American Society of Plastic Surgeons
For Medical Professionals
 
KellySmith
3 years ago
Answered

Incision

I had a tummy tuck a year ago. My incision opened during recovery and did not heal properly. My doctor said he needed to cut it and restitch the incision. Today I went to my doctor and he said I can have the scar repaired and he wouldn’t charge his fee but I would be responsible for surgery center, $1200. Should I have to pay to have this incision repaired or should it be dr responsibility?

Procedure: Tummy Tuck
Location: Scurry, TX

Replies 4

Debra Johnson
ASPS Surgeon

Wound healing difficulties and poor scarring are known risks of any operation. The reasons for it are often unknown, but can stem from poor nutrition, smoking, your body's reaction to suture material, infection, having tension on the wound from standing up straight too fast, or if the surgeon took too much skin or damaged the skin with liposuction. Having a scar revision once the dust has settled will hopefully give you a better scar. It is very generous of your surgeon to offer to do this for free, but there are expenses involved with equipment, sutures, staff time, dressings, etc. that have to be paid for. If you could do this in the office with just local anesthesia, your doctor may be able to charge you less. But if you need sedation and monitoring in an operating room, $1200 is just covering the cost of that.

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Karol Gutowski
ASPS Surgeon

Most surgeons have a revision policy that you would have seen before the procedure. As Dr Johnson pointed out, many surgeons will not charge their fee to revise this, but there are other expenses that surgeons can't absorb.

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Edward Domanskis

That is pretty standard unless it is done under a local anesthesia.

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Nelson Castillo

Thank you for sharing your question. Each office has their own respective policies on revisions and the costs associated with them. This should have been provided to you at the time of your consultation and estimate. I would look at your documentation to discuss with your surgeon. In most instances the surgeon will waive their fees but costs with anesthesia and facility may have to be incurred by the patient.

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