Surgeon Wants Fee to Correct Abdominal Liposuction Bump - Is This Right?

Had a breast reduction and a small amount of liposuction to flanks and mid abdomen about 6 months ago. There is a small amount of fat that can be removed causing an uneven bump. I have already paid approximately 30K between surgeon fee and anesthesia for both procedures. Procedure can be done under local anesthesia, in the office in about 30 minutes. I just feel surgeon was out of line to charge me a fee, even if its a few hundred dollars, is this customary? I know this is NY but come on!

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12 Doctor Answers | Asked by mac121 in NY

Doctor Answers (12)
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Fee for secondary lipo

If it is a small area and this can occur naturally then I normally will do it free and only charge a small fee for the cost of my supplies and this is usually 75 or 100 dollars.

Should fee be charged for minor revision after major surgery?

You have already paid a substantial amount of money for the two procedures and this is a minor revision. I would waive the fee unless this has been discussed pre operatively.

Kenneth L. Stein, MD

5 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Revision fee

This is always an uncomfortable situation especially if it has not been spelled out in writing before surgery. If I think the patient has a satisfactory result but it could be a little better, I will waive my surgeon's fee but I will charge a facility fee and, if anesthesia is necessary, the patient pays for that. If I think the patient has a really good to great result ("perfect" is not in my vocabulary), and I think the patient is being overly... more

Cost for liposuction touch-up

Each surgeon has a different revision or touch-up policy based on many different factors. It is best to get it defined before having surgery. In your case, after paying so much for your surgery, it may be reasonable to ask your surgeon to waive the additional fee.

If touch-up surgery is "free" when does it stop? When "perfection" is reached?

Regardless of the fees/costs you paid, the procedures you requested were performed with all of the education, training, experience, and skill of the surgeon, his staff, and the facility could bring to bear on your behalf. And by your own admission, everything turned out well except for "a small amount of fat" causing "a small bump". It appears as if you expected your surgeon to deliver a "perfect" result, but was every aspect of your post-op instructions followed "perfectly," or was there... more

Surgeon Wants Fee to Correct Abdominal Liposuction Bump - Is This Right?

In my practice NO but that is my personal practice. Discuss these concerns with this $$$$ surgeon. From MIAMI Dr. darryl J. Blinski

Question about charges for minor postoperative revisions

Unfortunately, policies regarding secondary or touch-up procedures can be confusing and do vary from practice to practice. Often, these are outlined before surgery either as a separate written policy or as part of the consent form. Many plastic surgeons will not charge a second surgical fee for a touch-up or revision related to a significantly less than ideal outcome if it is performed within a certain period of time after the surgery, often 6 months to one year, though you may be... more

Policies vary

Mac, Policies regarding touch up/revision surgery vary widely from practice to practice and may even be affected by the rapport that you have with your surgeon. Oftentimes you can speak openly with your surgeon and at least bargain down the fees for revision. No surgeon, not even a well established one, wants an unhappy patient. Keep in mind that you may have signed something saying that there would be a charge for revisionary surgery. Also,... more

Touch-up fees

More than likely the fee is for a facility fee which is actually not a fee paid for the surgeon's work. It would be to pay for supplies, and staffing and facility.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Touch up liposuctions always incur an operating room charge.

It is not very often a patient needs a touch-up surgery for liposuction unless they had it done under general anesthesia, then they usually need at least 1 or more touch ups. There is always a fee for the operating room which is $750 in our case and which I always tell my patients during their consultation.