Plastic surgeon doesn't disclose prices over the phone? Is this a common practice?

Question

Dear doctors, I found a board certified plastic surgeon( through friends) who suppose to be good in dermal filler injections. So when I contacted his office, I was informed that doctor does not disclose his prices over the phone . In addition, the first consultation is free, but if you decide not to proceed with the procedure the second visit the will cost you $350 consult fee. Is this common practice for a plastic surgeon? Thank you

Stephen Prendiville, MD · Answer

With the growth of cosmetic procedures over the last decade and a half, specifically minimally invasive treatments, a commodity effect has evolved with aesthetic medicine.  My practice commonly gives our fees for minimally invasive treatments such as fillers and toxins over the phone.  Some practices do not.  However, most busy Facial Plastic Surgeons understand that fees for such procedures must be within the general range for the area in which they practice, so fees aren't really a secret.  What prospective patients must understand is that a request for the price of one syringe of filler does not constitute a consultation and that more than one syringe may be required.  Secondly, shopping for a procedure based on price alone is not advisable given the wide variability of skill you will encounter.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Fees vary depending on the patients experience and individual patient goals.  Some will disclose prices, others dont because the plan cannot be determined over the phone.  Its best to discuss prices after the treatment plan is determined.  Otherwise you are just purchasing a procedure and not the physician relationship or experience/techniques.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Each doctor is a bit different in terms of fees and disclosure.  Many might not give fees over the phone because how can they know what to charge if they do not know exactly what they are doing?

Ken Landow, MD · Answer

many people doctor shop or want the lowest price and assume all providers are equally talented...sometimes a doctor won't agree that you need a particluar filler...or that a filler is the best way to correct the problem...all sorts of reasons why someone might not want to give you a price for something without evaluating you...while most offices offer this information over the phone, nothing inherently wrong with wanting to evaluate you before offering any comment...and since the first consultation is free, sounds like a winner...

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Yes and no. It is a doctor specific decision. But for example as you indicated fillers prices. Over the phone there is NO WAY to determine how many syringes or which filler would be best for you. Thus if you were told Juvederm XC was $650 per syringe. And you arrived were examined and the doctor recommended 3 syringes than there is a large issue - $650 vs $1,950. Therefore after in person examination for JUST you the fees can be EXACTLY determined. Hope this helped...

Sanjiv Kayastha, MD · Answer

I think that in today's information age it is very common to publish fees on the internet and to disclose them over the phone. These fees are always given with the disclaimer that they are average fees. Without examining a patient and finding out what they want to accomplish it is impossible to know how extensive their treatment will be. This is probably the main reason why some a hesitant to discuss or disclose fees without an exam.

Megan Jack, MD · Answer

Sorry you are feeling frustrated! Every plastic surgery practice will have different policies on pricing procedures, consultations, and what information can be provided over the telephone. They may not give pricing over the phone, especially to new patients, because if a price is provided for some procedure and once you are actually assessed by the plastic surgeon they determine the best recommendation is a different product or procedure, this can be confusing or frustrating for patients.  This is especially the case for surgical fees because they can differ on many factors that are highly dependent on an in-person evaluation of the patient, their goals, and what is needed to achieve those goals. That being said, fillers are pretty straightforward as long as you understand that each filler is priced differently depending on the cost to the injector to purchase & inject it. For example, if you get a price for Juvederm over the phone but in person your PS thinks you need Voluma instead for a better result, the price will be different.  There are many PS offices that do not ever charge consultation fees for cosmetic patients (mine included) and that they should tell you over the phone.  Good luck and well done doing your research to find a Board Certified PS!

Richard Galitz, MD, FACS (in memoriam) · Answer

Our office policy is not to talk prices on the telephone for operative and/or diagnostic services for the obvious reason that until the patient is examined it is impossible to know exactly what service is needed, and to what degree, it will be applied.However, there is a set price for an amount of filler and other injectables, and the price is usually given over the telephone. We do not say how much any patient will need until examined, only that a particular filler costs a certain amount for 1 syringe and the same for is also done for Botox and Dysport.

Plastic surgeon doesn't disclose prices over the phone? Is this a common practice?

Answers (8)

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