by Terrye Tebbetts
How many times have we heard this old familiar phrase – You get what you pay for-? When dissected, what it really means is, you will only truly receive a value or level of satisfaction equivalent to the amount it costs you – costs you in time, money, inconvenience – - all of these things have value to you and when you shop and compare, you have to allow each one to weigh into how much you are willing to pay for something. As each thing weighs in and effects your what you are willing to pay, your true value and level of satisfaction will be effected. So when it’s all said and done, if you buy a $75.00 winter coat at WallyWorld instead of spending $200.00 on a better quality coat at a department store – - the $75 coat may keep you warm for awhile, but odds are the cheaper materials, cheaper labor and the massive quantities produced that allowed the coat to retail for a fraction of the cost of the department store coat will in the end cause it to fail you sooner than the more expensive coat. It’s November, so you can’t be cold, so you can go buy another $75.00 coat and still come out better than the department store, right? But what are the chances that it will fail you too soon as well??? Buy the time you are on your third coat for the winter – you have spent more money, time and effort than you would have spent had you bought better quality the first time.
The same concept applies to breast augmentation too believe it or not! You wouldn’t think so, would you? After all deciding to get breast implants is deciding to have a surgery – a medical procedure and most people don’t shop for the cheapest alternative when choosing a doctor or surgeon. Can you imagine looking for the cheapest heart surgeon? Or the least expensive pediatrician to care for your children? Yet, the most frequently asked question when new patients call our office is, “How much do you charge for breast implants?” Now, I know that sometimes that is just a place to start – a way to start a conversation with a surgeon’s office. And if the surgeon is any good at what he does, his office staff will not only tell you the fees involved, but explain why and all the options and really help you understand the financial commitment you are making in breast implants.
The total fee for breast augmentation will contain the following fees:
Surgeon fee
Implant fee
Surgical facility fee
Anesthesia fee
Lab fees
Photography fees
Consult/follow fees
Medication fees
So if a surgeon’s office simply gives you a total – I would immediately ask for a break down, in writing so that you truly know what you are paying for each of the items above.
These are hard costs to consider, but there is something else to consider that is even more valuable – - your time – your down time. The longer it takes to recover, the more it costs you.
Over the next few days, we will explore all of these expenses and the best way to evaluate what you are really getting for the money and time you invest in breast augmentation and breast augmentation recovery.
About the Author: Terrye Tebbetts is one of the most knowledgeable women in the world about breast implants, with 27 years of experience educating patients and 11 years as a patient herself. For more information about breast implants or breast augmentation Dallas surgeons, please visit www.thebestbreast.com.