One of the more common questions our Financing and Patient Care Coordinators receive are about variations in pricing from different practices. After all, financing can feel like the biggest roadblock for patients pursuing their renewed self. It is not uncommon for our patients to have been to several consultations with other surgeons before they come to Image Surgical Arts.
Often, they will bring the quotes they received from other practices as a way to compare costs associated with the procedure they desire. The cost estimates for their procedure can be vastly different making it hard to know if you are comparing apples to apples. That is why it is important to know what is included and what is not included in your surgery cost quote.
Let’s look at some of the factors that are likely the culprits of your price estimate variations.
1. Facility Fees
These are the fees that are charged by the facility (hospital, surgery center, etc.) where your procedure will occur. These fees cover costs of staffing (nurses, scrub techs, surgical assistants, janitorial services, supplies, implants etc.) These are often out of the control of the surgeon or practice performing the procedure.
There are a few different price structures that different facilities will often use to determine their price. It can be based on time the surgeon takes to perform the procedure, based on the actual procedure being performed or a combination of the two. If there is a time based component and the surgeon takes longer than expected, then you may be responsible for the additional cost afterwards. The last thing you want to think about is a surgeon rushing through your procedure in order to decrease facility costs. Believe us, if your procedure takes less time than expected, you are highly unlikely to receive a refund.
At Image Surgical Arts, because we own our own fully accredited surgical center, our facility fees are included in the final quote. If your procedure takes longer than expected, you WILL NOT receive an additional bill for the extra time.
2. Anesthesia Fees
These fees are what are charged for an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist to provide anesthesia for your procedure. Again, these are often based on the amount of time that is estimated for the procedure to be completed. As with facility fees, should the procedure take longer than expected, you may receive an additional anesthesia bill after your procedure.
We include all anesthesia fees in our surgical quotes. As always, if your procedure is longer than expected, you WILL NOT receive any additional charges.
3. Surgeon Fees
These are the fees paid to the practice or surgeon performing your cosmetic procedure. These can vary based on experience, expertise, location, etc. and can vary significantly from one practice to the next. This is one of the only fees that most surgeons/practices have control over.
As with the other fees, Image Surgical Arts provides one cost quote that includes each aspect (facility fees, anesthesia, surgeon, etc.).
4. Different Procedures Cost Different Prices
While this may seem obvious, there is occasionally some confusion. For example, a quote from one practice for standard volume reduction liposuction will be a certain amount. Often, this is based on specific areas. To do additional areas, additional fees will be tacked on and you’ll wind up paying significantly more than what you initially expected.
Compare that to 360 degree core liposuction at Image Surgical Arts. It is the equivalent of seven areas of liposuction. Most practices have not invested in the advanced technology we have. As an example, we will often recommend adding Renuvion skin tightening in addition to liposuction to provide improved results. These are important differences as to why you may see different prices for what you may have initially thought to be the same procedure.
Additionally, if you are interested in VASER High Definition liposuction, that will be significantly different from standard and traditional liposuction offered by the vast majority of other practices. Another example we often see is for a tummy tuck.
At Image, we will generally include core liposuction as part of our tummy tuck procedures to maximally enhance your results. This means you will typically get seven areas of liposuction included in the tummy tuck price. This is different from most other practices. Make sure the prices you are comparing are for similar procedures. It is a very common mistake.
5. Miscellaneous Fees
Some practices will expect you to pay for many miscellaneous items such as preoperative lab work, garments, follow-up appointments, consultations, and more. These costs can significantly add up.
At Image Surgical Arts, you see one quote that is literally all inclusive of everything except post-operative prescription medications. We provide your first post-operative garment, include any necessary lab work prior surgery, follow-up appointments and more as part of the quote you receive.
Image Surgical Arts prides itself on financial transparency throughout the entire process of helping you decide the correct procedure, surgeon, and facility. We own our own state-accredited and state-of-the-art surgical facility. By making this investment, we can offer you a private surgical center and the best experience possible. Our staff is highly trained and motivated to advise you on financing and ensure you’re comfortable throughout the process from the initial consultation to the post-operative follow-up visits.
You will not receive additional charges or fees after the fact. While there may be additional charges for add-on items (such as a second garment), the price you receive at your consultation is the all-inclusive total price for the entire experience.
It is vitally important that you understand what is included in your quote and even more important what is not included. Just looking at the number does not necessarily mean that you are comparing apples to apples.
If you have questions about costs of surgical procedures, what all is involved or would like to set up a consultation, call or text 615-499-4224 to see how Image Surgical Arts can help you achieve your aesthetic goals.
