Hi, I would welcome some advice about the cost of a tissue expander and implant. I've got 8 weeks of chemo left then will have a tissue expander put in before I start radiotherapy. It's a pretty tight window for me to have the surgery so I probably can't go public. I've got private health insurance and I've been told the out of pocket expenses will be about $3,000-$4,000 for this operation and the same for the implant to be put in 12 months after radiotherapy. Does $8,000 sound a lot for this operation? Could anyone recommend a plastic surgeon who does not have a gap in the Box Hill, Victoria region? It's an enormous stress to find this sort of money. I could live with a prosthetic breast but that's not my preference. I'd welcome any advice. Many thanks xx

Hi Lucylou, I had a mastectomy last August & have finished chemo & radio. I am not sure of costs for your procedure but I was just quoted $20,000 out of pocket for phrophylactic mastectomy one side & double reconstruction. My breast surgeon would do the mastectomy & plastic surgeon would do the double reconstruction. He said he would also have another surgeon & an assistant, so 4 altogether otherwise it would take 17 hours, rather than 10. I now have to rethink & might just have 1 side done where I have already had a mastectomy. He would use fat from my stomach but said as there isn't enough there would be 2 surgeries where he could do liposuction from somewhere to pump them up! So expensive. You could shop around & try the public system, they may be able to put you on a high priority list. Some other ladies may have suggestions. Good luck!

Crikey. I don't have private health and while my plastic results are shithouse, they were done 10 years ago and things in the public system seem to have improved. Tissue expanders are pretty low tech compared to the whole business of moving bits of your body from one site to another.It's probably worth having a go at getting the expanders done in the public system --have short time frame may work in your favour. Good luck.

I had a bilateral done through public health system through RAH in Adelaide and was done in 20 days ...for tissue expanders in. The changeover was well after chemo but done around 14 months after first procedure. They may plan differently because finished chemo and having radiotherapy. It might be best not waiting as long for changeover...that will be surgeons choice. It can be done by breast surgeon and not required to be a plastic surgeon for this procedure. I had really good results. Kath x

You might be able to work out a payment plan with the hospital as another option.

Thanks primek. Did you have to go on a wait list for public? My radiation oncologist said she can only push out radiation maximum 8 weeks to allow me have the surgery and I don't think I'll get a choice about when it can be done in the public system. I've been told it's hard to stretch skin after radiation because the texture of the skin becomes more inflexible. Good idea re: breast surgeon and I'll investigate options for a payment plan. Glad to hear you are happy with the results!

Advice on cost of implant | BCNA Online Network

20 Replies

primek
Member
9 years ago
Fantastic news.
mum2jj
Member
9 years ago
@Lucylou great to hear your surgeon has halved his costs, I hope this makes it more affordable for you. Paula xx
Lucylou
Member
9 years ago
Hi all, just wanted to update you on discussions with my plastic surgeon. I decided not to go public because I only have a small window of time to have expanded in before radiation and was worried I might get bumped on the day. My surgeon has agreed to halve the cost of the surgery. I'm really happy with this outcome and booked in for the 15th August. I guess it doesn't hurt to ask! Thanks again for all your advice xx
Lucylou
Member
9 years ago
Ooh thanks katyjoy. That has given me even more confidence to explore public options. I'm off to speak to my breast care nurse tomorrow. I'm thinking of a nice treat for myself with the money I save. Even a new pair of shoes feels exciting!
KatyJoy
Member
9 years ago
I had bilateral skin sparing mastectomy with immediate implant reconstruction at Maroondah hospital. My breast surgeon was Sunil Jassal, and my plastic surgeon was Derek Neoh. They were great and my results are fantastic. I did chemo first and from the time surg booked to my op was 10 days. My surg was done on 8 March 2017. I have just completed radiotherapy. I had no out of pocket expenses. I don't think anything could have been done any quicker if I went private.
nikkid
Member
9 years ago
I guess you pay for choice - and I'm happy I was able to go the private route. But I do feel very strongly that anyone who goes public should have the very best of expertise, service and care in appropriate time periods and without stress!

ps I have a huge needle phobia too ;)
RubyRumble
Member
9 years ago
Thanks @nikkid.....I have a phobia of needles & operations so would prefer it all in one go, as I'm unsure if they would get me back in and not being private I'm unsure how long a wait for reconstruction would be after the mastectomy. I guess that is the added bonus of being private, which I truly believe you should have, since you are paying for the health coverage. My girlfriend mention that she did hear on the radio that changes would be made to cover the gap $5000 towards out of pocket cancer treatment. It is really unfair that anybody with private health cover should be out of pocket.
nikkid
Member
9 years ago
Hi - I had mastectomy and insertion of tissue expander in same op. Then, 12 months later, DIEP Reconstruction. That's how I did it - you can do, as @melclarity did and have mastectomy and DIEP at same time. I needed the space in between mastectomy and DIEP to get myself and my body ready.
RubyRumble
Member
9 years ago
Hello @nikkid do you need to have tissue expander before DIEP reconstruction immediately after a masectomy? I'm a little confused...am I missing a step in the procedure?
melclarity
Member
9 years ago
@lucylou I had a single Mastectomy/diep flap reconstruction in February, I normally go private but I would have been out of pocket $10,000 for this particular surgery, this PS Dean Trotter works closely with my Surgeon and work in Public as well. So they put me through Royal Melbourne and I had no out of pocket, that was also as I had a recurrence at 4yrs and so they placed me category 1 eventhough it was a year later I did surgery. xx Melinda