When the reporter said he was shocked about the amount, Red replied: “What’s really expensive is hiring somebody who doesn’t know what he’s doing.”

The situation is fairly close to the cost of gynecomastia plastic surgery: bargain basement surgery can end up costing two to four times more than the original procedure .

One way to make sure you’re headed for a good outcome is to select a board certified plastic surgeon who has, typically, four to six years of additional surgical training beyond medical school.

Then, try and find a specialist who performs the procedure you want many times monthly. He or she  should also have a long selection of  before and after plastic surgery pictures, too.

(HINT: A specialist will also usually bring about faster healing times because he or she disturbs fewer tissues while operating.)

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, (ASPS) lists the U.S. average surgeon fee for gynecomastia surgery at $3282 during 2008.

(HINT: Always ask for a total cost which usually includes a separate fee ($600 to $1200) for the operating room and a fee ($500 to $1000) for a board-certified anesthesiologist.

You will probably also have to pony up for:

• Pre surgery medical tests
• Post-op medications
• Perhaps a night at a recovery center if you’re from out of town and
• After-surgery vests or garments to help healing.

The actual cost you will pay depends greatly on your geographic location, with both the East and West coasts being more expensive, and the nation’s interior being somewhat less expensive.
These surgical costs reflect the general higher or lower costs of living compared with where you live.

The surgeon’s fee can vary, depending on the physical condition of your chest and if you need:

• Liposuction
• Excision
• Both

Surgery may be even more complicated if you have loose, hanging skin and if the areola, the brown areas surrounding the nipples, must be moved.

Thus, a more realistic total range of costs for gynecomastia plastic surgery is about $3000 to $9000.

If you’re thinking about going to Mexico or Thailand for a cheap procedure, remember Red Adair’s wise, wise words about what is really expensive.

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