Cut Rate Surgery in Recessionary Times

[Beth-Lock]

I was watching a televison program that mentioned how in the current recession a high class plastic surgeon was cutting prices. This may not have been reflected in his price list, but meant according to this tv dcoumentary made last year, that there would be reduced wait times and 'negotiable' fees.

Does this means that there are bargains in Gender Correction Surgery, Facial Feminization Surgery, Breast Augmentation Surgery and so on not to mention psychological gender counselling, these recessionary days?

Of course there are also people who step up and try and rip you off, and outright fraudsters on the prowl, but are there some genuine bargains out there?

Has anyone heard of any bargains and cutting of rates?

[Katesback]

I will say one thing. I had FFS done in November 2009. The doctor is well known by the trans community. His original quote was $24000. I told him I would pay $15000 and reminded him the economy was not that good and that I was not desprate for FFS. We settled for $18000.

Also when I was in Thailand there was an add in the newspaper (I even kept the add). SRS for $1650 US dollars. Only problem is I am not sure what that entails, LOL.

[CharleneT]

Indeed I have heard of there being deals to strike with Plastic surgeons of late. My guess is that with the SRS surgeons, you will not get a deal. Way too many patients que'd up for them to feel pressured into lowering prices. I think the best that can be said is that they did not raise prices this year (or last as far as I know - not even Suporn). But, if you are going to a normal Plastic Surgeon for an AM or the like, probably now is a good time.

[Melody Moore]

Also when I was in Thailand there was an add in the newspaper (I even kept the add). SRS for $1650 US dollars. Only problem is I am not sure what that entails, LOL.
Let me reach into my super psycho-kinetic powers Kate, Ah yes, I see it now... I see a very poor medical student
from Thailand trying to pay his or her way through university. I see kitchen knives being used as surgical instruments
Oh wait, looks like the surgery is done in an animal barn somewhere - wait a minute, I think it's a Thai veterinary clinic.
Anyway, its not the most sterile environment around but for $1650 who is complaining right?

OK I was joking here, but the truth is what you get for $1650 in Thailand wouldn't be a whole lot different to that.
The top surgeons like Dr Suporn charge about $16,500, so that is only 10% of the usual price for SRS in Thailand.

[Zenith]

Cutting corners with your body is insane. There is a cost savings associated with the high hospitalization costs in the US, exchange rates, and fees of top Thai surgeons. But going beyond that? Modern SRS has many more steps since it was first performed. Including improvements in sensation and appearance. Why would a surgeon focused on cost savings not omit a few?

[Felicity71]

I doubt that price is for westerners, but there must be a market for poor Thai and Burmese village boys that have moved into Bangkok and become a "lady boy".

[Rianna Humble]

Also when I was in Thailand there was an add in the newspaper (I even kept the add). SRS for $1650 US dollars.


I was joking here, but the truth is what you get for $1650 in Thailand wouldn't be a whole lot different to that.
The top surgeons like Dr Suporn charge about $16,500, so that is only 10% of the usual price for SRS in Thailand.

Can anyone here spell misprint?

[Melody Moore]

That's what I would have first thought Rianna, but I have heard the same stories from
other girls coming back from having surgery with Dr Chettawah & Dr Suporn in Thailand
that locally it is advertised really cheap & are often carried out in backyard type operations.

[GypsyKaren]

There's really not that many SRS surgeons out there, and only a handful or two considered top tier, so I don't see them ever hurting for business to the point of offering discounts. The standard rate hike schedule for most of them had been around $1000 per year, I couldn't say what it is now.

My surgery with Chettawut in 2007 cost $7500, but I did find in my research some SRS clinics that only charged $5000, a significant discount. I couldn't tell you about the quality of their work because I decided to go with Dr. Chett, but they weren't backyard operations.

Karen Starlene

[Laurie Ann]

I agree with Julie I would not be looking for discounts or cost cutting for things like GRS or FF. Karen great to hear from you I hope you are doing well.

[Beth-Lock]

I agree with Julie I would not be looking for discounts or cost cutting for things like GRS or FF.

On the other hand, if you are thinking about going to a top surgeon and know that they have openings for early surgery in their schedules these days, and are willing ti bend on their fee schedule towards moderation, is it not tempting just to ask? Or even contemplate surgery that you want but might not have been able to afford previously?

[Inna]

Very good question and it raises concerns as well. I for one would not deal the deal with my plastic surgeon. I want him to approach my surgery and as the matter of fact every surgery with devotion and concern, he is handling someones future life literally after all. I want him to feel fulfilled and appreciated for what he is doing for me. There is a price for everything, but in medical field whenever we start to mix business into the practice we end up with just that, business. I don't want businessman doing my face I want the most skilled surgeon. So I guess, I am searching for the best man for the job, and so far I have found the one I want charges simply astronomical prices but he provides absolute ( or near possible ) perfection. Yes I know some can not afford such prices and I am one of them, but I will do anything in my power to come up with this sum, instead of ending up in much greater depression, because my face is simply unacceptable, I rather be depressed about how I am getting to own that sum now.

[Beth-Lock]

So I guess, I am searching for the best man for the job....

Sorry, I could not resist citing this quote: "Sometimes the best man for the job is a woman!"

[Schatten Lupus]

Typically most things are negotiable. Operating on a patient means money, even if it's less, and they won't get that money if they won't negotiate and someone else will.

[Melody Moore]

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Typically most things are negotiable. Operating on a patient means money, even if it's less, and they won't get that money if they won't negotiate and someone else will.
And these surgeons that negotiate the price or they miss out are the surgeons I would be avoiding,
because the best surgeons in the world don't negotiate, they don't need to when their booking for
surgery are already so full. Just try getting a booking with Dr Suporn & negotiating the price for SRS.

[Nicki S]

Does anybody have an idea of what Dr Supron charges for SRS?

[Melody Moore]

Does anybody have an idea of what Dr Supron charges for SRS?
About $17,000 US I think