Plastic Surgery – What’s in a Price?
Cosmetic plastic surgery is a medical procedure, but almost always not one that’s going to be covered by health insurance. It’s an investment you’re making in yourself – your appearance and your self-image. Like any investment, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons, the cost and the options that are available both for the service and for payment.
Your Surgeon’s Qualifications
Probably the most important process in your choice of doctor is making sure that he or she is board certified. There are a number of certification bodies for cosmetic surgeons, but the universally recognized “gold standard” is certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons. These doctors have had the necessary education to specialize in plastic surgery and have been through a rigorous series of exams required by the ABPS. If there is any guarantee of quality in this business, ABPS board certification is it.
Another quality that has developed among experienced cosmetic surgeons in some markets is specialization. Some limit most of their practice to breast augmentation, reduction or lifts; others specialize in facial procedures. Specialization should suggest that the surgeon has a lot of experience and enough satisfied patients that specialization is a good professional option.
Understanding the Complete Package
Like many investments, determining the value means weighing the details. Cosmetic surgery cost is made up of many parts. Before you set a surgery date, have a detailed cost estimate and signed document that defines exactly what is entailed in your investment. If you take this approach you’ll be able to make accurate comparisons of the fees being offered by the doctors you consult. You’ll also find that most cosmetic surgery offices have payment plan services in place; that’s an area where cost comparison is a good idea.
Avoiding an overcharge is important, but so is paying for an incomplete service. It is probably best to avoid the doctor whose practice is based on being the best bargain in town. You can’t return a defective face lift. However it’s also important to know that the fees initially quoted by a cosmetic surgery office or website often include only the surgeon’s fee for the surgical procedure itself. There are several other costs to expect and inquire about if you don’t see them included in a written cost proposal.
Before the Surgery
• Most established board certified surgeons have a consultation fee. The consultation process should be a meeting with the doctor that reviews many details – your medical history, your expectations for the surgery, the preparation process, the realities of recovery, the limits of the surgery, and so forth. It’s a time consuming process that is probably worthy of a professional fee. Many times, the surgeon you choose will apply the cost of the consultation to the procedure itself. That’s an option you might want to look for.
• Other pre-operative costs might include medical lab work: blood tests, perhaps tissue tests, etc. You should be able to get a fixed cost for these services.
Surgical Procedure Day
• The location for your surgery is important. Most cosmetic surgery practices are performed in outpatient clinics or in the doctor’s office today. Ask if the surgical site has been certified as an ‘ambulatory surgical center’. That’s an inspection program that will guarantee proper sterility and professional staffing. The use of the surgery center may also be a cost item; some doctors operate certified centers and include the cost in their estimate. Either way, it’s a worthwhile component of your investment.
• There may also be charges for staff participation in the surgery itself. The important one is an anesthesiologist that is trained and certified for the position. Other staff costs probably ought to be part of the doctor’s fee or the fee, if any, for use of the facility.
• There are usually charges for medical materials used during the procedure. These may include implants; materials used during the procedure for anesthesia, suturing, dressings and other processes; or specialized equipment such as an endoscope. Expect a cost item or items of this nature.
Following the Surgery
• You’re going to have post-operative costs such as prescriptions and additional dressings. While the prescriptions will be your responsibility, the nature of post-operative care is an open question. Ask if checkups and return visits for any complications are included in the fee.
• Finally, the big question that may be difficult to ask is what additional costs may accrue if the surgery is not successful. Revision surgery, as corrective surgery is called, is part of the landscape. Your doctor should be prepared to take corrective measures to ensure that your results are the best that can be provided.
