Negotiate rates?
teresa
I would never have had the money to pay for surgery if I had stayed in the states. My quote for a TT and brachioplasty was $18K - and that was the least of 3 consults.
12/09 and 6/11, 9 skin removal procedures with Dr. Sauceda in Monterrey Mexico
Revised to the Sleeve after losing 271 lbs with the LapBand.
These complications happen to all of us who operate on massive weight loss patients and can be tricky to manage. Not having your surgeon able to see, evaluate, and treat your complication on short notice is problematic.
blogging on all things plastic surgery at Plastic Surgery 101
I don't know if you can negotiate with a surgeon over his or her fees, but you should get some other prices from other surgeons. Fees vary widely, even within one area. I'm having a TT (extended) in Pensacola, FL on June 7th. It will be done in the hospital with a one night stay, and my price is only 5500. However, my surgeon is very fast with TT's and enjoys doing them, so she is less expensive than some other surgeons in the same area.
I agree with what the Doc who posted here says, too. I went to Costa Rica for a facelift, but a TT carries a higher risk of complications, so I decided to have it done in the U.S., just in case. Also, the price here for a TT is the same price that I was quoted in Costa Rica, so I'd rather recover at home for this surgery. For facial work, I'd go back to Costa Rica in an instant, but since it's the same price here, and since complications are more common (just look up traveler's medical insurance rates if you want to see what surgeries carry a higher risk), I'll stay home for the TT.
Look up some residency programs for even better rates, if you like. It's a great option, and one that I would consider for myself if money were a huge issue for me.
1. a facelift wouldn't significantly increase your risk of a blood clot (DVT), while the body contouring procedures do. This is an issue with prolonged travel that you might have to do in the weeks following surgery out of country.
2. the major complications you see from a facelift (bleeding, skin loss, or wound breakdown) are usually apparent early after surgery, where you'd presumably still be near your surgeon. The ones from body contouring (seroma or wound breask down) can be weeks before they flareup
blogging on all things plastic surgery at Plastic Surgery 101