Breast Implant Redo..will I Get a Discount?

 Revision policies vary from surgeon to surgeon. That being said most surgeons will appreciate the confidence expressed by returning to them for additional future surgery and often a discounted price is applied. Please discuss this with your surgeon.

Every plastic surgeon has their own revision policy.  Many, if not most, plastic surgeons charge little to nothing for revisions related to "complications".  A change in implant size is obviously not this kind of revision.  Most plastic surgeons would charge something for size exchange surgery.  Many would give you a patient loyalty discount (ours is 10% for example).

The good news is that if the only variable that you are changing is the size of the implant, this can be a very simple, straighforward operation done at a lesser cost than your initial surgery.  This can be done quite easily with local anesthetic alone.

In my practice, I routinely offer redo surgery without surgeon's fee (patient is responsible for OR and anesthesia cost, as well as implant costs when needed). Many surgeons also offer this, and many do so for a year after original surgery, though some may extend this time (I often do depending on the situation). You need to discuss this with your surgeon.

Reducing your implant volume by 125cc will reduce your size by about 1/2 cup size. To reduce the rippling and to achieve a softer, more natural look AND feel, you should consider the latest generation of cohesive silicone gel implants, even though they do cost about $700-800 more per pair. Smaller saline implants (even properly overfilled ones) will still have a potential for rippling, can deflate and require re-operation for replacement, and feel less natural. I have no vested interest (stock, ownership in one company or another, etc.) in recommending silicone implants other than the fact that I believe they are the best ones for the vast majority of my patients. They also agree with that after receiving them! Best wishes!

I will offer complimentary revisions if there is a problem right after surgery that results in asymmetry or some other concern.

I perform a very careful sizng process with all my patients, so if patient has a desire for a size change, especially later, there will be a charge. I think most plastic surgeons enjoy seeing their patients abck and will offer a discounted rate for more work.

This varies from surgeon to surgeon. I personally give my return patients a discount.  The cost will vary depending on what you need to have done; you may need a capsulloraphy to make the pocket smaller, and that is a more detailed surgery than a simple implant exchange.  Best to ask your surgeon what his/her policy is.  Good Luck!

Financial policies differ from office to office. We provide courtesy for previous patients. Implant exchange like other cosmetic surgery varies considerably across the country and even in the same area. South Florida tends to have lower fees then more expensive areas such as New York or Los Angeles. We charge $2800 + MD Anesthesia related costs for implant exchange with saline implants. Implant Exchange with Gel Implants starts at $3500 + MD Anesthesia related costs. Since you can get quality work at lower costs, patients will travel from throughout the state, the country, and internationally to have surgery in South Florida. To ensure that you are receiving quality work at the most cost effective prices, consult with board certified plastic surgeons that own their own nationally accredited facilities. The quality must be maintained at the highest level to maintain accreditation. The surgeons also have incentive to hire and train quality staff (to ensure that surgery is efficient and enjoyable), to ensure comfortable and private facilities (to encourage referral), and to eliminate waste (to ensure that these facilities can compete effectively).

Each office is different in their policy regarding revisionary surgery so check with your doctor's office.  In my office, I always discount procedures for one of my patients (reduction of the surgeon's fee).  Talk to your surgeon and see.

Hard to advise what each doctors office does with returning previous patients. I offer a discount, I call it the returning or frequent flyer program. 

There is no standard for what a physician will charge for a secondary procedure such as replacing implants with a different size.  Our policy is to charge almost 50% less than the original cost to replace implants that were done in our office.  I don't believe the breasts will sag anymore by going with a smaller implant.  If anything, they may sag less because of the decreased weight placed on the breast tissue.

It depends on the surgeon of course.  I personally do give repeat patients a discount on their procedures.  Donald R. Nunn MD Atlanta Plastic Surgeon.