Tummy tucks are one of the top five most popular cosmetic surgery procedures. But if you try to find out how much a tummy tuck costs in Australia, you’ll find it hard to pinpoint a specific figure for what you’ll need to spend. The cost of a tummy tuck can vary according to the extent of work needed, the surgeon you choose and the hospital where the surgery is performed. This article helps you understand the full costs of a tummy tuck in Australia.
Fast Facts
- Tummy tucks are mostly performed on women.
- Depending on your needs, you might want a full abdominoplasty or a partial one.
- Tummy tucks can be performed as part of a combined procedure like a mummy makeover that combines tummy tucks with breast reduction or enhancements, liposuction and other body sculpting procedures.
A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is a cosmetic surgical procedure that aims to firm up the abdominal area by removing excess fat and skin and tightening the muscles of the abdominal wall. A tummy tuck removes excessive sagging and skin as a result of pregnancy and weight loss. It reduces stretch marks, especially those below the navel. A tummy tuck may also improve the waistline, depending on how much tissue is removed and tightened. Sometimes an abdominoplasty is medically necessary to repair an abdominal hernia.
Tummy tucks are mostly performed on women.
Tummy Tuck Cost in Australia
Typically the cost for a tummy tuck is anywhere between $9,000 (AUD) – $29,000. With no medicare rebates or private hospital cover typically the total out of pocket cost is between $18,000 and $29,000. If you have top private health cover, hospital fees of around $7,000 – $8,000 may be fully or partially covered. The other main driver of cost depends mostly on the surgeon and your location (certain cities tend to be slightly more expensive than others). The range of surgical fees in Sydney for example can range from $6,700 to $18,000 depending on the surgeon you choose and the extent of the surgery.
The best way to obtain the exact costs of abdominoplasty is by visiting a surgeon specialising in this procedure. Although you might find a ballpark figure, it is difficult to get exact costs of a tummy tuck online or from other sources. This is because the Australian Medical Board Guidelines for advertising of regulated health services prevents medical service providers, like your surgeon, from providing inexact information. Guidelines also discourage advertisements that give a price and then list conditions or variables that can change that price. As each person and his or her requirements are different, it is impossible for a surgeon to give a specific cost for a cosmetic procedure without seeing you first.
Depending on your needs, you might want a full abdominoplasty or a partial one. A full tummy tuck removes excess skin and tightens muscles across your whole abdomen and around the navel. A partial or mini tummy tuck fixes the area below the navel, tightening only the muscles in your lower abdomen.
Once you visit a surgeon for a consultation and have an idea of the costs of a tummy tuck, you may also want to get a second opinion from another surgeon before making the decision to undergo surgery.
Tummy tucks can be performed as part of a combined procedure like a mummy makeover that combines tummy tucks with breast reduction or enhancements, liposuction and other body sculpting procedures. When thigh and buttock lifts are combined with liposuction and abdominoplasty, they are referred to as a body lift.
If you plan to combine your tummy tuck with other procedures, the costs will go up accordingly.
What makes up the total costs of a tummy tuck?
The total costs involved in a tummy tuck can be broken into a number of components:
- Surgeon’s fees
- Assistant surgeon’s fees
- Anaesthetist’s fees
- Hospital and theatre costs
- Follow up-visits for a given period
- Cost of support garments
As with most other cosmetic surgeries, tummy tuck costs are given as block figures.
Almost all the costs associated with a tummy tuck, including the surgeon’s fees, anaesthetist’s fees and hospital costs, are dependent on the time it takes to complete the operation.
You can expect the cost of a full tummy tuck to fall within the $9,000 (AUD) – $29,000 range (updated in 2020). If your hospital costs are not covered by private insurance, you may be out of pocket between $6,800 and $8,000 for the hospital component of the fee as well as anesthetists fees of around $2,000. GST must be added to all costs quoted.
Mini-tuck vs Tummy Tuck vs Extended Tummy Tuck
We are mostly referring to a standard tummy tuck in this article. However, there is a mini tummy tuck, sometimes referred to as a lower abdominoplasty. This procedure is much simpler and quicker. It also does not require a 2 or 3 day hospital stay, often only requiring one night. Because of this, for patients without any hospital cover, the total out of pocket cost can be as low as $9,000 or $10,000 AUD vs $20,000 – $29,000.
An extended tummy tuck is a more complex operation and usually involves a wider incision and removal of more skin and fat. For this reason, it takes longer and is more complex surgery. On average this can add $2,000 – $4,000 to the cost of the procedure and may also incur higher hospital and anaesthetist fees.
Surgeon’s fees
A surgeon’s fee usually includes the cost of the procedure, including pre- and post-operative care. That means you will not need to pay extra for a specified number of follow up visits or for follow up visits during a given period.
The surgeon’s fee depends on the surgeon you choose. The wide range in fees reflects differences in surgeons’ expertise in surgery, qualifications, experience, professional recognition and popularity.
Because there may be medical doctors who are not qualified in surgery performing these operations—and often at a discounted price—you should make sure you are choosing a surgeon with the requisite training and experience. Besides the typical risks and complications involved in any surgery, tummy tuck surgery can weaken the abdominal wall and lead to serious health consequences. You do not want to put yourself in the hands of inexperienced and untrained doctors.
You may want to read the Costhetics article, Do Your Homework, before selecting a surgeon for your tummy tuck.
On another level, surgeon’s fees are also likely to differ based on geography and where their offices and practices are located.
Your surgeon should provide you with a detailed breakdown of costs at the initial consultation.
Initial consultation fees
There will be an initial consultation fee when you first see a surgeon regarding a tummy tuck. How much this will be depends upon the surgeon. Consultation fees range from $50 (AUD) to $500. If you see more than one surgeon—and you really should, before deciding on the best surgeon to proceed with—you will have to pay a fee for each consultation. Typically most surgeon’s charge $250 – $350 for the initial consultation.
Anaesthetist’s fee
Fees for the anaesthetist depend on their qualifications. A GP attending you as an anaesthetist during a tummy tuck will likely cost much less than a qualified anaesthetist. Anaesthetist fees are not calculated on a standard scale. However, According to the Australian Society of Anaesthetists, the fee charged by an anaesthetist is determined by the Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) number or the Relative Value Guide (RVG) number.
For cosmetic procedures the hourly charge for an anaesthetist would be in the range of $600-1,000 AUD. Typically a tummy tuck takes around three hours, depending on how much work is needed. The anaesthetist’s fee will go up accordingly.
You want to proceed with a qualified anaesthetist because the anaesthetist watches over your life and vital functions during your surgery. A qualified person who knows the ins and outs of anaesthesia, troubleshooting and potential risks is the safest option. Besides safety, your anaesthetist will also be a factor in making sure of your comfort both during and after the procedure.
Most surgeons’ use only qualified anaesthetists, and their fees far exceed the fee charged by a regular doctor performing the same duty.
Hospital fees
Hospital fees vary significantly from facility to facility. The key element of hospital fees is the operating theatre fee. Most hospitals charge on an hourly basis, with the charge covering theatre fees, accommodation and sundries. Per hour, hospital fees start at around $750 (AUD) and can vary by thousands of dollars. Additionally, a standard tummy tuck requires a 2 – 3 day stay in hospital after surgery which adds a lot to the cost if you aren’t covered by private health insurance. In Sydney for example, the hospital fees for a standard tummy tuck are around $6,800 – $8,000.
Tummy tucks take between one and three hours to complete. Your surgeon may recommend an overnight stay in hospital overnight for one or even two nights. Hospital costs will increase significantly if an overnight stay is needed.
Will medicare pay for my tummy tuck surgery?
Medicare reimbursements cover only costs of medically necessary procedures. Medicare does not cover costs of cosmetic surgery. Sometimes abdominoplasty is considered to be a medically necessary procedure. If, for example, there has been significant weight loss and the redundant skin and fat interferes significantly with daily life. Previously, medicare used to cover tummy tuck surgery for women who needed it based on past pregnancies. We have written a comprehensive article about medicare rebates for plastic surgery procedures here. The medicare rebate for tummy tuck surgery is relatively small, but the most important part of being able to qualify is that it enables your private health insurance to pay for some or all of your hospital fees. Because a tummy tuck often requires up to 3 days in hospital, this is expensive and contributes a large portion of the overall cost.
Are costs of tummy tuck covered by insurance?
Whether your private insurance fund covers the costs of a tummy tuck depends on the type of cover you have. Some cover hospital fees and some other costs such as an anaesthetist, depending on your policy. Whatever elements are not covered by private insurance will be out-of-pocket payments for you. Hospital and anaesthetist costs when not fully or partially covered by your private health insurance can add another $8,000 – $10,000 to the total cost of the surgery.
Before proceeding with the operation, it’s very important to clarify with your insurance fund what exactly is and is not covered.
We hope this article gives you a better idea of the costs involved in abdominoplasty. We welcome your comments on this article.
Other articles you may find useful
- More info on Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) – if you are considering getting a tummy tuck – you need to read this in depth article
- Informed Consent – what is it and why it is important before any surgery
- Tips for Preparing for Surgery
- If Something Goes Wrong…
- Do Your Homework before getting plastic surgery
- Treatments and the Right Treatments
Find a doctor performing tummy tucks near you
I have just read all the comments, I’m disgusted by your horrible attitudes towards each other. I would like a tummy tuck and I’m doing some research but your awful comments are not helpful. Please be kind to each other. Can anyone recommend a surgeon in Melbourne?
My daughter is seeing a plastic surgeon in Ballarat. Please be careful and get a second opinion, make sure you see a plastic surgeon not a cosmetic surgeon. Good luck.
Can u recommend a good surgeon for tummy tuck in Canberra pls
I live on the Sunshine Coast Qld. Im 61 years old and am considering a tummy tuck. I was wondering if there is any one on the Sunshine coast or in Brisbane that you could recommend for me to consult with in relation to this. I do not want to have this done overseas…
Dr Ryan Livingstone is on the sunshine coast or travel to Dr Lanzer in South Brisbane
I just had mine done with Dr Matthew peters at valley plastic surgery in Brisbane. Highly recommend
Lena, can you advise the cost of VPS please.
Alright, back to gym then. Hourly rate is between $600+ are you kidding do you bring people back to life as well with that kind of fees. Its not the procedure fees that puts me off. It’s the bullshit fees that pisses me off. as if you’re a brain or heart surgeon. You’re only removing fat and there are far better options like better diet and exercise than paying you $600 per hour for your time.
Surgery is surgery – doesn’t matter what the procedure is! They are trained and skilled in keeping you alive while giving you life saving or life changing results!
A tummy tuck isn’t meant to be a line for you to lose belly fat… it’s for people who have already put the effort in and there’s nothing but skin and a small pouch left… so yes go back to the gym and stop complaining when you came here for the easy way out… slacker.
“You’re only removing fat” NO they’re not you halfwit. If you want lipo, go get lipo but you’ll probably gain it back anyway. For some people a Tummy tuck can be life saving. You clearly have never felt the pain of muscle separation as the result of carrying Twins+ or extreme excessive weight. A tummy tuck NOTHING like Lipo, they are completely different things that different people perform with different qualifications. With a Tummy tuck, people can die during the Op, people can get life threatening blood clots, skin can die, infections can happen, etc which is why it costs so much. You need someone highly qualified and also if you’re doing it for a cosmetic reason, you want a surgeon to be a specialist in the field but also artistic. They need to cut away at skin, which will cause scars and they need to do this as quickly as possible, safely, with minimal scarring and each persons op will be different. Going to a gym isn’t going to remove skin or fix extreme muscle separation and let’s face it, going to the gym is a waste of money if you’re doing it just to lose a little fat, just eat less garbage and stop whining at people because your fantasy way out of obesity, is just a fantasy.
Your a bit harsh dont you think; you shouldnt judge people on their choices, they are here for support and guidance. You should probably remove yourself from this forum altogether.
You’re not too right are you. I feel really sorry for you
Shahab, well that name says it all.
Bloody hell, the judgement from you is real.
Why be in this forum if your not going to be supportive??
If you have a gripe a out charges, speak to the doctors, not the ppl on here wanting answers and support.
Your disgusting comments may make someone shy away from getting the help they need.
Didn’t your other ever tell u NOT to open your mouth unless you had something nice to say?
How about STFU???
I’m on weight loss journey but I want to have a tummy tuck now as looking at my body is killing me it’s making me want to put the weight back on to fill the lose skin
In Sydney or Wollongong NSW, is there any that are recommended. I see a lot of people over the years have been heading to Thailand as it is cheaper, but surely the price in Australia has dropped by now to match this?
I’m very interested in having a tummy tuck- Ive had 4 kids ! (no more now I’m 50!)
what is the recover time? Ive heard you need 6 weeks off – with no driving or lifting.
Can you verify this?
Hi Sarah,
Recovery depends on the surgery type, your doctor and your personal situation. But in general, yes 6 weeks is accurate for things like exercise (very light exercise can be OK at 2 weeks, but follow your surgeon’s instructions).
Many patients return to work after around 2 weeks including driving. Many surgeons recommend 3-5 days in hospital post op. Whatever you do, follow your surgeon’s instructions carefully. Each will have slightly different although similar recommendations.
Hi,
Can you recommend a good surgeon in Melbourne?
One that has a payment plan,
Thank you
Hi Patricia ,I have been doing a lot of resurch ,i need a tummy tuck too i am in my early 60 butnever too late to feel good about yourself, I found Dr Lanzer to be the best .i had apporment with him here in Brisbane 2 weeks ago ,but he only does small opps in Brisbane.i will have to go to Melbourne to have it done still deciding but as i said ,i down a lot of resurch he has been doing this for 30 years .i would advise you to see him .just go on the net and look him up. JoyceDietz
I am consulting with Dr Lanzer through email and phone calls because I live in Perth and would need to travel to Melbourne for it. So obviously there is the added cost of travel and accommodation, which they say they’re compassionate about so it’s considered into the pricing when quoting.
Please get second options, you may not have all the correct information, my daughter is on this journey and is seeing a plastic surgeon, not a cosmetic surgeon, I know there are a lot of cowboys out there , be careful , your family only has one of you.
Please can you help. I had a so called tummy tuck and the scar runs the whole length of my torso. .it’s a disgusting mess. I don’t know what to do or what I need.
Thanks Jodi.
How much does initial consultation cost and how soon after that is surgery scheduled? Also do you offer finance options or payment plans?
this does’nt help me understand the cost, it does’nt once mention a cost.
They actully do Josie,
“You can expect the cost of a full tummy tuck to fall within the $6,000 (AUD)- $10,000 range. If your hospital costs are not covered by private insurance, you may be out of pocket between $2,500 and $4,500 for the hospital component of the fee. GST must be added to all costs quoted.”
Can you please put some photos on before and after sugeries
Good idea Tania – we’ll add some pics asap!
There is a spelling mistake on your website! A women’s umbilicus is spelt navel not naval.
Well spotted Geoff, thank you!
Nobody cares jeff
Can anyone suggest a good surgeon in Adelaide for a tummy tuck?