Do I Have to Pay to Redo a Surgery Even Its Not my Fault?

Question

hi ,i had surgery 4 month ago, i went from size a to c ,300 cc i have aproblem with my right breast its higher and harder thin the left one ,mypaying doctor said that i have to redo the surgery and i have to pay for new emplant and for the anaeshesia ,$900+$800 ,so my question do i have to pay for the redo surgery even its not my fault ?and if im its good reason for me to change the size form 300cc to 400cc since im having surgery anyways?thanks.

Ali Sajjadian, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello.

	It seems that you are expressing a case of early capsular contracture based on the description provided in your post.

	If this is the case, then it is neither your surgeon's fault nor yours as no one could have predicted that you will be forming a capsular contracture after your surgery.

	As for the fees and expenses for a revision, every surgeon/office is different and if your surgeon chooses to waive his/her fees you may still need to pay the fees attributed to the services rendered by the anesthesiologist, nurses and the OR services.

	As a footnote, patient with early CC tend to have certain risks of recurrent CC forming.

	It is important to communicate with your surgeon and to be on the same page with him/her.

	The best of luck to you.

	Dr. Sajjadian

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

The implant is high because it never dropped or due to capsular contracture.  If you have capsular contracture, this is not the surgeon's fault.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Gregory Sexton, MD · Answer

If your problem is capsular contracture, then although it is not your fault, it is also not the fault of your surgeon. It is your scar tissue contracting around the implant.

	In my office I waive the surgeon fee, but the patient pays for facility, anesthesia and new implant, which is $1900 for silicone.

	I think your surgeon is being fair and reasonable.

Stewart Wang, MD, FACS · Answer

You raised a great question which should be discuss clearly before your original surgery. It would be nice if you and your surgeon have a clear guideline in the case just like this. Having said that, it appears from your description that you may have capsular contracture which can happen to anyone who's having breast augmentation. Each plastic surgeon has his or her guideline in dealing with situation like this. Additional surgery is part of surgical risks of the original surgery. It sounds like that he is absorbing his additional surgical fees, facility fees and other cost, having you be responsible for the additional implants and anesthesia fees. This is quite similar to the revision policy that I have in my own practice. I can't make judgement to say who's right or wrong, only letting you know that it's not unreasonable arrangement.

	Best Wishes,

	Stewart Wang, MD FACS, Wang Plastic Surgery

Norman Bakshandeh Day, MD, FACS · Answer

all surgery centers have fees for paying expenses which include supplies, nursing and anesthesia. This is pretty standard.

Do I Have to Pay to Redo a Surgery Even Its Not my Fault?

Answers (5)