LAM FACIAL PLASTICS

Hi Dr Lam,

I was looking to get asian eyelid surgery done. Some of the many questions I ask when I call the doctor's office is how long have they done this procedure, how many do they do per month, and of course the cost. I have called many asian eyelid surgeons and their price is almost double or more than double what you charge for this procedure. Many of the areas I have contacted are in Beverly Hills CA, Southern California, and Hawaii.

I have asked why they charge so much for the procedure and their answer is "Their surgeon have many years doing this procedure and are very good at it therefore the charge is so high" My question to you is....Does a surgeon's talent and expertise on the procedure determine how much they charge? Besides the high cost of living in those areas to run their practice, is there any reason why some surgeons charge more than others for the exact same procedure?



Thanks

there really is no way for me to comment on plastic surgeons' fees. they are all over the board. fees vary based on a huge number of factors beyond experience. i think it is fair to say that price should not be the final arbiter when you pick a surgeon for such a delicate procedure. and that does not mean that a surgeon that is very high is very good or that a surgeon that is very low is bad. you have to go by choosing a surgeon you trust that can show you good results.
best,
sml

I heard a story recently that I rather liked when talking about pricing. A lady in a park in Paris ran into Pablo PIcasso. She said, "Mr. Picasso, would you kindly do a sketch of me right here and now?" Mr. Picasso turned to her and said, "Why yes. I would be more than honored to do so." He starts to work furiously over a new sketch and turns it over to her to inspect. She asks, "How much do I owe you for your work?" Picasso thinks for a minute and says, "Madame, $5000 francs." She says, "Mr. PIcasso, but it only took you 3 minutes to do that drawing." Picasso responds, "Au contraire, Madame, it took me a lifetime."