One of the most common misconceptions about plastic surgery is that it is too expensive for many patients. Over the years, I have spoken with several people who have told me they were initially hesitant to pursue cosmetic surgery due to fear over high costs. And this bothers me. Not just the idea of potential patients not receiving the proper care they need to improve their body image and self-esteem through cosmetic surgery, but the fact that in many cases, plastic surgery is far more affordable than many patients realize.
It’s true that cosmetic surgery can sometimes seem pricey. Especially for patients who undergo “elective” (or not medically necessary) procedures that cannot be covered by an insurance provider. Some plastic surgery patients consider traveling abroad for cosmetic procedures to help reduce their costs. We refer to this as “cosmetic surgery tourism” and we do not recommend it. Undergoing your surgery in a country with potentially lower safety standards can be very risky and even prove to be more expensive in the long run due to required follow-up procedures. I recently saw a patient who has had recurring issues after traveling to the Dominican Republic for her cosmetic surgery. Since we did not perform her initial procedure, treating her complications presents a challenging situation.
For those patients who are concerned about the potential costs of their procedure, there are measures we take to help lighten the financial load. For instance, I make it a point to provide complimentary plastic surgery consultations for all patients. We also offer excellent financing options like CareCredit® that help break up the costs of plastic surgery over time. In the video below, I discuss why patients shouldn’t fret too much over the cost of plastic surgery:
Remember, just because undergoing a plastic surgery procedure is more affordable than you initially thought doesn’t mean that it is cheap or of lower quality than you were anticipating. It helps to research prospective board-certified plastic surgeons by reading testimonials from their patients and looking at before and after photos from their past surgeries in order to determine the right surgeon to perform your procedure. I strongly believe that no patient should be barred from looking and feeling their very best due to overwhelming surgical costs. If you would like to discuss plastic surgery in a more personal setting, please contact me, Dr. David Whiteman, at Southern Plastic Surgery to schedule your complimentary plastic surgery consultation today. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google+ for additional plastic surgery videos, tips, news, and more.