Price of Breast Reconstruction vs. Breast Augmentation
Two similar surgeries, breast reconstruction and breast augmentation, have different prices. Breast augmentation is cosmetic surgery not covered by health insurance. Patients who want the surgery must pay for it themselves. Breast reconstruction following breast removal due to cancer is covered by insurance. The price for one of the surgeries has increased by about 10% each year since 1995 while the other has increased by only 2% per year. Which of the surgeries has the lower inflation rate and why?