Cosmetic surgery is a type of surgery performed to enhance the appearance in some way. It is typically considered a luxury service and is not covered by most types of medical insurance, except in cases of disfiguration from accidents or genetic birth defects. Cosmetic surgery fees vary depending on the type and complexity of the procedure. Other fees, including office visit fees and income lost due to recovery time, should also be factored into overall costs.
Minor procedures such as facial filler injections, certain types of skin peels, or lip augmentation typically cost less than $1000 US Dollars (USD) per treatment and require very little recovery time. However, the effects are usually not permanent and several treatments may be required to achieve the desired effect. Prospective patients should talk to their dermatologist to determine how many treatments will be required, and if there is a discount for paying upfront for multiple treatments.
For more invasive surgeries, numerous factors go into determining cosmetic surgery fees. Liposuction, for example, takes into consideration the size of the patient, the overall fat composition of the area being treated, and the level of difficulty involved in the procedure. Cosmetic surgery fees increase when anesthesia is involved. Patients sedated using general anesthesia require constant monitoring by a trained anesthesiologist to ensure that complications do not arise. These fees are usually in addition to the fees charged by the surgeon.
The area of the body being altered is also a major determining factor of cosmetic surgery fees. Some facial surgeries, such as a face-lift or rhinoplasty, may cost more than surgery to perform minor augmentation on other parts of the body because of the precision technique involved. On the other hand, surgery involving larger areas, such as a tummy tuck, can be more expensive because of the amount of work involved.
Cosmetic surgery fees can vary significantly among geographical locations, and even among surgeons in a single area. In larger metropolitan areas, where cosmetic surgery is more popular, services typically cost more than lightly populated regions in suburban or rural areas. Well-established surgeons may charge more than those just starting their practice do. Prospective patients should also keep in mind that advertised fees or estimates may not include all hidden or extra costs. Asking the surgeon for an itemized breakdown of the cost before agreeing to the surgery should help eliminate any surprises on the final bill.
Aside from the actual cosmetic surgery fees and the extra cost for office visits, anesthesia, and other itemized fees, recovery time should be factored into the overall expense. Minimally invasive procedures that require no down time do not interfere with the ability to return to work, but some procedures require weeks of recovery time. Before considering a procedure, patients should find out how long to expect to be out of work and factor that lost income into the overall cosmetic surgery fees.
