Does the Patient Have to Pay for Tummy Tuck Revision Cost?

I can understand your disappointment. Plastic surgeons generally strive to communicate realistic outcomes and deliver satisfactory results.
It is hard to tell from this picture but it is my impression that you underwent a mini tummy tuck and not a full judging from your picture. In a full tummy tuck the umbilicus is completely inset all the way around. There does not appear to be a scar around the umbilicus but it is difficult to tell. Did you have stitches around your belly button? If you did have stitches, you healed excellently. Your lower belly demonstrates excelllent overall appearance. However, the upper abdominal skin seem disproportionately loose. It does appear to have sun damage and poor elasticity which may have contributed to the laxity seen in this picture. Did you suffer a hematoma? The problem is your upper abdominal skin which may require a reverse abdominoplasty.
If not, then you may have undergone a mini or a hybrid/marriage abdominoplasty. In either of these procedures the skin of the upper abdomen remains untreated which appears to be the case.
In regards to fees, this is a difficult question. I don't think that you are going to improve the appearance without additional surgery. In this event, there are different fees that will be incurred: the surgeon's fee, the operating room, and the anesthesiologist. As plastic surgeons, we always seek to meet or exceed our patient's expectations. Many surgeon's waive the surgeon's fee but have the patient pay for the operating room and anesthesia as needed. Clearly, you will need to set forth the terms of any additional procedures after that. If you search for another surgeon, you will likely have to pay for all the fees.
I urge you to continue discussions with your plastic surgeon and if you are not satisfied with their explanation, seek second opinions and proceed only if someone can assure you of a reasonable outcome.

In general it is standard for the doctor to waive their fees, but the patient to pay for the hospital and anesthesia fees. I try to discuss that with my patient's at our initial consultation.As for having the same doctor operate on you a second time. It is a matter of trust. If you do not feel comfortable do not go forward with the operation. If you do feel comfortable and have set up a good plan to fix the issues then move forward. Seeing a second opinion prior to the revision may also help put your mind at ease.

There can be many reasons that a revision of an abdominoplasty is performed.  While a technical problem with the surgery may be one reason, it may also be the case that the patient's own ability to heal was suboptimal; or the patient engaged in activities in the immediate postoperative period, which she should not have done; or postoperative instructions were not properly followed; or the patient's expectations of the result of the surgery were not properly aligned with the surgeon's; or the patient's expectations of the result of the surgery actually changed from what they were prior to the surgery; or any one of the dozens of minor complications attendant with such a surgery, from a dog ear, to an asymmetry of subcutaneous fat, to a small region of widened scar occurred.  The point to be made here is that the performance of a revision of an abdominoplasty is not a statement or an indication that anyone, surgeon or patient, is necessarily at fault, but merely a recognition that it is reasonable to try to improve some aspect of the postoperative result.  This being the case, it is customary for the surgeon to waive his customary fees to perform the revision abdominoplasty, and for the patient to cover the cost of the OR, anesthesiologist, and supplies.

Revisions for tummy tucks are uncommon and can vary tremendously depending on what needs to be done.  Small dog ears and scar revisions or scar lasers can usually be done in the office and are often considered part of the original surgery.Major revisions that require anesthesia and an outpatient facility can have fees associated with them.  Ordinarily the surgeon with waive his or her fee. 

 

                  The
cost of revisional surgery varies from practice to practice and is dependent
upon a multitude of variables. 
Each situations is unique and for this reason it’s difficult to have
precise rules.

                  In
most cases surgeons try to be reasonable and help patients whenever
possible.  It’s not unusual for
surgeons to waive their surgeon’s fee and charge only for the facility and
anesthesia.  It’s important to
discuss these issues pre-operatively to minimize confusion in the
post-operative period.

Thank you for the photo.  It is still hard to say without a proper exam or review of the operative note.  For revisional surgery, the surgeon often does not have control over some costs, (O.R. fees, Anesthesia fees, supplies, etc:).  Best to discuss this with your surgeon.  Delineate your expectations and together your should be able to come up with a plan.