Removal of a Tissue Expander

Nationwide rates for HCPCS 11971

Takes out a tissue expander — a balloon-like device placed under the skin and gradually filled to stretch the skin above it — without putting a permanent implant in its place. The pocket is opened, the expander is deflated and removed, and the wound is closed. It is done when the stretched skin will be used on its own, or when the plan has changed and no implant will follow.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Removal of a Tissue Expander cost?

$4,262

Typical total for the visit. Nationwide, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $4,262 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $794 to the doctor who performs it, and $3,467 to the hospital or surgery center where it takes place. Done somewhere without a facility charge, you pay only the first.

19% physician fee81% facility fee

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 54 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the bill	Who charges it	Typical	Range
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it	The doctor who performs it	$794	$603 to $1,096
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center	The hospital or surgery center	$3,467	$1,514 to $6,166

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3,467 · 10th to 90th $603 to $10,471Professionalmedian $794 · 10th to 90th $501 to $1,479

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier	Facility/Professional	Modifier	Typical Low	Median	Typical High
Aetna Setting Facility Modifier Global Typical Low $537.03 Median $2,818.38 Typical High $9,332.54	Facility	Global	$537.03	$2,818.38	$9,332.54
Aetna Setting Facility Modifier 50 · Both sides Typical Low $933.25 Median $3,311.31 Typical High $9,549.93	Facility	50 · Both sides	$933.25	$3,311.31	$9,549.93
BCBS Setting Facility Modifier Global Typical Low $1,659.59 Median $4,786.30 Typical High $13,489.63	Facility	Global	$1,659.59	$4,786.30	$13,489.63
Cigna Setting Facility Modifier Global Typical Low $891.25 Median $1,698.24 Typical High $5,370.32	Facility	Global	$891.25	$1,698.24	$5,370.32
United Setting Facility Modifier Global Typical Low $1,479.11 Median $4,073.80 Typical High $9,549.93	Facility	Global	$1,479.11	$4,073.80	$9,549.93

What it costs in each state

The same service costs 4.1 times more in Wisconsin than in Oregon. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.

Physician feeFacility fee

Touch or drag across the chart to see any state's rate.

WI $8,816OR $2,168

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.