Question re: costs of plastic surgery

On Monday, I had my first plastics consult to try and get an idea of what I would need done and what it would cost. The estimate I was given seemed very high given my research and talking to various people having similar procedures. I acknowledge that everyone is individual, and also that the particular surgeon I saw felt that my surgeries would need to be done in the hospital with an overnight stay and would take about 7 hours as opposed to using his office OR suite. Here's what I need to have done and the approximate costs:

Bilateral mastopexy with 475cc saline implants: surgeon's fee $5250 (after $500 multiple procedure discount). We chose saline because they are less expensive than silicone, and because silicone comes pre-filled he will have no ability to optimally adjust for the asymmetry that I have. I lost *significant* volume in my chest, so the surgery will be pretty extensive.

Full abdominoplasty: surgeon's fee $5750. He did not feel I needed circumferential LBL because my backside looks fine. This includes a mons lift and repair of the abdominal muscles. ETA: As far as the type of cut he is doing, I will be cut from hip bone to hip bone and the scar will be well below my bikini line.

Hospital stay: $636
Anesthesia: $1700
Cosmetassure (30 day "insurance" that convers immediate postop complications): $240
Implants and garments: $1000
On Q pain pump: $340

There were a few other costs that drove the total estimate up to about $15,800, but I can't remember what they were off the top of my head (I think they were hospital-related). They will only file for insurance on the abdominoplasty AFTER the surgery and would reimburse me what I paid up front if insurance paid anything.

I am going to get a second opinion up at Dr. Krieger's in Fairfax, since our own Natalie, Anna and others I know had excellent results and I can get a good comparison of costs. I expected it all to cost around $10,000 - $12,000, so I was a little surprised at the much higher estimate.

Any feedback is appreciated! Again, I acknowledge that everyone is individual and that there are probably significant regional variations in cost

No feedback here on the costs, but anxiously awaiting some responses to your posts.  I will be consulting with Dr. Krieger at some point, but I need to get some $$$ together first. 

Tammy

Yes, I am hoping that Natalie or Anna sees this since they both used Dr. Krieger and were happy with him. I figured others would want to know too, so I posted out here rather than PM them!

I know Nat's were covered by insurance.  I think Jackie paid out of pocket, but I am not sure.  Jill and Anna did too if I remember correctly.


T 

I had my TT covered by insurance . This is the only proceedure that BCBS would take into consideration for approval .
I for one think your first consult was high. I never paid for my q Pump or my insurance .

Butt Lift with Skin Augmentation - 8000 $
Brachioplasty - 4000$
Breast Augmentation - Silicone 6000 $
Breast Lift - 4000 $

This does not include hospital - which I had to stay overnight due to my medical issues. 1000 $
Anethesia - @ 1500 $ this is for each stay .

PLEASE give Dr. Krieger a fair chance . His prices to me where the best . And he covers the insurance for you . The Q Pump was included for me on my breast .

I wish you the best in your choice. Please ask me any questions regarding this , and if you want before and after pics of his work , let me know  .

Natalie

Ity is hard for me to divide mine out because I had multiple procedures so I had discounts but most of mine came out to $12 k total every time.

Lower body lift whi*****luded mons lift etc - surgeon, OR, 23 hrs observation, anesthesia etc - 12K (plus some hernia repairs that the insurance paid)

Bat wings removed and breast lift  - 12k included all above

Implants and inner thigh plasty  (he also threw in liopsuction too for free) - 12K included all above - implants were $1200 for saline - I prefered not have silicone too - they are double the cost for silicone

Dr Krieger included insurance in all of the surgeries as part of his package.

I would never let anyone else every do any kind of PS on me.  I love Dr Krieger and his work - the man is an artist. The prices you have been quoted do not seem that unreasonable to me - they are just laid out differently.

Dr Krieger is not the cheapest but also not the most expensive but I love him and his staff. You are in real good hands and if there are any issues he is right there with you....

Jackie

I just got home from LBL with Dr Kreiger, and LOVE the man!  As you may know from my DEAR sister and Prissy and Gina -- I had complications which put me BACK in the OR on Thursday. Well, come FRIDAY the hospital financial office called wanting to collect another $1,000 for my extra stay!

I didn't have that kind of money ON me, and told them so.  They wanted to charge the same card, which was NOT going to work, and I told them so. 

Well thank you Jackie for letting me know about this, but because I had DrK, I had a special insurance rider that COVERED the extras.  I talked to him about it, and he said not to pay the hospital another DIME, that he would take care of it.  So my extra two days stay, extra surgery, OR time, blood, drugs, annesthesia, etc. etc. were ALL covered 100%, even though I went in as self pay.

My self pay total was right around $12k for the LBL, BTW, to more directly answer your question.

Oh, and kudos to DrK.  When they couldn't get my BP up to some semblance of normal, he was THERE by my side. He STAYED with me from 3:30 Thursday morning until he had to go see patients in the office. HE changed my dressings, checked my vitals, emptied my bags ... and when he got a break between patients, he was there again.  When we went to surgery the second time, he asked for my sister's phone numbers and called her to explain what was going on. I was impressed. 

Of course, someone later said when you have the doctor by your side like that, you know you are in deep s*&t. Point.

I was still impressed.

This is another reason I fully intend to use Dr. K.  He may not be the cheapest but I am willing to pay for quality.  I have never met him but he seems like a wonderful man that truly cares about his patients, just like Dr. Hutcher, my surgeon.  Glad you are home and doing better.

Tammy

I went through the same sort of delima as you did . I bled out , and lost 5 units of blood.  This man never left my side. And I scared him to death I think , but he never left me . No one else will ever touch my body for plastics but him .

Now on to you beautiful .. so glad to see you posting . I know first hand how hard this is . Just PLEASE take it easy .. rest and heal . Things will all come together day by day .
I have been in prayer for you and so glad to see you are doing better .

Take care ,
Tink

::: Bowing and Genuflecting :::

Ouch ouch ouch OWWIE That HURT

Okay, whew ... ::: wiping brow :::

Thank you Tink.  Today has been a good day, energy wise.