50 Year Old, One C Section Looking for Smart Lipo in NYC Area - New York, NY

So I had my consult with Dr. Singer at the American LIpo Center. Clearly, this operation is different from the consults I've had so far, but not all bad. The consult is free (which is good) and the patients in the waiting room were full of information and really funny. So I went in with Dr. Singer. He's a nice guy. Clearly has done thousands of these and as he says could do them with his eyes closed (I asked him not to). I didn't undressed for him. Just showed him my areas of trouble. Said that he could help. My skin may not tighten back because of age unless I did a TT (which I knew). He does not have an anesthesiologist for his procedures. He said that since he's doing local, no need for it and it's less expensive. I'm healthy and I agree that I may not need it. So, the office also makes you sign all these disclaimers before you go in. I think they are really trying to cover their ass in case you're not happy with the procedure. They also say that they don't send you pictures, so it's up to you to make your own before and after. I didn't see anything outrageous, but it's not most comforting to read. The price that he quoted me is $4,550 for upper and lower abs, flanks and back. That's a third less than my favorite doctor. I didn't sign up for it and didn't leave a deposit as one patient in the waiting room said that they always run a special so no need to rush. I need to think about it all.

So I kept on reading about the American Lipo Centers on RS and was seeing that they had unbelievable prices and very good reviews. I decided to do a bit more research and found that Dr. Singer is the doctor doing the procedures in NYC. He had very good review, is Board Certified PS and people were happy with him, but he has had some trouble with his prior clinics. I read through the articles and realized that his troubles were not because of bad patient care but because of bad management of his clinics. Clearly the guy is a better doctor than manager. So yesterday, I decided to give the American Lipo Center a call to schedule a consultation.
When you call, you reach the headquarters in Virginia. The girls schedule my appointment for Monday. The consult is free. She also let me know that they are running a 50% off special and that it would be available if I put down a $500 deposit on Monday during my consult with the procedure to be done at a later date. She quoted me $7,500 regular price with a reduced price of $3,500 to $3,800 if I put down the deposit.
Since this would be my fourth consult, if I'm happy with Dr. Singer and feel comfortable with him and the facilities, I think I'm ready to take the jump. Mind you, this is not a Target sale we are talking about. The cost is of course a big component of my decision but it is not the only one. I want to be happy with the results and be safe. But, man that price.
I'll post more after the consult.

So here I have to keep all the names out of my post as it would hit too close to home. But this post is the reason that RS is so important in that it allows us to be educated consumers. So, I asked a doctor friend of mine to recommend me a "good and reasonably priced" PS to do the same smart lipo to upper & lower abs, flanks and back. He recommended me to this board certified PS on the upper east side. I went for the $250 consult, the doctor was great. Very personable, very qualified and the facilities were very nice. Then came the "estimate." His total estimate was $16,000. This is how he got to this fee (just a reminder, I want in our lay people's talk to have my stomach, muffin top and back treated), his bill has 4 areas of treatment: Upper ab, lower ab, waist and back bra roll. This is how what we regular people would consider one or two areas gets treated as four distinct areas. The charge per area was $4,500 for the first and a "discount" of $3000 for all others. Also added to the bill was anesthesia fee almost double the regular $1,000 charge and a facility fee of nearly $2,000. Now, please let me know how you would consider the waist a different (added) area when you're treating the upper and lower abs? I just don't get it. Some lucky ones may be able to pay $16,000 for pretty simple lipo (note: I have no medical issues at all, BMI in normal range) but not me.
I will talk to my doctor friend who recommended me to him. It was a mistake. I really just want a good and reliable doctor to do a good and safe surgery. I don't need the top of the top. It's like I'm looking for a safe and reliable family car and was sent to the Porsche car dealer and had to pay $250 to realize that I was out of my leagues.