October 11, 2026 | Cost and Financing, Plastic Surgery News
“Cost varies with the doctor’s experience. Surgeons in high demand consistently deliver good results in a safe environment with top-quality products, and that increases cost. I allow sufficient operating room time to work in a paced fashion, for safety. Low-cost surgeries get compressed to cut anesthesia and operating room fees.”
I have said that to patients for years. This month Doctors Magazine asked physicians how to talk about money without shaming a patient, and my section ran under the heading “Publish Fees and Use Coordinators.” The rule: “never start the second one while the patient is still in a gown.” All of my pricing is on the fees page.
What the Fees Page Says
Are the published numbers the final price?
Dr. Agullo: “Those prices are minimums, and they include anesthesia, the surgical facility, medical tests, garments, and recovery products. Because pricing does change, please confirm current pricing at agulloplasticsurgery.com/fees, which is the page we keep updated.”
“A final quote is only given after a consultation, and it will include everything.”
When does a quote match the page?
Dr. Agullo: “Baseline: if nothing else is added and the surgery is not expected to take longer than the standard time, the quote matches the website.”
And when it comes back higher?
Dr. Agullo: “Common reason a quote runs higher: the patient wants liposuction in more areas to improve the overall body contour, frequently adding the upper back and the lateral chest. Those areas especially benefit from adding Renuvion J-Plasma. This makes the procedure longer (more OR and anesthesia time) and adds the cost of the additional procedures and areas themselves. So the base price holds, but added zones plus skin tightening lift the final quote.”
Posts on what moves each quote: breast augmentation, breast lift with implants, breast reduction, BBL, tummy tuck, liposuction with a tummy tuck, mommy makeover and facelift.
How the Consultation Is Structured
Exam room first, with no money in it. Then the coordinator, in a separate office, once you are dressed.
Financing, in the Same Room
What financing options do you offer?
Dr. Agullo: “Patients can finance through PatientFi, AlphaEon, Cherry, or CareCredit. We also offer direct financing through the practice, where you make payments directly to us ahead of your surgery. That lets you schedule the procedure out for the time you need, and make the payments periodically at your convenience.”
“Beyond that, patients can pay by credit card or cash, or arrange financing through their own bank or another institution.”
We do not work with insurance companies at the moment.
Why Prices Differ From Surgeon to Surgeon
What about a much cheaper quote?
Dr. Agullo: “So when you see a really low fee, it is probably a surgeon that is not as busy as they would like, and they have to lower prices to attract patients. They may be shortcutting some parts of the procedure. They may not be using the best equipment and the latest technologies, and they may not be using the best fat preservation techniques, soaps, and preparation.”
“I would also add that sometimes these kinds of prices are actually offered right here in the United States, often in clinics that do very high volumes. These are very common in Florida, for example. A lot of times, we are not sure who is performing the procedure, whether it is a board-certified plastic surgeon or a physician from another specialty. And often the recovery and follow-up are cut down, as these surgeons only come in to perform the procedure, and then the clinic is the one that continues the follow-up.”
“In short, if a price seems too good to be true, it usually is.”
“A bargain that costs you a revision, or your health, is not a bargain at all.”
Why Choose Dr. Agullo
Dr. Agullo is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery, completed his plastic surgery fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, and serves as Clinical Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. He has been a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for thirteen consecutive years, 2014 through 2026. He publishes his prices.
Ready to Talk?
Read the fees page first, then come in. An exact quote can only be provided after a consultation.
Call (915) 590-7900, text 1-866-814-0038, or book online at agulloplasticsurgery.com. #StayBeautiful
Find me at @RealDrWorldWide on Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, @Agullo on X, or @AgulloPlasticSurgery on Facebook.
