Most of the time, we can't find the price for the procedure we're interested in, and when we do, we see and hear completely different prices. Why is this?

We must understand that the price of a procedure is made up of several parts that correspond to stages before, during, and after the procedure.

It would be naive to think that the price corresponds solely to the professional's fees, since there is a world of added value surrounding the work of an aesthetic plastic surgeon.

Before the procedure, diagnostic studies are required. These include blood samples, urine samples, and, depending on the procedure, ultrasound, X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs may be requested. The purpose of these studies is to avoid any surprises that could complicate the procedure and therefore harm the patient. If we find any data that catches our attention within the results, we can request an evaluation by another medical specialist.

During the procedure, the fees of the professional team must be considered, which generally includes at least an anesthesiologist, a surgeon, and a surgical assistant. In addition, all medications and medical supplies used by the anesthesiologist and surgeon must be taken into account. Finally, the well-equipped location where the procedure will be performed must also be considered. Let's briefly analyze these three points:

The fees for the professional team will depend on the results they produce. That is, fees will be higher if they produce results highly desired by the patients and lower if they produce results less desired by the patients. The second point is of utmost importance; we can compare it to gasoline in a car: we can use premium or regular. Each vehicle owner will decide what type of gasoline to put in their car. The same applies to the medications and medical supplies used on the patient: they can be of better or lower quality depending on the importance given to the patient's health. The last point, regarding the facility where the procedure will be performed, is very interesting and the most easily identifiable. It is common knowledge among doctors that there are facilities we call " Type A " and the rest that are "Not Type A. " Why do we make this distinction, which many patients are not even aware of? Well, "Type A" facilities are those that have invested more in their infrastructure and have better equipment and a better team. These are establishments where we know the nurses will do their jobs well, as will the janitors. They are also establishments where we know they have all the necessary equipment for patient care, and that it all works properly.

After the procedure, the patient will have wounds and will be in a recovery phase. Therefore, they will need medication and close monitoring of their recovery to detect if anything isn't going as expected or to provide guidance so they can recover as quickly as possible.

All these components and their capabilities explain the significant price differences observed when requesting a quote for a procedure. This is why published prices are not easily found, as they can vary considerably.

Typically, we doctors are the ones who orchestrate and decide on these different ingredients. It's unprecedented for a patient to have the power to choose each of these steps, simply due to a lack of familiarity with the process.

Very often, the fees of the professional team will not change, and the difference in prices will depend on how many items are included and the quality of those items.

The most common example is that of doctors who quote two different prices depending on the chosen facility. Now they know that the higher price will correspond to a type A facility and the lower price to a facility that is not type A.

However, the pricing structure is often much more complex; for example, the cheapest option might not include pre-procedure or post-procedure care, while the in-procedure care might include low-quality medications, supplies, and a low-quality facility. The incredible thing is that the patient, thinking they're getting a great deal, is the only one who suffers, since everything used will be of lower quality, even if the professional team is the best. It's pointless to have the best bricklayer and use the worst cement to build your house.