Plastic Surgery in Miami – Five Financial Tips
Miami and its environs have long boasted a large and well entrenched group of cosmetic plastic surgery professionals. Some of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures - notably the face lift - are popular due to aging skin conditions accelerated by exposure to the sun. That has been going on in Miami for as long as there have been outdoor chaise lounges.
Today, cosmetic surgery has become a socially acceptable option and millions of people are taking advantage of the new techniques and affordable prices in the business. In Miami and the surrounding area there are residents from every point in the economic spectrum, including a middle class that includes many first-generation members who have been given a better life by their parents. As the range of body enhancement options has expanded, so has the number of people in this country who can afford them.
Newer treatments such as Botox and liposuction have been folded into cosmetic surgery practices that offer the established and popular standbys such as breast augmentation, face lifts and rhinoplasty (nose alteration). The mix of options, the number of cosmetic surgeons in the market, and the changing demographics have led to some marketing practices in the cosmetic surgery field that you should ignore.
1. Beware the $99 specials and limited offers. You're shopping for someone to take a scalpel to your body; in plastic surgery as in the rest of life, you get what you pay for.
2. Consultation fees can be significant and lead nowhere. If you interview with a cosmetic surgeon that insists on a consultation fee, you should either look elsewhere or insist that the fee be applied to the cost of surgery.
3. Some Miami cosmetic surgery services offer financing for the more expensive procedures. That's fine, if the loan terms aren't onerous. Your cosmetic surgeon should explain financing terms to you, not his accountant or office manager. If there are financing charges built in they should be minimal. Most doctors and dentists who allow payment plans do not charge interest.
4. Know the price range for the service you are seeking. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has a good statistics section on its web site that lists average prices for surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures. Take a copy with you and don't lose sight of the charges if you get into a discussion about multiple procedures.
5. In fact, beware the "upsell" technique. If you're looking for a tummy tuck and find during your consultation that the cosmetic surgeon is pushing additional liposuction and lifts that double the cost but "at a significant savings" you might look elsewhere.
Commonly Performed Plastic Surgery Procedures
Plastic surgery in is not just for celebrities any more. There is great variety of plastic surgery procedures that a plastic surgeon can offer. When looking at the trends of plastic surgery, it becomes clear that certain procedures are much more popular than other ones.
Breast augmentation using silicone or saline implants is one the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedures. Women who are unhappy with the size of their breasts or would like to restore the breast volume which was lost following pregnancy turn to a plastic surgeon for breast enhancement.
In some women with droopy breasts, in addition to breast augmentation, a breast lift would need to be performed in order to achieve a better shape. Silicone breast implants recently became FDA approved for cosmetic breast augmentation in the United States. Silicone breast implants offer the advantage of a more natural feel and there is less risk in the implant rippling.
A tummy tuck is another commonly performed procedure. Staying in shape and having a flat stomach has been promoted in today's society. Exercise and diet do not always allow for a flat stomach, especially in people who lost weight or in women following pregnancy. These people typically have stretched abdominal skin which can only be removed with surgery. During a tummy tuck loose abdominal muscles are also tightened which further flattens the stomach.
Liposuction is similar to tummy tucks and is also a frequently requested procedure. It can be performed alone or in combination with other procedures such as a tummy tuck. Liposuction will remove areas of fat accumulation such as in flanks, thighs, neck, back, and abdomen.
Rhinoplasty (also referred to as nose reshaping or nose job) concludes the list of most commonly performed procedures. Both men and women turn to a plastic surgeon requesting to improve the shape of the nose. Most commonly, patients complain of a bony hump, wide nose, or droopy tip. Some patients request to improve their breathing. In many patients, rhinoplasty is combined with other procedures such as breast augmentation or liposuction.
As the popularity of plastic surgery is increasing, it becomes very important for any person considering surgery to do research to ensure that your surgeon is skilled and safe.
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