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Can Costs Increase After Original Plastic Surgery Quote?

asked 1 year ago by 3atr in San Jose, CA
Latest answer by Michael A. Jazayeri, MD
Question viewed 461 times
Tags: costs, price, price quote

I was seen by a PS for tummy tuck & breast lift. After I was seen by him, the person that is responsible for giving the total dollar estimate gave me a price. I came into the office one more time to see the PS and decided to go forward with the procedure. I asked the quoter to confirm the price. She wrote up another quote and change the price on me. Can she do that? Same procedures (tummy tuck & breast lift), 3 different quote. The PS does not know that the quoter is giving me a hard time.

16 answers to Can Costs Increase After Original Plastic Surgery Quote?

+3

Quotes for Plastic Surgery Costs?

A quote is a guote and should not change.  Notify the surgeon.   Could be a new office person that does not know the process.  It could be disorganization.  3 different quotes is a little bizarre.  Should be one and good for a reasonable time span.  Good Luck.
George Commons, MD

Palo Alto Plastic Surgeon
+2

Cosmetic Surgery Quote Change

Granted, every office has its own policies, but what you have described is unusual, IF the procedure has remained the same. Our quote prices are firm (unless the procedures are altered) and valid for one year. If you like the surgeon and trust his judgment and work, I think you should tell him. He may be unaware of what is going on. This is also a good test of his honesty and character.  Politely bring this issue to his attention (make sure you have copies of the quotes... more
Michael A. Jazayeri, MD

Santa Ana Plastic Surgeon
+2

Price quote

I feel if you are given a quote the doctor should honor that assuming you are not coming back a year later.I often will honor quotes I gave to patients a year later but this is up to the discretion of the doctor.
Robert Brueck, MD

Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon
+2

Multiple quotes from the same surgeon.

This sounds like an issue with communication between the surgeon and his staff. Each office has their own policy as to fee pricing and how long a quote is good for. There is typically a financial responsibility form which will dictate the length of time that the quote is good for. If enough time has passed between consultations and your medical status has changed (new diagnoses, weight loss/gain, additional concerns), then the quote may change as the complexity of the procedure warrants. If... more
David Bogue, MD

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon
+2

Price quote

Yikes.  You need to let your surgeon about this.  I would be very concerned if I found out this had happenend to one of my patients.  The reasons a quote and change are 1.  the first quote was miscalculated, 2. something about the operation has changed (type of implants, use of pain pump, addition of liposuction, etc), 3. the venue has changed (hospital vs office), or 4. a lot of time has passed, say a year or more since the first price quote.  Lisa Lynn Sowder,... more
Lisa L. Sowder, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+2

Price for Tummy tuck, breast uplift, mastopexy

Price is based according to what cosmetic surgery procedure I do and how complex it is and how long it takes to perform it. We give firm prices which do not vary everytime you come in. We honor the prices we give for six months and even after that try and accomodate the patient. We offer excellent financing through various companies as well as in-house. Visit my website for more info specifically on pricing and mommy makeovers and breast surgery. Watch my videos. 
Edward J. Domanskis, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+2

Plastic Surgery Fee Quotes Should Remain Stable For Some Period Of Time

Every plastic surgery practice has their own policy in regards to how surgery quotes are done. It would be logical to assume that once a quote is given that it would remain unchanged for some period of time. In my Indianapolis plastic surgery practice, our fee quotes are good for 6 months once they are given. After six months from the original consult, a new quote is needed and may or may not reflect some price change. But if you have been seen and quoted and then saw the plastic surgeon... more
Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD

Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon
+2

Unless the procedure has changed, the quote should be the same.

It would seem to be a bad business practice to arbitrarily give a patient one quote and then change the cost for the same procedure the next time the quote was given.  If the initial quote was given a while ago, it is possible that the surgeon or the facility has increased the fees for this procedure in the interim from when the quote was actually given.  This should be something the office would explain to you.  If you like this surgeon, it is in your interest to speak... more
Elizabeth Lee, MD

Bay Area Plastic Surgeon
+2

Different price quotes for the same procedure

Your best bet would be to discuss this issue with the plastic surgeon directly. He/she may not even be aware of the situation but could surely resolve it quite quickly for you. Many plastic surgeons will provide you with a quote that is good for a certain period of time, say 6 months. They may also guarantee their surgical fee for a specific period of time but won't be able to do the same for the anesthesia or outpatient center/facility charges.
Steven Turkeltaub, MD

Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon
+2

Funny business with fees

It's frustrating to encounter inconsistency in a business.  I would ask the surgeon about the different quotes.  I'll bet he/she has no idea that you were given different numbers three different times.  Quotes are estimates, but the estimate shouldn't change significantly from one day to the next without a good explanation.
Carmen Kavali, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+2

Plastic surgery quotes

Consider the initial quote to be an estimate - the surgeon might have considered your case after the consultation and decided that additional procedures might be required to deliver the best results. There are plenty of excellent ASPS member plastic surgeons in your area of CA - shop around !
Scott Sattler, MD

Bellevue Plastic Surgeon
+2

Quotes for Surgery

In most cases, the quotes for surgery are estimates, since there is no way to predict exactly how long the procedure will take.  Many surgicenters and hospitals charge by the hour and pro-rate by the 5 or 15 minute interval.  So, if your surgery is estimated to be 3 hours, but takes 3 hours and 15 minutes, you might get a supplemental bill.  The difference in time may be due to the complexity of the procedure, the amount of time it takes you to go to sleep from anesthesia or... more
David Shafer, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+2

Quotes for surgery

Until you sign on the dotted line, the quote can be flexible but usually has some time that it is valid. However, you have to remember that a surgeon is not obligated to operate on you at any time. However, this is one of the reasons why I always review the costs directly with the patient. Another factor that may or may not be true in you specific case is that tummy tucks and breast augmentations can vary considerably. Some tummy tucks are 1 hour procedures and some are four. All this... more
Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+2

Change in Cost For Tummy Tuck & Breast Lift

My office always gives a written quote for the total costs associated with any aesthetic procedure(s).  This would have resolved your problem.  The one caveat is that the estimate in my office is valid for a period of time and not forever, since costs apart from my fee (anesthesia, facility, etc.) do change over time.
John Whitt, MD

Louisville Plastic Surgeon
+2

Can Costs Increase After Original Quote

It is pretty typical to come in for another consultation if has been a while since you met with the Plastic Surgeon. Most offices will let you know on the cost sheet how long the quote is good. Some things may change if it has been a while. For instance, most offices have anesthesiologists that set their own fees so if these change the office may not have much control over this. Most surgeons and their staff have very good communication regarding fees. Maybe contact them and let them know... more
Miguel Delgado, Jr., MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
+2

Speak to your surgeon about your quote concerns

I would speak with the Plastic Surgeon directly about your concerns. He or she may not even be aware what his staff is doing since most surgeons are so busy with operating and seeing patients. Unless something was missed that required additional surgery, your quote should not change.
Scott R. Brundage, M.D.

Grand Rapids Plastic Surgeon

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