2004 Average Costs for Surgery
National Statistics for Average Surgeon Fees per Procedure
Important Note about Average Surgeon Fees per Procedure: Figures are for physician/surgeon fees only and do not include fees for the surgical facility, anesthesia, medical tests, prescriptions, surgical garments, or other miscellaneous costs related to surgery. Figures for procedures often performed on more than one body site in the same session reflect typical fees for one site. Surgeon fees may vary considerably among different geographic regions. Within geographic regions, surgeon fees may vary depending on whether the practice is located in a rural, suburban or urban area. The individual surgeon's cosmetic surgery experience and length of time in practice may also affect fees.
| Breast augmentation | $3,373-$3,437 |
| Breast lift | $3,718-$4,053 |
| Breast Implant Removals (augmentation patients only) | $2,211 |
| Breast nipple enlargement (cosmetic only) | $1,442 |
| Breast nipple reduction (not with breast reduction) | $1,306 |
| Breast reconstruction * see below | |
Health Insurance
Most health insurance companies exclude coverage for cosmetic surgical operations such as a breast augmentation or any complications that might occur from surgery. Some carriers have excluded breast diseases in patients who have breast implants. Please carefully review your health insurance subscriber-information pamphlet. Most insurance plans exclude coverage for secondary or revisionary surgery due to complications of cosmetic surgery.
Financial Responsibilities
The cost of surgery involves several charges for the services provided. The total includes fees charged by your surgeon, the cost of surgical supplies, anesthesia, laboratory tests, and possible outpatient hospital charges, depending on where the surgery is performed. Depending on whether the cost of surgery is covered by an insurance plan, you will be responsible for necessary co-payments, deductibles, and charges not covered. The fees charged for this procedure do not include any potential future costs for additional procedures that you elect to have or require in order to revise, optimize, or complete your outcome. Additional costs may occur should complications develop from the surgery. Secondary surgery or hospital day-surgery charges involved with revision surgery will also be your responsibility. You may be advised some time in the future to have a MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan to determine the condition of your breast implants. You would be responsible for future costs of such imaging studies. In signing the consent for this surgery/procedure, you acknowledge that your have been informed about its risk and consequences and accept responsibility for the clinical decisions that were made along with the financial costs of all future treatments.
* Insurance Coverage for Breast Reconstruction
The Women's Health Rights and Cancer Act of 1998 requires health plans that cover mastectomy to cover breast reconstruction after mastectomy and surgery on the other breast to help achieve symmetry, if necessary. Breast reconstruction with either tissue expanders or implants is a multi-staged process to create a breast mound, place a permanent implant, and surgically create a nipple and areola, if desired. Additional surgery to revise or improve the results of the breast reconstruction and/or replace implants may not be covered by your health insurance plan. Review your health insurance plan's subscriber information or contact your plan about their coverage policies. Patients who choose to have breast reconstruction need to understand the potential for future surgery to maintain the quality of their breast reconstruction (s).
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