairment€are€separate€issues.€€An€award€of€vocational€impairmentÏdoes€not€depend€strictly€upon€anatomical€disability.€€òòSeeóó€òòCorcoran€v.€Foster€AutoÏGMC,€Inc.óó,€746€S.W.2d€452,€457€(Tenn.€1988).€€Thus,€œð ðemployabilityðð›€as€used€inÏthe€disfigurement€statute€œrelates€to›€œthe›€physical€and€mental€ability€to€obtain€andÏmaintain€employment,€as€well€as€the€physical€and€mental€abilities€that€the€jobÏdemands.€€œDefining€ð ðemployabilityðð€merely€in€physical€terms€is€too€restrictiveÏbecause€it€ignores€the€termððs€mental,€emotional€and€communicative€aspectsÏimportant€in€obtaining€and€maintaining€employment.€€òòSeeóó€òògenerallyóó€òòJose€v.ÏEquifax,€Inc.óó,€556€S.W.2d€82€(Tenn.€1977)(workersðð€compensation€benefits€areÍnot€limited€to€anatomical€disorders,€but€extend€to€mental€injuries).ÌÌà àIn€this€case,€the€evidence€is€uncontradicted€that€the€presence€of€theÏscar€has€caused€the€employee€to€become€self„conscious€to€the€point€that€he€hasÏattempted€to€conceal€the€scar€with€a€beard.€€It€is€also€uncontradicted€that€hisÏinteraction€with€co„workers€and€participation€in€work€activities€has€suffered.€ÏWhen€asked€to€provide€a€specific€example€of€how€the€disfigurement€has€affectedÏhis€employment,€the€employee€testified:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àIððm€on€an€employee€involvement€team€atÏwork€where€we€try€to€make€the€factory€asÏefficient€as€possible€to€save€the€companyÏmoney.€€And€all€but€one€of€myÏcontributions€to€that€team€has€been€made€inÏwriting€instead€of€actually€in€meetingsÏbecause€in€the€meetings€I€sit€at€the€back€ofÏthe€room€and€pretty€much€keep€my€mouthÏshut€and€just€listen€to€what€everybody€elseÏsays€because€I€donððt€really€feel€like€callingÏattention€to€myself.× ƒ1 ××  ×€€ÌÓÓÌà àIn€light€of€our€òòde€novoóó€review€of€the€record,€we€cannot€concludeÍthat€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€trial€courtððs€award€of€permanentÏpartial€disability€made€pursuant€to€the€disfigurement€statute.ÌÌÓ  Óò òV.ó óÌÓ  Óà àFinally,€an€issue€has€been€raised€concerning€the€propriety€ofÏawarding€attorneyððs€fees€against€medical€expenses€associated€with€theÏreconstructive€surgery.€Citing€a€lack€of€authority,€the€trial€court€refused€to€awardÏattorneyððs€fees€assessed€against€these€medical€expenses.ÌÌà àTennessee€Code€Annotated€Section€50„6„226(a)€subjects€attorneyððsÏfees€in€workersðð€compensation€cases€to€the€approval€of€the€court,€and€limits€suchÏfees€to€twenty€percent€of€ð ðthe€amount€of€the€recovery€or€award.ðð€€Tenn.€CodeÏAnn.€ðð€50„6„226(a)(1991›€Repl.).€€This€Court€has€construed€ð ðrecovery€or€awardððÏto€include€medical€expenses€contested€at€trial.€€òòLangford€v.€Liberty€Mut.€Ins.€Co.óó,Ï854€S.W.2d€100,€102€(Tenn.€1993).€€Here,€the€expenses€associated€with€theÏsurgery€were€contested€at€trial,€and€were€awarded€to€the€employee.€€Thus,€theÏemployeeððs€attorney€is€entitled€to€an€award€of€attorney€fees€from€the€expensesÍrelated€to€the€surgery.€€òòIdóó.€(noting€that€the€trial€court€has€discretion€to€award€lessÏthan€twenty€percent€if€appropriate).ÌÌà àWe€realize€that€the€practical€impact€of€this€holding€is€that€theÏemployee€will€not€receive€one€hundred€percent€of€the€cost€of€the€surgery.€ÏAlthough€this€result€is€not€attractive,€we€are€not€at€liberty€to€rewrite€TennesseeÏCode€Annotated€Section€50„6„226(a)€to€provide€for€attorneyððs€fees€in€addition€toÏthe€ð ðamount€of€the€recovery€or€award.ðð€€Such€a€change€would€require€legislativeÏaction.ÌÌà àFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€isÏaffirmed.€€Costs€shall€be€paid€by€the€employer.€€ÌÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà à____________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àPenny€J.€White,€JusticeÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌœBirch,›€C.J.,€not€participatingÌœDrowota,›€Anderson,€Reid,€œJ.J.›