When speaking with prospective patients, one of the most common concerns that I hear is the potential costs of undergoing plastic surgery. It’s a fact that cosmetic procedures can sometimes be pricey, especially for patients who undergo plastic surgery that is considered “elective” (or not medically necessary) that insurance providers will not cover. However, the truth is that in the vast majority of cases affordable plastic surgery options are more common than many people realize. Allow me to explain.
It’s important to remember that something that seems affordable doesn’t mean that it is cheap or that you need to sacrifice quality. After all, when undergoing surgery of any kind, the most important thing is to work with an experienced, board-certified surgeon in their field who will be able to safely perform your procedure and minimize your risks of potential complications. Many plastic surgery practices (including Southern Plastic Surgery) offer plastic surgery financing options like CareCredit® for patients who are concerned about the costs of their procedure.
There has been a trend of plastic surgery patients traveling abroad for their cosmetic procedures in an effort to reduce their costs. However, cosmetic surgery tourism can be very risky and even prove to be more expensive in the long run. Although many international plastic surgeons are talented and experienced, certain foreign countries have looser standards for the doctors performing your procedure and more lax safety protocols like potentially unsterile equipment or surgical tools. Additionally, traveling abroad for plastic surgery can often become more expensive for patients. The added costs of potential revision surgeries and complications can be very high; not to mention the cost of traveling.
To help patients out, here are a few tips that can potentially help reduce the costs of plastic surgery without sacrificing quality:
- Find a board-certified plastic surgeon who offers patients complimentary consultation appointments.
- Subscribe to plastic surgery practice newsletters to take advantage of monthly plastic surgery special promotions and office events.
- Bring up any cost concerns during your consultation to see if your respective plastic surgeon is able to work with you on a more agreeable pricing arrangement or if there are financing options available.
- Closely follow your plastic surgeon’s pre and post-surgery instructions to get the best results possible and help avoid potential complications and additional revision procedures.
Hopefully, you found these tips helpful. Looking and feeling our best is an important part of building self-esteem and no patient should be barred from achieving the rejuvenated appearance they desire due to overwhelming costs. If you are interested in plastic surgery and would like to discuss potential financing options, please contact me, Dr. David Whiteman, at Southern Plastic Surgery today to schedule a complimentary plastic surgery consultation. And follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google+ for more plastic surgery tips, news, videos, and more.