Cosmetic surgery involves many variables, and our role as a shopper is complex because although we get quotes for the same procedure by different surgeons, we aren’t necessarily buying the same thing. If we’re buying a certain model car, we can wisely decide to shop dealerships – price is the only variable. With cosmetic surgery, ways to reduce costs exist, but as they say, if lower fees mean lower safety standards, then our best interests aren’t really being considered. Make our motto “let the buyer beware.”
Be sure that our fee quote describes what procedures you’ll be having – ideally in layman’s language so we can knowledgeably compare one quote with another.
The costs of cosmetic surgery break down like this:
Surgeon’s professional fees: Unlike internists and general practitioners surgeons don’t charge by the individual visit. Most surgeons charge us one fee for the surgery itself and include all pre or post surgery fees. You’re likely to find yourself in an apples-versus-oranges situation: One surgeon’s fee is lower because the technique he recommends reduces surgical time and attendant costs but provides a different result. For example, a skin-only facelift is less expensive and less time-consuming to perform but doesn’t last as long as a standard facelift
Operating room fees: Whether we have surgery in the hospital, at the surgery center, or in facelift-based surgery suite, we pay a fee for using that space. Surgery at an accredited hospital or an independent ambulatory surgery center usually costs more than surgery at a certified office-based surgery suite.
Generally, uncertified office-based operating suites are the least expensive, but with good reason. Operating room uncertified has a broad range of expensive monitoring and safety equipment. They must meet costly personnel requirements and keep pricey emergency drugs on hand. If we’re in a crisis situation, having a highly trained surgical team with everything it needs to handle our problem can make all the difference. I don’t think saving money here can be construed as smart shopping.
Anesthesia: Our anesthesia provider usually is determined according to where we have our surgery – by our surgeon if surgery is in his office or by the hospital or surgery center. Costs for MD anesthesiologists or certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are about the same, and their safety records are comparable. Given the similarity in cost, anesthesiologists because they have more extensive education and training under their belts and because there’s scientific evidence that anesthesiologists are more effective in the event of a medical crisis during surgery.
Certainly we can save money by having our surgeon or his nurse sedate we (instead of administering anesthesia), but depending on our procedure, eliminating the cost of a third-party anesthesia provider may also compromise our safety.