Your consultation will allow you to become acquainted with Dr. Putman and his staff, and allow you to freely and confidentially discuss your facial problems or concerns. An individualized analysis and treatment plan will be discussed. A profile analysis and preoperative photography may be performed. Medical and surgical alternatives will be presented to you. Dr. Putman will only recommend procedures that he believes will be beneficial to you. He will answer all questions about the risks and benefits of your proposed treatment, and you will be given informational materials to further enlighten you about recommended procedures. Dr. Putman's staff will also prepare a surgical cost analysis for you at the conclusion of your consultation. Occasionally a follow-up consultation will be recommended.

Fees

There is a fee for the initial consultation that covers the preoperative analysis, photography and even computer imaging should it be considered beneficial.

Surgical fees will vary depending on the extent of the surgery required and the number of procedures. These will be discussed during the financial consultation portion of your visit. When surgery is scheduled, it is our policy that the anesthesia and facility fees are paid at that time to reserve your place on the surgery schedule. The remainder of the cosmetic or plastic surgical fee will be due no later than one week prior to surgery. This is both customary and appropriate for elective cosmetic surgery and it shows that the patient is both committed and sincere about proceeding with the recommended treatment.

The surgical fee may not cover other perioperative costs such as medications, laboratory studies, etc. We try to keep these to a minimum and any additional expenses will be discussed with you clearly at the time of the consultation.

Should tissue be removed for biopsy purposes, this will be submitted to the pathologist if appropriate. This laboratory fee is a separate fee and will be billed from the pathology laboratory directly to the patient.

Should finances present a problem or an obstacle for a patient wishing to schedule surgery, our office is prepared to assist with information about financing options.

Insurance does not normally cover cosmetic surgery and our office does not bill insurance companies for these procedures. However, if a functional procedure is performed, your insurance may cover a portion of these expenses. Unfortunately, we cannot determine the amount of coverage you will receive from your insurance company. However, we can assist with a predetermination benefit authorization in many instances.