A day doesn’t go by in my practice where I don’t get requests for discount pricing for some elective cosmetic plastic surgery procedure. Whether it be by phone, e-mail, internet inquiry, or in a face-to-face meeting with a patient or a chance encounter out in public, the requests to do something for ‘free’ or at a substantial discount are endless. This is not a surprise to me because I am certain this is like a lot of retail businesses…customers always want something for less. Everyone is always looking for the best deal.
On the one hand, I think this reflects positively on plastic surgery in general. People want the services, they want to look and feel better about themselves. On the flip side, however, discount pricing for plastic surgery services is generally not a good thing unless it is an established patient who has ‘earned’ the right to such benefits. People may want plastic surgery services, but they must also place an appropriate value on them. Plastic surgery is not like buying a TV or an outfit, you can’t take it back if you don’t like it. And it exposes every patient to potential complications and side effects…unlike that TV.
But, most importantly, discount pricing induces many patients to have procedures that they may not really be able to afford. And what happens if complications occur? Can the patient now afford the costs of treating these complications through more surgery? Every patient needs to consider the potential economic impact of complications in the overall picture of affordability of the procedure. Unfortunately, many patients do not.
Lastly, it has been my experience that discount pricing allows the patient to not value the procedure as much as they should. They expect the same results (in fact, many expect perfection) as if they were paying full price. Discount pricing might not be a bad thing if it lowered patient expectations and required less surgical effort and postoperative care, but it does not. In fact, the highest number of complaints and dissatisfaction with cosmetic plastic surgery in my experience has been from those patients who received a full service at a discounted price.
Dr. Barry Eppley
http://www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com
http://www.ologyspa.com
Clarian North Medical Center, Carmel, Indiana
Clarian West Medical Center, Avon, Indiana
Indianapolis
Overseas Plastic Surgery by Dr Barry Eppley of Indianapolis
I recently was asked to see a patient in a hospital emergency room to take out sutures from a facelift that she had done in Mexico. While she suffered no terrible complications, the cosmetic outcome was certainly not what I would have considered acceptable here in Indianapolis. The incisions were poorly placed around her ears and her hairline had been pulled up high into her temple area.
Seeing her brings to light a somewhat disturbing trend that is evident nationally, particularly in the southern border states, but is also prevalent on the internet as well. The number of patients going overseas for plastic surgery and the solicitation to do so on the internet, promoting low prices and a ‘vacation-like’ experience. Historically, going overseas for surgery is not new but has been done in the past to seek out operations or treatments that were not available in the U.S. This new overseas trend is solely based on discounted price.
Having traveled the world extensively and both met and operated with many international plastic and maxillofacial surgeons, I know there are many fine plastic surgeons around the world doing great work. However, in the interest of saving money, I am amazed how many people would naively disregard some of the basic tenets of choosing a plastic surgeon and surgery center. Important criteria such as board-certification, professional reputation, and the quality and track record of the facility where surgery will be performed can not possibly be assessed without a prior visit or consultation. But these issues aside, overseas surgery brings up several extremely relevant issues that most patients have not even thought of:
1) What happens in the event of a surgical complication? Who is going to take care of it? Fortunately, in elective plastic surgery, this is usually a postoperative problem so you would be home by then. Who would you go to locally? And any plastic surgeon seeing you here is not going to take of for free a complication from someone else’s surgery.
2) In the event of a complication during or right after surgery overseas, will your health insurance provide coverage in a foreign country? Does your health insurance policy extend beyond the U.S. borders?
3) Will you really be saving a large amount of money by going overseas? When you factor in the cost of air travel and local accommodations before and after your surgery, you may not find it such a bargain. Know all costs before proceeding. The ‘sticker price’ may not reflect all costs involved.
While saving money on plastic surgery overseas can be enticing, cosmetic surgery performed by an unqualified surgeon or in a setting that is not safe can risk your health and result in unappealing outcomes. Doing your research is never more important than when you leave the more highly regulated state of medical affairs in the U.S.
Dr. Barry Eppley
http://www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com
http://www.ologyspa.com
Clarian North Medical Center, Carmel, Indiana
Clarian West Medical Center, Avon, Indiana
Indianapolis
Traveling Overseas for Discounted Plastic Surgery
With the increased interest in plastic surgery and the numbers of procedures being performed on the rise, more people than ever before look to overseas to have their desired procedures……..at a substantial savings. In the June 2007 issue of Financial Times, it is reported that well over 100,000 Americans a year leave the United States to have medical work done. This is expected to not only continue but to increase at an annual rate of nearly 20 percent. The main reason is cost. A breast augmentation in the U.S. may cost around $6,000, but in Argentina it would $2,999. A rhinoplasty (nose job) in the U.S. averages $7,000, but in Costa Rica it would be closer to $2,000. Many of these countries and their surgeons aggressively advertise….and it is now possible to easily do so through the internet.
The question is…is this a good idea. Is the financial savings worth the inconvenience and the risk? Many of those surgeons from other countries would argue that the quality of care and the results are just as good as in the U.S. That is an issue that is difficult to debate as it always depends on whom is doing the surgery and what is their experience. I have no doubt that some good quality plastic surgery can be had abroad……but always remember….when their risk is minimal (who are going to sue or complain to?)….it is hard to imagine that some corners are not being cut…..and at your potential expense. Equally important, what aboout postoperative care? How are they going to follow you up and who is going to take care of you if you have problems? The answer to that is simple…….they aren’t and it is falls on your shoulders to find care back here in the U.S. and pay for it. I recently saw a facelift patient from Mexico who came to the emergency room to have her sutures removed. She was highly offended that there would be a charge by me for suture removal.
The American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS) states, “Bargain surgery can be costly.” This can be particularly true if you develop complications, such as an infection, or are unhappy with your results, having to redo the surgery here. Furthermore, immediate travel after any surgery increases the risks of certain complications such as blood clots. The ASPS recommends waiting up to 10 days after cosmetic surgery before flying again to decrease these potential risks.
Dr Barry Eppley
http://www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com/
http://www.ologyspa.com/
Clarian North Medical Center, Carmel, Indiana
Clarian West Medical Center, Avon, Indiana
Indianapolis
