Should you have surgery now at a “Plastic Surgery Center” or save money and have it with the right doctor?
Over the last few years, I have seen a good number of patients that once consulted with me return to my office after they had surgery somewhere else. I recently saw “Jospeh” (not his real name) in my office this week, which is what prompted me to write about this. Joseph is a 28 year old graphic designer that I first saw 2 years ago in consultation for a rhinoplasty. After the consult, he was in contact with Jessica, my scheduler. He ultimately decided not to have the surgery with me because of costs. Unbeknown to Jessica and I, Joseph had scheduled his rhinoplasty surgery with at a local “plastic surgery center.” As you may know, most cities have several of these centers, where doctors come in and operate on patients. While these centers may have capable and sometime good physicians, this is not always the case. In addition, it is extremely rare to find one of these centers where quality facial plastic surgery is performed.
Well, Joseph just came by my office this week, after having his rhinoplasty done about a year ago at a popular plastic surgery center here in Miami. Unfortunately, he had a catastrophic result. He nose was overdone and now has a feminine look. The bridge was brought down too much and his tip was thinned too much. We discussed a revision. His surgery with me will now cost him more than what he was quoted by Jessica 2 years ago for his primary rhinoplasty. In addition, I have told him that I will improve his nose, but the result will not be as “good” as it would have been had he had the surgery with me in the first place.
I honestly feel bad for Joseph and all of those patients that go through something like this. For this reason, I have begun telling some of the patients that consult with me to wait and save if they cannot afford the surgery at this time. Rushing to have delicate surgery, such as a rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery or a facelift, with a “cost-cutting” center is usually not a good idea. Wait, save, and then have the surgery done with the right surgeon.