Plastic Surgery: Q&A
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Reduced or Eliminated Plastic Surgery Consultation Fees?
What is your current consultation fee and how has this changed from last year to present?
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18 Doctor Answers |
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anon
+3
Complimentary Consultation, then 2nd $100 Consult
In my North Carolina plastic surgery practice we offer a complimentary initial consultation for people interested in surgery. These consultations are performed by my patient coordinator who has worked very closely with me for six years. This consultation lasts 45 minutes. Patients ask questions, view photographs, etc. Never has a patient expressed that this appointment was not worthwhile.
If a patient would like to proceed to the next step, they meet with me. During the hour long...
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We have a minimal consultation fee that is applied toward surgery.
After 19 years in practice we find that "free consultations" lead to patients who value the service as much as they pay for it - zero. We find that when we offered free consultations, patients were more likely to fail to show for their appointments since they placed no value on it. That created a scheduling nightmare, since we never knew who would be showing up.
When we instituted a $25 fee, patients were more likely to keep their appointments and it made it possible to better...
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+2
No Change - But No Fee Either!
In our San Francisco area practice we are not currently charging appointment or new consultation fees and haven't since our opening. Unlike some of the other physicians we have a very low "no show" rate and find that when patients meet our staff and physicians they're even more impressed.
We feel that providing information to patients to help them make decisions should have has few barriers to it as possible.
My typical profile provides for one hour new consultations.
I hope this...
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We have never charged for consultation
In our area (Southern California) there are literally hundreds of surgeons to chose from within a small radius. Unless the prospective patient is already set on a surgeon, he or she will likely go to 3-5 consults before deciding on a doctor. These patients are most likely to go to consultations with doctors who do not charge.
In previous years, if a patient had a friend that came to you andt.she was thrilled with her results, the patient had a very high percentage chance that she would...
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We ask our staff
We always charge a consultation fee and in fact obtain a credit card down payment of $25.00 when the appt is made. We listen to what the receptionists tell us.
If patients think the consultation fee is too high and that prevents the making of an appointment, then we lower the fee. We recently did just that and the feedback is positive.
+2
No change
At this point, I have not charged a consultation fee. Even with these economic times, I have not decided to start charging a fee for new consultations. I have found that this policy allows a wider range of patients to see me. Even if they cannot afford the procedures they are considering, I am at least providing them with useful information. Also, we provide many financing options that allow patients to pay off their procedures or treatments over time. This, I feel, has been the biggest...
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No change in consultation fees
While we have reduced our surgical fees temporarily in recognition of the economic distress in the country, the $75 consultation fee I charge has not changed. I spend an hour with each new patient personally. The cost is deducted from the cost of surgery if a patient goes ahead with a procedure. It is necessary to charge a fee for an hour of my time in order to maintain the integrity of our schedule and minimize the potential for no-shows that would be higher with free visits.
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Free consultations have their disadvantages
I have always offered free cosmetic consultations but have gone back and forth on whether I feel this is the best thing for me and my patients. The way I look at it the advantages of free consultations are:
You may otherwise lose the opportunity to impress a patient whom would otherwise not schedule a consultation with a fee
The patient benefits by feeling no obligation or pressure to schedule due to their investment they have already made for the consultation (this is also a...
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+1
$200 for a consultation
I have always charged a consultation fee from the time I started my practice in 1987. The fee has increased over time to reflect inflation, as well as to reflect the increased experience that over 20 years of practice has given me.
Although there are some geographical variations in fees, in general fees vary depending on the level of expertise of the surgeon. "Charge what you're worth, or you will become worth what you charge"......as one of my professors said to me.
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No change in consultation policy
We do not charge for consultation but require that the patient would cancel or reschedule within 48 hours. They can get charged if they booked the appointment and did not show up.
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Our consult fee has not changed
Our consultation fee is $50. We haven't changed it for the last several years. It is applied to any procedure that the patients might want to have in our office, including injectables, or they can apply it toward purchase of medical skincare products. We haven't had any complaints about this fee, everybody seems to consider it reasonable.
Occasionally, I see patients whose problems fall outside my range of expertise. If I am not able to provide care for them and need to refer them...
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No change
I have charged a $100 consultation fee since opening the practice and have not changed at all. I too personally spend about an hour with each patient and do a very in-depth consultation. The $100 is applied toward any procedure done in 3 months of the consultation.
Portland Plastic Surgeon
+1
Consult fees
Tom,
I have come full circle in my practice from initially charging no consult fee to charging a fee that goes toward the cost of surgery if the patient proceeds, back to charging no consult fee.
Of course, there are advantages and disadvantages to both, but in these lean economic times it is essential to help drive traffic through the door.
+1
Consultation fee
No, my consultation fee has not changed. Patients who are really interested in surgery, do not mind paying the fee. Those who complain about it, obviously are shopping a lot and probably can't afford to undergo the procedure.
+1
No change in our consultation policy
We do not charge a consultation fee unless a patient does not show and then calls to reschedule. In that case, a nonrefundable fee is charged on a credit card to schedule an appointment.
+1
Quality over quantity
My consultation for cosmetic patients who have not had surgery before is a two visit process that includes photos on the first visit and review of photos on the second. It is a comprehensive process, and I might spend an hour or two on each patient.
I have actually increased my fees. This leads to a much higher quality of patient. Most of my patients are from direct referrals. Patients who go through the process really appreciate the time and usually proceed with surgery at a fairly high...
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Consultation fees vary
In the Chicago area, the consultation fee is based specifically on the office. You may find two offices in the same city charging different fees and/or not charging a fee at all. In my office the consultation fee for a cosmetic procedure is $95. You spend the whole time with me personally and also it covers any other preoperative visits. I typically see patients about three times prior to surgery. Spending time listening and answering your questions is key in understanding your desires...
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Consultation fees in Chicago vary widely
In the Chicago area there is a wide variety of practices to choose from and many patients will see several practices to find a "best fit" for their particular needs.
Cosmetic surgery consultation fees range from $50 to $150 though many practices like ours charge nothing at all. Some will apply fees to the cost of surgery if scheduled, and to my knowledge fees in Chicago have held the line.
As far as our practice is concerned I have never charged a fee for consultation. This is not...
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