facelift

In my decades as a board-certified plastic surgeon, there are three topics that come up most frequently during consultation appointments with my patients: results, safety, and cost. And depending on the patient, the order of priority regarding these concerns can vary. Today I wanted to focus on the cost topic specifically. Because cosmetic procedures are almost always considered “elective”, plastic surgery costs are rarely covered by insurance and the full burden of the costs falls on the patients. Today I wanted to answer some common questions about cosmetic surgery costs to explain why they are often less daunting than many people realize.

Question #1: What will be included in my plastic surgery costs?

Depending on the specifics of each individual patient and procedure, this can vary. In addition to the plastic surgeon’s fees for performing the procedure, other plastic surgery costs may include the following:

• Additional procedure fees include hospital/surgery center costs, anesthesia, medical tests (if applicable), and other miscellaneous fees.
• Required pre and post-surgery medications.
• Fees for potential recovery assistance services including at-home nurse service or stay at a recovery facility after the procedure.

Question #2: How can I cut back on the fees associated with my procedure?

One thing that some patients find incredibly helpful in this regard is the possibility of blending multiple cosmetic surgeries into one combined procedure. This approach is very common for facial procedures like facelift surgery and eyelift surgery, as well as body contouring procedures like tummy tuck and liposuction (known as a mommy makeover). Undergoing multiple procedures at once can help cut down on overall surgical costs, while also reducing the amount of downtime needed to recover after surgery.

Question #3: Are there payment assistance options available?

I completely understand that the costs associated with cosmetic surgery are a major concern for many prospective patients. This is why I offer my patients the opportunity to use plastic surgery financing with CareCredit®. CareCredit® is a special credit card made specifically to assist plastic surgery patients by providing 6, 12, 18, and 24-month payment plans. Best of all, the 6 and 12-month plans are interest-free at my practice as long as payments are made within the specified promotional period.

I always try to work with my patients and allay any concerns they may have going into their procedure, including those pertaining to surgical costs. For more information or to schedule a plastic surgery consultation, contact me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. Don’t forget to follow along with me on Facebook for additional plastic surgery tips, news, and much more.