In a world fixated by aesthetics, it’s always important to put your best foot forward.

While we’d all very much like to be judged on the content of our characters, we really don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression. Creams, lotions, makeup, accouterments, and haute couture can only go so far. When it comes to feeling your best, sometimes appearances really do matter.

The image we project to the world is a combination of our self-confidence and the manner in which the world perceives us. For those of us who are tired of looking less than our best, help is close at hand. Plastic and reconstructive surgery is readily available to a growing contingent of eligible individuals. For those who enjoy being able to upgrade their lifestyles, their appearances, and their status in life, plastic surgery may just be the go-to option.

What About the Costs of Plastic Surgery?

Plastic and reconstructive surgery can run into tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the type of procedure being performed. The eponymous name is a derivation from the Greek‘Plastikos’ which refers to the molding process. For those who desire the surgery for aesthetic purposes, money always factors into the equation. The costs are excessive, but with a Plastic Surgery Loan, many more people are finding this elective or necessary procedure much more affordable. For 2020, a sample of costs was listed as follows:

– Rhinoplasty – $5,400
– Full Body Tuck – $20,000
– Breast Augmentation – $3,500 – $4,000
– Gluteoplasty Augmentation – $4,000 – $5,000

We Don’t Get a Second Chance to Make a Good First Impression — Grisha Stern

The aforementioned costs do not tell the full story. There are thousands of dollars in costs for the OR and the anesthesia. For medically necessary surgery, insurance can pay a big chunk of the costs. For elective procedures, it’s all on you.

Various loan options currently exist, such as HELOCs, 401(k) loans, medical cards, personal loans, and credit cards too.

For more info on loans for plastic surgery, check out the data at Best Medical Loans. The list of reputable lenders includes the likes of Prosper, Eloan, and Upstart.

What Exactly is Plastic Reconstructive Surgery?

Plastic Surgery is not about removing body parts and replacing them with plastic components. On the topic, it’s worth pointing out that there are notable differences between Cosmetic Surgery and Plastic Surgery. These are in fact two different disciplines. The objectives of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery are uniquely different.

On the one hand, Cosmetic Surgery is only focused on making a person look better. It is a vanity procedure and considered elective surgery. Many examples abound, including Body and Facial Contouring procedures, Skin Rejuvenation with fillers, Botox, and laser, and Breast Enhancement. In all cases listed above, Cosmetic Surgery is designed to make you look your best by medically enhancing your body appearance.

Plastic Surgery is a surgical procedure that is expressly designed to reconstruct face and body defects, repair damaged skin, and other dysfunctional areas. Cosmetic Surgery is a cut above plastic surgery’ and requires additional training. Overall, Plastic and Reconstructive

Surgery is performed by the same surgeon. The most common types of plastic surgery include Hand Surgery, Breast Reconstruction, Congenital Repair Surgery, Burn Repair Surgery, and Lower Extremity Reconstruction.

While the US Board of Plastic Surgery includes Cosmetic Surgery as a component, the training requirements include areas like Liposuction, Tummy Tucks, Face Surgery, Breast Surgery, and others.

After a post-graduate residency is completed (3 years general surgery + 3 years of plastic surgery) + 5-year residency program in general surgery + 3 years plastic surgery program.

There has been an ongoing debate about the provision of healthcare services in the U.S. Differences in healthcare costs compared to other countries are staggering. Despite consistent increases in costs in the U.S. over time, the quality of care has not changed.

Americans spend more on healthcare than people in other developed countries do. Increased drug prices, physician salaries, and administrative costs contribute to higher spending.

The International Federation of Health Plans Comparative Price Report compares healthcare costs in different countries. The most recent IHFP report compared spending in seven countries: Switzerland, New Zealand, South Africa, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Spain. It found that the U.S. had elevated healthcare costs compared to other countries. The IHFP noted substantial differences in the prices paid in the U.S. for the same treatments.

The IHFP argued that rising healthcare costs are not caused by increased utilization of services. Rather, they believe increasing per-unit costs causes rising prices. The IHFP evaluated data from over 370 million medical claims and 170 million pharmacy claims, reflecting the prices paid to healthcare providers for treatment. National health plans provided prices for medical care from the other countries involved in the study. The Federation assured that the comparison process was conducted on a “like-for-like” basis. This means that data came from procedures using identical machines and equal staffing resources.

Price Comparison

The Federation found that in the U.S., there is not only a disparity in healthcare costs compared to other countries, but also compared to other states. Price disparities lacked any clinical reasoning and highlighted a major flaw of the healthcare system. Countries comparable to the U.S. spend roughly $5,200 in per capita spending, whereas the United States spends over $10,000.

According to the IHFP, the average cost in the U.S. for an MRI scan was $1,119 – a whopping number, especially when compared to the costs of an MRI scan in other countries. New Zealand ranks second in costs for an MRI scan ($811), followed by $215 in Australia, and $181 in Spain. The average cost of a standard-hip replacement in the U.S. is $29,067. This figure is $10,000 more than the next country.

Additionally, the costs of monthly prescription drugs vary widely. As of 2017, the average price of Avastin, a common cancer treatment, is almost $4,000. This is 134% higher than the price in Switzerland ($1,752) and the United Kingdom ($470). The study found similar trends other drugs, including Harvoni, Humira, Truvada, and Xarelto.

In 2018, Americans spent $3.65 trillion on healthcare, representing a per capita spending of $11,212 per person. 59% of that spending goes to healthcare providers, such as hospitals, doctors, and clinics. Spending on patients with private health insurance increased to 4.5% in the 2017 – 2018 year.

Why Are Costs So High?

Evidence suggests that a lack of competition and hospital mergers impact costs. The Kellogg School of Management published a paper examining the impact of consolidations on cost. The researchers included hospitals located in similar geographic regions in the study. The report indicated hospitals in similar regions likely have similar customers and insurers. Thus, mergers reduce the amount of competition within the market.

Anti-competitive actions, such as mergers and consolidations make it difficult to get cheap health insurance and continue to influence rising prices. Growing hospital systems give executives more bargaining power over insurance companies. This leads to anti-competitive pricing behavior that is further facilitated by mergers of health insurance companies. Antitrust officials started taking action against major acquisitions in the health insurance industry. These efforts are an attempt to mitigate these issues.

Managing consolidations and anti-competitive pricing behavior is central to addressing cost issues. The rate at which costs are rising is alarming and exceeds the rate of wage inflation. Healthcare spending is estimated to grow 5.8% per year. By 2025, healthcare spending in the U.S. is also projected to account for 20.1% of the GDP. This is problematic because increasing costs means access to medical care will become even more challenging.

Another contributor to increased spending is an aging population. On average, people aged 65+ are the highest spenders on healthcare. In 2017, this population only accounted for 16% of the U.S. population. However, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that this number will surpass 20% by 2030. Aging populations means more people become eligible for Medicare, which is expected to increase the cost of Medicare significantly over time.

Final Thoughts

It is clear that healthcare spending in the U.S. is a problem that needs to be addressed. Healthcare spending is not problematic if it yields improved health outcomes. Spending in the U.S. is an issue because it is increasing without producing better results. This combination of high spending and low outcomes places a burden on an already tense financial position. Failing to contain these healthcare costs is important for the long-term economic and financial well-being of the nation.