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Cosmetic Surgery procedures can enhance your self-image and quality of life. However, health insurance does not cover elective cosmetic surgery. That is why we offer financing options for you! We gladly accept your VISA, MasterCard, Discover, official check or cash. We can also help you arrange personal financing through companies that are specifically geared toward helping patients with the cost of cosmetic surgery. You can request additional information regarding financing by calling us or when you come in for your consultation, or you can click on the following link to get more information: www.carecredit.com

Payment Policy

Minor In-office procedures: any amounts due (including the procedure fee and product fee if applicable) must be paid in full prior to or on the day of the procedure.

Cosmetic surgery: all fees for surgery must be paid in full 10 days prior to surgery.

After you and Dr. Howard have finalized your surgical plan, we will provide you with an estimate for your surgery. The estimate will include the procedure fee, implants, supplies or other devices, facility fee and anesthesia as applicable. Prior to your surgery, you will pay the surgical fee to our office. The facility and anesthesia fees will be collected from you at the hospital during your pre-operative registration visit. Additional charges for required lab work or additional operative time will be billed separately to the patient by the lab or hospital.

We recommend that the patient be covered by health insurance at the time of the cosmetic surgery in the rare instance that a post-operative complication develops. All charges related to additional procedures for revisions or complications are the full responsibility of the patient.

Payment for cosmetic procedures or cosmetic surgery only includes the original surgery. Any revisions or additional procedures that may become desirable or necessary are the financial responsibility of the patient. Office revision procedures are billed at $500 per hour and hospital revision procedures are billed at $1000 per hour (doctor\'s fee only; does not include hospital fees).

Our initial consultation fee is $75, which you will pay when you come in for your consultation. However, if you schedule a major surgical procedure, this payment may be applied toward the total cost of your surgery, similar to a deposit. (This discount does not apply to office procedures).

In order to serve our patients better, we strive to schedule adequate time for each visit. Typically we schedule 45 minutes to an hour for cosmetic consultations. Therefore, missed appointments are very costly to our practice. If you are unable to keep a scheduled appointment, we require 24-hour prior notice of cancellation. If you do not give 24 hours notice, you will be charged the $75 consultation fee and may not be allowed to reschedule. Emergencies will be handled on an individual basis.

Call River City Plastic Surgery in Jefferson City, Missouri at 573-635-9668 to schedule your personal consultation.

You may be a candidate for a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) if you have loose or sagging abdominal wall skin that is frequently associated with abnormal relaxation of the anterior abdominal wall muscles (often secondary to multiple pregnancies or prior surgery). You may also desire a tummy tuck if you are unable to tighten your abdominal wall skin with exercise. An abdominoplasty is intended to give the patient a smoother flatter abdomen.

Abdominoplasty is usually performed under general anesthesia either within the hospital or in an outpatient setting. (Mini abdominoplasties can be performed under sedation and local anesthesia.)

* Mini abdominoplasty tightens the lower abdominal wall skin only (shortest scar).

* Standard abdominoplasty tightens all of the abdominal wall skin and muscle (standard scar).

* Extended abdominoplasty tightens the abdomen and the flanks or sides and muscle (longest scar extending around the flanks onto lower back.)

Abdominoplasty is one of the more uncomfortable plastic surgery procedures. An overnight stay in the hospital is usually indicated and the On-Q pain pump is also available to help control pain after surgery. Light activity is comfortable in 10-20 days. Two drains are placed during surgery and left in for 10 days to 2 weeks. Sports will not be comfortable for about 6 weeks.

The specific risks and the suitability of abdominoplasty for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are unusual.

To read more information about the tummy tuck procedure and recovery, visit the American Society of Plastic Surgeons website at: www.plasticsurgery.org.

Call River City Plastic Surgery in Jefferson City, Missouri at 573-635-9668 to schedule your personal consultation.

You may be a candidate for Botox® Cosmetic if you would like to treat facial wrinkles of the forehead, frown lines between the eyes, and "crow's feet". Botox® Cosmetic works by weakening the muscles that cause facial expressions. Once the treated muscles are weakened, the pull of the muscle relaxes and the overlying skin appears smoother. Botox® Cosmetic is utilized to enhance your appearance, and lessen the wrinkles in the upper part of your face.

Botox® Cosmetic can be administered in the office by appointment. Botox® Cosmetic is freshly prepared on the day of injection. Once prepared the medication needs to be used within 12 hours as the potency diminishes with time. Small amounts of Botox® Cosmetic are injected into the facial muscles using a very tiny needle. There is no post-procedural pain and people can generally return directly to work. Bruising is the most common side effect. Botox® Cosmetic is not indicated for those over 65 years of age. 

The specific risks and the suitability of the non-surgical procedures described here for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are rare.