Catherine Shreves, WGNO News
How much is it gonna cost me? It’s the first question most patients have when it comes to plastic surgery. Now, you can find out in a matter of minutes, thanks to a new iPhone app called BuildMyBod.
The app was invented by Baton Rouge Plastic Surgeon Dr. Jonathan Kaplan, who recognized the need for a tool to better educate patients before coming in to the surgeon’s office for a consult. He said it’s a win-win for both the patient and doctor, since it can prevent patients wasting their time by coming in for a consult for a procedure that may be way out of their budget.
Dr. Kamran Khoobehi, the first New Orleans plastic surgeon to subscribe to the app service, says it’s a great way to empower patients by giving them more information before coming in to see their surgeon.
So how do you get this new free app? Just click the link from on the left and download it for free!
Dr. Kaplan says a web-based version and a version for android phones is coming soon, and the app is available for doctors world-wide.
Once you’ve downloaded the app, just pick your gender, and start pricing the various procedures. The app includes all fees associated with a surgery, from O.R. time, to anesthesia, MD fees, implant fees, post-surgical garment fees, etc., that you often won’t find listed on a surgeon’s own website. The app will also make adjustments when multiple surgical procedures are selected at a time, since there’s often a discount involved. (For example, if you are doing your nose and lipo at the same time, the O.R. and anesthesia fees, and sometimes doctors’ fees, will be less since you are not requiring two separate trips to a hospital or surgical center, 2 separate anesthesia sessions, etc.)
Dr. Kaplan says the app does not guarantee prices: fees could be a little more or less, depending on the individual patient’s case. It’s important to remember that the patient is not the doctor, so a procedure you may want or think you need may not be a procedure the doctor thinks you are a good candidate for.
