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Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery |
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The Cost
The cost for all of these procedures varies depending upon the patient's needs, and the procedures to be done. You should feel free to discuss these costs openly, for you need to understand them before you decide whether or not you can afford this surgery. Generally, we break costs down into five categories. These are preoperative evaluation, surgeon's fee, operating room fee, anesthesia fee, and hospital fees. For most procedures, it is required that a laboratory evaluation be performed. For young, healthy people this may include an examination of the blood. For people with heart or lung disease, or for people over the age of forty, it is often advisable to obtain a chest x-ray and an electrocardiogram (EKG). The surgeon's fee is based upon the complexity of the procedure, the time involved in the procedure and the amount of postoperative care that my be required. The operating room fee is based upon the time spent in the operating room and materials used during your surgery. If you use an anesthesiologist either for general anesthesia or just to monitor your heart, your lungs and the depth of sedation during a local anesthetic, a separate fee is charged by the anesthesiologist both for his/her time and for the medicines used. If time is spent in the hospital recovering, then a separate fee is charged by the hospital for the time spent and for the materials used. All of your postoperative care is included in the initial surgeon's fee; hence you should not receive additional medical bills from the surgeon. If you have complications and require additional operations, hospitalizations or services, you will be required to pay for these.
Terence Davidson, M.D., F.A.C.S.
UCSD Otolaryngology Division
200 West Arbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92103-8895
(619) 543-6631 |