Cost of Reconstruction

Hi Lisa

i have just had a bi lateral depi flap with Dr Lam at Macquarie. Out of pocket around $11000. But won't charge for any further touch ups and nipples (although the aneathatist will!)

as for surgeons and hospitals I would highly recommend them.

Best of luck

Whoops think there might be to many zeros

Hi,

I am about to have a unilateral reconstruction (TRAM flap) in Sydney, with surgeon's out-of-pocket being around $5000. Charges for his assistant will be bulk billed. The anaesthetist has just advised that she will 'No Gap' me, which is a very pleasant surprise. My health fund will cover all but my $500 excess and I have run up about $200 in pre-surgery diagnostics.

My surgeon did advise against my having the procedure too close to Christmas. His reasoning is that most private hospitals scale back at that time of year and he likes to have a full access to all his chosen resources and also be able to keep a close eye on his patients' progress. This situation might not be true of Macquarie, about which I have heard absolute rave reviews.

Will let you know if I encounter any unexpected financial surprises.

Regards

Megan

Hi Lisa I have just finished my reconstruction done privately and I think I was out of pocket about  $3,0000. My PS gave me a discount because of my bc and my nipple tatto was free as I had it done at a cosmetic tatto school. I'm from Melbourne so not sure if that helps, good luck

Hi Lpal, 

Jane is right and the costs do really vary depending on procedures and surgeons. Some surgeons will lower the out of pocket expenses for breast cancer patients. It is really a case by case thing. I had a bilateral TRAM flap and was very lucky in that my surgeon waved a lot of my out of pocket expenses, I did however have  to pay the hospital excess and also the anaesthetists excess of $2500, and a surgeon's assistant fee of $750. I also had two revisions which were around $2500 all up for both. 

Please feel free to join the breast reconstruction online group. 

Paula x

Hi Lisa, the costs vary widely for reconstruction and depend on what type of reconstruction you are looking at having, whether it is uni or bilateral, as well as such things as your level of private health cover (if you have it), whether the surgeon provides no gap cover and the hospital where you are having the procedure.

I had a unilateral DIEP flap reconstruction last year at Prince of Wales private and my out of pocket expenses were the $500 excess and around $7,500 in surgeon & anaesthetist fees. I was in hospital for 8 days and the only other expenses were the medications to take home. I had two further operations at East Sydney Private to lipofill a dent in the reconstructed breast due to having to drain a large seroma, a breast lift on the other side to create better symmetry and nipple reconstruction. My surgeon no gapped these subsequent surgeries, which was a great help and there were no other expenses other than the take home meds. 

When you see Dr Lam he should provide you with a quote for your recommended procedure so that you can have an idea of what it will cost well beforehand. 

Not sure if you're a member of the breast reconstruction group  but you would be welcome to join us and to read about other women's experiences of the reconstruction type you're interested in having. Best of luck with it all. Jane xx