Can I get plastic surgery (body lift) at a lower cost by a resident at a teaching hospital?

Question

Hi, and thank you for taking the time to read my question. I am 38 and had a lap-band placed in 2010 then in 2014 had it converted to a bypass. My weight was 305 and now I've stayed between 187-191 for over 8 months. I have a lot of loose skin from my thighs to my shoulders and really need help. I cannot afford a private practice and looking to see where I can go and how I can get accepted into a teaching hospital to help me. I looked into Stanford but don't know who to contact or how to begin

Aldo Guerra, MD · Answer

Hello Melissa.Hello and thanks for your post. For a high quality body lift operation by a certified surgeon it is best to save up your money and when you're financially ready then have your surgery. A residency program can be less expensive, but there will be some potential additional risks. I also don't think the results are comparable to a seasoned board certified plastic surgeon's results.However, some residency programs are stellar. I suggest you do a lot of research about how much the faculty is involved with residency surgery. Stanford has a residency program and you can contact the plastic surgery section for more information.Best wishes, Dr. Aldo.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

It’s great that you’re taking the time to explore your options for body contouring after significant weight loss. I agree with the doctors below who recommend calling university hospitals to ask if they offer body lift procedures at a lower cost through their residency or fellowship programs. Many teaching hospitals have plastic surgery programs where senior residents, under the supervision of board-certified attending surgeons, perform procedures at a reduced cost.

That said, while university hospitals can be a great option for affordability, I always recommend choosing an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon—especially for extensive procedures like a body lift. Body lifts are complex surgeries that require advanced techniques to achieve the best contour and minimize complications. Working with a surgeon who specializes in post-weight loss plastic surgery can help ensure you get optimal results the first time, reducing the need for revisions or corrections later.

If cost is a major concern, you may also want to ask private practices about financing options, as many offer CareCredit, Alphaeon, or other payment plans that allow you to pay for surgery over time. Additionally, some patients choose to travel out of state for experienced surgeons who may offer more competitive pricing.

I hope this helps! Best of luck in finding the right path for your body lift journey.

Sincerely,
Dr. J. Timothy Katzen, MD, MBA, FACS, FICS

Dallas Buchanan, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. The short answer is yes, if it is available, you can often get cosmetic surgery prices for less by doing them through a resident or fellow teaching clinic where a plastic surgeon in training performs your procedure under the supervision and guidance of an attending physician. The only problem is that because of legal issues with these types of clinics, many educational centers have done away with them. Having this type of setup is great for the patient and the trainee, but when things go wrong, people get upset and start suing people, and this puts the institution at great legal risk, and so many are not willing to risk it.Your best bet would be to find out what university medical centers near you have a plastic surgery training program (UCSF, Stanford?) and call the coordinator of that residency or fellowship program and ask them if they have a resident or fellow cosmetic clinic. That would be a good place to start, but do not be surprised if you find that most universities and training programs no longer offer this service due to the litigious nature of our society.  Best of luck!

Ronald V. DeMars, MD (Retired) · Answer

You can find out which university hospitals near you have a Plastic Surgery Residency Program. Then call that university and ask to speak to the Plastic Surgery Department. They will be able to tell you if the residents have a surgery clinic of their own.

Can I get plastic surgery (body lift) at a lower cost by a resident at a teaching hospital?

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