Does Combining Breast Reduction and Liposuction Cost Less?

Question

If insurance covers a breast reduction, and should I want to have liposuction done also, will it cost me less to get these all done at the same time?

David Shafer, MD, FACS · Answer

In most cases, there is a small cost-savings to combining procedures.  However, insurance companies are not dumb and hospitals are not either.  If you are having the procedure which is covered by insurance, they are going to only pay for that portion of the procedure and that portion of the hospital fees and that portion of the anesthesia fees.  You would be responsible for the rest.  Also, there is a misconception that if the insurance company "covers" a procedure, that they are paying the doctor his usual fees.  In most cases the insurance company is paying just pennies on the dollar for what the doctor would charge for a non-insured case.  This is why most plastic surgeons do not take insurance - because they actually loose money by doing insurance-covered cases.  I hope this is helpful and good luck with your procedure.

Scott C. Lindsay, DO · Answer

Thank you for your question.
 The fee may be a little less combining the two , but this will depend on the surgeon.. Schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options. Best wishes!

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

The short answer is most likely yes, as there is only one anesthesia and one recovery room  usage, plus it is more time efficient for the surgeon, anesthesiologist and surgery center.

David Stoker, MD · Answer

If you have liposuction performed at the same time as a breast reduction, it is usually somewhat less expensive that if you do the procedures separately in two different operations.  Discuss your options with a plastic surgeon who is an expert in both fields.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question.

	Generally speaking,  you may find that combination procedures do cost less than doing the procedures separately.

	Best wishes.

Armando Soto, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi there,
Because it is much less expensive to spend a bit more time in the operating room than it is to return to it at a later time (one set of supplies, less general demand on resources...), and because the surgeon's time is also utilized more efficiently, in most practices you would indeed save a fair amount of money by combining two procedures. When you also consider the amount of your own time you will save by having to go through only one recovery period, the financial incentives to combining the procedures can be significant.
Of course, this is only worth doing if combining the procedures is something that would be safe for you, and would therefore depend on your overall health, the procedures in question, and the details of the procedures (type of anesthesia, length of surgery, surgeon's experience combining them, etc...).
Here's a bit more about choosing a surgeon:

Does Combining Breast Reduction and Liposuction Cost Less?

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Answer: Combined surgery procedures

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Does Combining Breast Reduction and Liposuction Cost Less?

Answers (12)

Answer: Combined surgery procedures

Answer: Combined surgery procedures

Answer: Breast Reduction/ Liposuction Combination and Costs?

Answer: Breast Reduction/ Liposuction Combination and Costs?

Answer: Will I save money by combining procedures?

Answer: Will I save money by combining procedures?

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Everything you need to know about Breast Reduction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.