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

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. 

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.

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?

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...

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...