Although you should choose a top plastic surgeon to perform your hand surgery, the procedure doesn’t have to be expensive. Our best expert advice: let hand surgery cost drift to the back of your mind, until all details are arranged to your satisfaction, including your choice of surgeon. Then talk about prices and costs. If your hand surgery is medically necessary (and most are), a good insurance company will provide some (or a lot of) coverage.
After all, proper use of your hands is one of the more essential means to a happy, healthy and productive life. This is not to say that anyone without full use of their hands won’t prosper or be happy, it does take some exceptional skills and determination to do so however. No one should have to do without the full use of their hands if there is any possibility of treatment or surgery. That’s why we got into this business!
“Plastic Surgeon” Does Not Mean “No Insurance Coverage”
Plastic and reconstructive surgeons do not concentrate solely on cosmetic surgery. Insurance companies cover many procedures performed by plastic surgeons, so don’t let an possible insurance company denial worry you, if your procedure is medically necessary.
Second opinions may be necessary and/or a record of having tried non-invasive treatments may be required by your insurance company, but not in all cases. A top tier hand surgeon’s office will help you navigate and comply with the rules of your health insurance or disability insurance provider.
Top Tier Hand Surgeons May Charge More—but Not Necessarily
At any rate, it is wise to put aside any thought of prices or hand surgery cost when selecting a surgeon for something as important to your life and health as hand surgery may be. After all, there are costs that might come with choosing an inexperienced surgeon, and they have nothing to do with money.
We are talking here about higher costs than a price tag: disappointment, disfigurement, wasted time and wasted money if you choose a surgeon for the wrong reasons (such as a “bargain” price. No offense to Groupon, but for some things they are no help.) Also, the best, most experienced hand surgeons don’t necessarily charge higher fees. Some not-so-great surgeons charge astronomical fees and a high fee does not guarantee quality. Ironically, looking at price is not really a cost-effective use of your time when researching hand surgery.
Comparing Apples and Oranges: Many Variables and Choices Impact Hand Surgery Cost and Price
This is what can happen when you try to comparison shop for surgery, especially a complex procedure like hand surgery. Different surgeons include or exclude certain details from their “total prices”, so it’s nearly impossible to reliably compare prices for hand surgery.
For instance, many surgeons are only familiar with and able to tell you their own fee. If they choose to do surgery in a hospital setting rather than in their own accredited surgery center (which some do not have), not only will it cost more, but the surgeon may not know the total cost of the hospital portion. And of course, the surgeon may be wasting your money by choosing a hospital OR if it is not needed.
The Value of an Accredited Surgery Center: Safety is Part of It
Luckily, at Cohen/Winters we have ready access to an accredited, state-of-the-art surgery center next door to our offices in Maywood and we use it almost daily. We believe in providing convenience for our patients and that includes a well-staffed recovery area at our Vanguard Surgery Center. Typically, local anesthesia is used for our hand surgeries at Vanguard, which lowers your cost even more and makes for a safer surgical procedure.
So, as you can see, there are lots of variables within hand surgery cost, due to surgeon’s facility access, surgeon’s ability or desire to work with your insurance and many more details. Find the surgeon who is right for you and whom you trust, that is the important thing. In fact, a surgeon who really wants to work with you may have suggestions to mitigate your hand surgery cost; suggestions that you have never thought of. The bottom line: Worry about funds later.
Hand Surgery in Metro Areas May Cost More, but is Typically Worth It
In a busy metro area like here in the northeastern US and northern NJ, surgical fees may be higher than in a small rural setting. One great thing about the city, however, it gives surgeons plenty of wide-ranging experience. Over the years, at Cohen/Winters, we have had the opportunity to treat complex cases, requiring very detailed reconstructive microsurgery of the hand, along with simple straightforward cases—and everything in between.
Experienced surgeons can also offer you more choices for treatment. We perform many types of hand surgery with concentration on both aesthetic and functional concerns. We have training and experience in the latest surgical options, so we can offer you the procedure that is right for you.
Some surgeons can only offer the one or two procedures that they know—and those surgeries may not be optimal for your needs. (When you are a hammer, everything is a nail.) Look for surgical experience in your hand surgeon. Experience and dedication are worth any price issues—and you will get great value, because experience really means better care, and a better outcome when we’re talking about surgery.
Are Your Surgery and Surgeon Really Worth the Money?
Provided your life is improved after the surgery, getting the most skilled and dedicated surgeon (and therefore getting surgery tailored to your specific needs) are worth it, according to most patients we’ve heard from. Dedication is an intangible quality, but if you look for it when you choose your surgeon, the money (and research time) you spend won’t be wasted.
That’s why it is important to verify the surgeon’s background, experience, licensure and reputation and to evaluate their trustworthiness. (That last part is down to your gut feeling after meeting, primarily—but it is hugely important.)
How to Learn if Hand Surgery is Right for You—and Get Details (including Cost)
Make an appointment with Cohen/Winters Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery in Bergen County. Once we determine if you are a good candidate who will benefit from hand surgery—and which type of procedure is needed—we can explain the hand surgery cost. We will be happy to meet and talk with you!
