Should I Pay for Breast Augmentation Redo?

I had breast augmentation approximately 3 months ago to correct asymmetry. The breast are still noticeably different in size by more than 30 CCs. 300 cc implants were used. The doctor used 300 cc on large breast and 380 cc max on small breast. I don't understand why he used the same size implant after telling me that the difference could possibly be up to 100 ccs.

He gave me a quote to redo of $2,600 and then changed it to $3,200. I don't understand why I should have to pay for it. He did not fix the problem. I am very unhappy because I paid total of $5,010 and pretty much threw my money in the garbage. I also asked other surgeons for a quote and they said that the doctor who worked on me should redo it for free, and that surgery should have warranty. Should I pay for the redo or insist that he do it for free?

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asymmetry fees revision

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10 Doctor Answers | Asked by cocona0035 in Livingston, TX

Doctor Answers (10)
Community Comments (0)

Surgery, Symmetry, Warranties

Cocona0035: As a surgeon I attempt to produce beautiful results and happy patients. However I often tell patients that surgery is imperfect. Trying to reduce the difference in size or appearance between two breasts is more challenging than routine breast augmentation. My office provides all patients with a quote during their preop consultation that spells out our policies about redo surgery and which items the surgeon will discount, and which items the patient would be responsible for. ... more

Size discrepancy after Breast Augmentation

Every surgeon's policy varies and although you may be upset with the result, the surgeon may feel that they got the best possible result given the circumstances. There may be many logical reasons for why your breasts remain uneven. Going in to correct your problem is an opportunity to improve on the outcome but it also is an opportunity to make it worse. Every operation has a new risk of infection, scarring, etc. How badly does it bother you? Only you know. Given your desire to... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Redo breast augmentation

Every office operates differently in terms of redoing a breast augmentation. Talk to your doctor's office again and see what they can do for you.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast augmentation redo payment depends upon doctor's office policy

Hello, If a correction seems like it would work out, I usually do them for actual "hard" costs (surgery center, anesthesia, new implants) if they are done soon after the original surgery. Each practice has its own philosophy on this issue however. Be nice to your surgeon and he should be nice to you. I really don't offer any kind of discount to rude patients. Fortunately, I don't have many of these and these problems are not common.

What does the surgeon's office policy state?

First thing to do is to look at what his written office policy is on payment for re-do'. If you don't have it in writing before hand, you are at the mercy of the doctor afterwords. I prefer to use the same size implant because it is generally easier to correct asymmetry. This is because the implant diameter gets larger with implant size, and I have had problems where the larger implant looks like it is sitting higher. You may ask the doctor to re-do it for free, but you may be... more

Revision pricing is complex

First of all, with your asymmetry preop, yours is a more difficult starting point and the result may never be quite what you want because your body won't allow it to be perfect. Secondly, your initial price was relatively low by national standards. If your surgeon feels that your result is as good as he / she can get given your body, then the revision is something you are driving and asking you to pay facility, anesthesia, and equipment fees is reasonable. If, on the other hand, your... more

Depends on your agreement with your doctor

When you enter into the informed consent for a procedure and sign the consent it IS a contract between you and your surgeon. I am sure there is something in writing stating revisional procdures will entail additional costs to you. There is most likely wording about the lack of warranty and the possibility of the need for additional procedures. These clauses in the consent would make it legal and ethical for your surgeon to ask for a fee. I personally would not chrge a fee in this... more

Is any further surgery even necessary?

Nearly all women have some asymmetry. There are more obvious ones like in your situation and therefore correcting them is beneficial in overall happiness with the outcome of the surgery. However, no asymmetry can be corrected to perfection. You always trade one asymmetry for another. For example, now your implants are asymmetrical which leads to a fuller breast on one side. With all asymmetries you try to compromise to get the best overall results. If you are within 30cc, that is very... more

It is fair for you to pay only for the actual costs.

Hi! My personal policy is that if a patient needs a revision within a year of the original surgery, then we don't charge a surgical fee at all. However, the patient does pay for actual out of pocket expenses (running the operating room, the anesthesiologist, the cost of new implants). Each surgeon is entitled to his own policy. My goal is to always make sure the patient feels she is treated more than fairly and to make sure the patient is happy.

Surgery is and Art and a Science

One thing we all have to keep in mind is that surgery is an Art and a Science. It is impossible to predict with 100% certainty how a surgery will turn out. With that said, if something was done differently that what you discussed preoperatively then you may have cause for concern. From you question you say that one side had 300 cc and the other 380 cc. If you and your doctor estimated a 100 cc difference, then there would only be a 20 cc difference now. Studies have shown that the eye... more