Can a surgeon please explain the facility fee to me?

Question

Among the costs of plastic surgery, the surgeon's fee and the anesthesia fee are self-explanatory. However, I've always been mystified by facility fees. How are they calculated, and what does the fee cover? I'm posting this under mini facelift, because I am in the very early research and planning phases for one, but the question applies to almost all plastic surgery. Thanks!

Jeffrey M. Darrow, MD · Answer

In the most simplistic explanation, a facility fee is simply what the surgery center charges you for the time you use of their operating room.  This can vary but is usually charged in 15 minutes increments.  If the surgeon owns the surgery center and the anesthesia staff are employed by the surgeon, there is frequently just a single charge for the entire operation and out of that charge the surgeons fee is given to the surgeon, anesthesia is paid, and the facility fee is included. In cases where the surgeon is independent from the surgical center and the anesthesia is also independent from the surgical center there is usually three separate charges, as there is 3 different entities to pay.  I hope this helps.

Robert M. Tornambe, MD · Answer

Most board-certified plastic surgeons have a certified operating room in their office or operate out of a surgery center in an effort to cut patient expenses compared to using the hospital operating room, whose fees is much higher. The facility fee covers the cost of running the operating room and the recovery area for the time the patient is there. The fee is used for payment to those staff members helping the plastic surgeon perform the surgery such as the surgical assistant, and circulating nurse, who often times takes care of the patient after the operation while in recovery. The fee also covers supplies used in the operation, such as sutures, drains, and breast implants.
 When you desire a consult for your MiniFacelift, come see me or another flat board-certified plastic surgeon in our area. Good luck.

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS · Answer

It really depends on whether the surgeon is using his own operating room or using an independent, ambulatory surgery center. If the surgeon has their own operating room, then it is based on operational costs associated with staff, supplies, and fixed costs (the cost to rent the space occupied by the operating room, and the procurement and operational cost of the instruments and machinery in the operating room). If the surgeon is using an ambulatory surgery center, then it simply is their cost to rent the space for the operation transferred to the patient. Typically, facility fees from surgeon owned operating rooms are slightly less than those from an independent surgery center.

Andrew Campbell, MD · Answer

Surgical Facilities are very expensive to build and to staff. As such, there is a separate fee to use them. Some facilities may be owned by the surgeon, and some are not, but either way there needs to be a fee to cover the cost of using the surgical facility.

Andrew Campbell, M.D.
Facial Rejuvenation Specialist
Quintessa

Andrew Campbell, M.D.
Facial Rejuvenation Specialist
Quintessa

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

A lot of plastic surgeons calculate facility fees based on time.  Many surgeons are happy just to break even on their facility costs while others look at it as another profile center. In our faculty a facelift taking 4 hours would have a faculty fee of about $3000

Jeffrey H. Spiegel, MD · Answer

To do a surgery your doctor has to pay for his or her entire office staff. There were receptionists, medical assistants, patient care coordinators, etc that were part of your visit.  When you do the surgery there is also the cost for anesthesia and the anesthesia staff, as well as for the operating room staff and equipment. This will include stitches, some medications, bandages, supplies, machines, overhead, etc.  Most doctors break up surgery costs into three parts:  Surgeon (and the office), anesthesia, and facility.  Sometimes they are grouped, but, the costs are always included somewhere.

Tanveer Janjua, MD · Answer

Surgical Facility Fees
Surgical facility fees relate to the expense incurred by the facility where a surgery is performed.  This facility can be a hospital, Ambulatory surgery Center or a surgery center in the doctor's office.  Typically it includes the expense of the supplies such as suture materials, instruments, drapes etc.  It also covers the cost of payroll for the nurses, surgical technicians and other staff that help with surgery including the preoperative and postoperative care in the surgery center. In cases of insurance related surgery the insurance will typically pay all or some of that cost. If it is a cosmetic procedure then the patient is responsible for all of those fees.
It is separate from the two other fees that are typically charged by the surgeon and the anesthesiologist.

Regards
Dr. J

Stephen Prendiville, MD · Answer

A well maintained and accredited operating room requires skilled staffing (RN's, certified scrub techs), pays rent, insurance, leases or buys expensive equipment, stocks surgical supplies, medications, and miscellaneous items.  Think of it as renting a very expensive hotel for a few hours.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

The facility fee covers the costs associated with the location of the surgery.  This includes all the equipment and surgical staff needed for your procedure.  Some examples are the front office staff that process forms, the nurses in the preop area, operating room, and recovery room, and all of the equipment and medication needed for your procedure.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

The facility fee refers to the operating room where your surgery is performed. Face lifts are not performed in an office, they are performed in an ambulatory surgery center. The cost of the operating room is the facility fee which includes the anesthesia machine, nursing personnel, equipment, supplies, sutures, etc..