Plastic Surgery: What Will It Cost?

Plastic surgery is becoming more and more popular as the prices are declining, the technology is improving and the recovery is quicker and less painful.  Although it can still be pretty expensive it is not nearly the cost it used to be.

Cost Associated with Plastic Surgery

The cost associated with plastic surgery is sometimes covered by your insurance company depending upon the reason for the surgery.  For instance, if you have a torn earlobe the insurance company should pay for a traumatic repair.

You can find out exactly what will and won’t be covered by contacting the company yourself and speaking with a representative.  Most insurance companies will cover themselves by telling you that a pre-certification does not actually insure that the surgery will be covered, only that this type of surgery is typically covered by the company.

Prices for plastic surgery that are commonly covered by insurance companies can vary.  Most insurance companies negotiate a price for the typical surgery, which is what they will pay the surgeon.  You will then be responsible for the co-pay or deductible, depending upon your coverage.

When you are calling the plastic surgeon’s office to inquire about the cost associated with plastic surgery you should ask what that cost includes.  The surgeon’s cost is typically only 60-80% of the bill.  There will also be hospitalization (if necessary), Operating Room and anesthesiologist costs.  Plastic surgeon’s will give price quotes but be aware those quotes are based on a typical surgery that doesn’t include any treatments for poor reaction to the anesthesia, infection, blood clots or fluid retention – all risks to plastic surgery.

Do not chose your doctor based on the price for plastic surgery but rather on the credentials, training, experience and the facility in which they practice.  Choosing a surgeon based on cost may jeopardize your safety and result in health problems or the need for follow up surgeries – which negates your desire for a low cost procedure in the first place.  You can’t place a price tag on your health.

Costs associated with plastic surgery can vary across the country.  The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has compiled national averages for the top five cosmetic surgical procedures:

  • Breast Augmentation     $3,600
  • Nose Reshape               $3,841
  • Liposuction                  $2750
  • Eyelid surgery              $2877
  • Tummy Tuck                $5063

These prices for plastic surgery are the national average for the surgeon’s fee and don’t include the cost of the operating room, hospitalization (if needed), or anesthesiologist.

Interestingly the ASPS estimated that the total amount to be spent in 2006 in cost associated with plastic surgery would exceed 11 billion dollars for the surgeon fees alone.  This estimate included the amount spent on minimally invasive surgeries, as well as the more comprehensive surgeries such as Breast augmentation, tummy tucks and nose reshaping.

Prices for plastic surgery may vary slightly across the country but many find that they are fairly equal except for those surgeries performed in New York.  The prices for plastic surgery ranges from 25-50% greater in New York.  All things being equal, the cost associated with plastic surgery should not be the deciding factor when you chose a surgeon.

How to Pay for Your Cosmetic Surgery

cosmetic surgery financingHave you recently decided that you would like to undergo cosmetic surgery to improve your appearance or even your health? If you have, you may be curious about the costs.

It is no secret that cosmetic surgery can get costly. However, many individuals, possibly just like you, are more than willing to pay the costs. With that said, do you know how or if you can?

Before getting your heart set on cosmetic surgery, you will want to do a little bit of research first. This research can help you determine how much your cosmetic surgery will cost. With a standard internet search online, you can easily find a few sample rates for common procedures, such as surgical facelifts and liposuction.

You can examine these rates, but please know that your local cosmetic surgeons or local cosmetic surgery centers may charge higher rates. Speaking of which, call them. Ask about their rates or see if you should first schedule a consultation appointment

One of the next things that you will want to do is examine your health insurance plan. What coverage are you provided with? Most often, you will find that cosmetic surgery is not covered by a traditional health insurance plan, but you should still look. Why? Because there are some exceptions. For example, some health insurance providers have been known to cover the cost of mole removals and breast reduction surgery.

If your health insurance does not cover the cosmetic surgery procedure you would like to undergo, or if you are without health insurance, you will be responsible for the full cost. The best approach to take is to start saving money for your surgery, if you don’t already have it. While it may take you awhile, you can set aside a little bit of money each week or each month until you are able to cover the cost of your cosmetic surgery procedure.

In addition to saving money, if you don’t already have it, you can inquire about payment plans. Although payment plans do exist, they can be difficult to find. You may also have your credit checked first to make sure that you have a history of making good on your payments.

Although it is important for you to be able to afford the cost of cosmetic surgery, especially if you feel like you do not have any other treatment options, it is important to not choose a surgeon or surgical center just based on their availability of a payment plan.

Another option that you have, when looking to pay for your cosmetic surgery, is to pay with a credit card. This is a great approach to take, but be sure to use your best judgment and proceed with caution. Are you good about paying your bill on time? If you are not, the cost of your surgery may significantly increase with late fees. Interest rates may also have an impact on the overcall cost as well.

In all honesty, the best method of payment that you can choose is that of checks or debit cards. This is often the best approach for many. Both checks and debit cards are easy and safe to use and most cosmetic surgeons and cosmetic surgery centers do accept them. As for why checks and debit cards are often the best method of payment, it is because you won’t end up paying interest or finance charges on the money.

Now that you know just a few of the many ways that you can go about paying for your cosmetic surgery, you may be ready to move forward. As an important reminder, if you are unable to afford the cost of surgery, examine surgeons and surgical centers that will work to create a payment plan with you, but also make sure that they have a good record with producing quality results and happy patients.