Dear Ms. X,
Yes, we hear that a lot from US surgeons that don't want to lose a patient to another surgeon, especially one that is more skilled, less expensive, more attentive and ... based in another country, even though Brazil is internationally recognized as the Plastic Surgery Capital of the World.
From our vast experience, I would ask you to really take a good look at what you will be spending in TOTAL and what you will be GETTING for what you spend. Most ALL of our patients start looking at options abroad because of the lure of affordable prices for the procedures here in Brazil, but, in the end, they realize that they have not "settled" at all and have gotten MUCH more for their dollar than they ever would in the USA. I have plenty of patients that can easily afford PS in the USA, but choose us because of other factors, including the fact that Brazil IS the Plastic Surgery Capital of the World.
Our Brazilian Plastic Surgeons provide skill, expertise, experience, beautiful results and a warm and caring bedside manner. MedNetBrazil provides your care and support so that you never feel alone while you are on this journey. You are truly taken care of and assisted everyday by nurses (essentially daily home health care while you recover) and our completely bilingual Medical Concierge Desk and staff provide 24/7 support, accompanied Medical Transportation and Concierge services for whatever need may arise while you are here. You are also NOT rushed out of the hospital in 24 hours or less as an outpatient! We can control your pain and help assure a speedier recovery keeping you in the hospital for up to 48 hours, the time period where most chances of complications can occur. This way, you can really take the time to really recuperate and recover so you can go home as well-healed as possible!
Also because the surgeon can usually perform ALL the procedures that need to be in a short period of time by a team with a LOT of experience specializing in just that, means the surgeon's techniques are highly evolved and specialized and so your chances of EXCELLENT results are that much higher! We have had to REDO many US reconstructions, which interprets to actually having to spend MORE money later. The amount and time you spend, redoing it or touching up later, and then recovering from it, you could have had it done right the first time.
Your Total Body Reconstruction (after Massive Weight loss) done in two stages of surgery comes to $20,700 (not including face work).
(worst case scenario, could be less once he sees you in person). But this includes all surgeon's fees and his team, including anesthesia, your hospital stay for up to 48 hours after each surgery stage and your meds while in the hospital.
Your airfare will be between $800 and $1200
Your hotel for one month appx $1500,
(no housework or laundry is required of you, a maid comes everyday to clean your kitchenette, change your sheets, pick up your towels, scrub your toilet, etc...., you are 5 mins from the surgeon's office, breakfast everyday is included... bring a friend who is having surgery too and split this cost AND not run into your nosey neighbor in your housecoat! =)
You can easily feed yourself on US$10-$13/day in Brazil x 30 days is $300
Your Medical Concierge 24/7 support, Daily Home Health Care and medical transportation would be approximately US$250/wk.
Hyperbaric chamber treatments add another $1000 for 10 sessions...
IF he recommends them to help speed your healing and recovery (this really is what it's all about, we want you home healthy and with as little chance of complications as possible!) are $100/session (most have 5-10 sessions, compare with this price in the USA for a Hyperbaric chamber session of 1 hour at $250+/each)
So we are up to $27,000 to $28,000...
Now you still need post op meds (for pain and antibiotics), screening for thrombosis/embolism, the surgeon mandates daily Lymphatic Drainage Massages (again, state-of-the-art plastic surgery recovery/healing therapy and you'll have 18 hour-long massages in a four week stay), you need daily dressing change help and perhaps help bathing, a private nurse to attend to you in the hospital, some basic wound care items like antibacterial soap, gloves, gauze, ... what would all this run in the US? Could one even afford daily home health care and daily Lymphatic massages? This "little stuff" can add up and that is why MNB has created a Package Plan, based on rounds of surgery and after helping hundreds of our peers, we KNOW what 99% of our patients need while here. So, the package includes all of the above, so you don't have to worry about the little details... you just KNOW that you are being taken care of so you can heal fast and be on your way home, to a new life and your Empowering Journey, almost finished!
You mention Concierge Fees, but MedNetBrazil does not have Concierge Fees. The surgeon and MNB charge US$100 for the individualized Treatment Plan (essentially your online consultation/evaluation) and Budget Estimation and a $100 Surgery Date Booking Fee. What I do as a “Concierge” is assist the doctor in orientating his patients and basically operate as his Front Desk staff for his foreign patients. I don’t ask you to pay for services for him. =) The Medical Concierge company that will provide your support, all organization of your stay and medical transportation once you arrive in Brazil is a separate entity that both the surgeon AND MedNetBrazil rely on to provide you with the attentive and complete care that you need.
The Package Plan I talked about above is based on rounds of surgery and would start at $1249 (for one round of surgery) or $1949 (for two rounds of surgery and an extended stay). It includes your pre-op embolism screening, post op testing while you are in the hospital, daily dressing changes by a trained nurse, commonly prescribed post op meds, Lymphatic drainage massages, 48 hours of private nursing in the hospital at each round, and some basic incidentals and “insurance” in case you require further Embolism screening or even re-admittance. We created this package due to demand and the vast amount of experience in helping hundreds of patients and putting together what EVERYONE needs as a minimum and it won’t nickel and dime them. Also, neatly packaged like this, it streamlines our care and services for you and helps you save a little money and lots of time than if you had to purchase and organize everything separately and on your own.
If your surgeon has the same amount of Post massive weight loss reconstruction experience, and can do ALL of the procedures that are on your Treatment Plan from our surgeon, and include the hospital fees, all your home health aftercare, incidentals, pay your food, transportation to and from his office over your recovery, include healing treatments, daily massages, medications, …. ALL of what is listed above, and do it so that your life is not interrupted 4 or 5 times over the next year (and you have to take time off to HEAL 4 or 5 times!) or more as he schedules your gradual reconstruction…. All for under $30K? Please look a little more carefully at the whole picture. Like I say, price may be the first reason people look, then the fact that they can get it ALL done in a short period of time, but yet, SAFELY, and be going on with their lives, but really, the value of the whole experience and what you get for this amount is what should be considered, not JUST the surgery costs. If you’d like any more explanation or want to go over anything either here or your Treatment Plan, just give me a call and I’d be more than happy to help you! =)
Looking forward to helping you finish this Empowering Journey!
Blessings,
Christi deMoraes
Christi deMoraes
President
MedNetBrazil Concierge Services, Inc
www.MedNetBrazil.com
