Liposuction (Suction Assisted Lipectomy) with Fat Grafting to the Breast Cost in Newcastle NSW
The cost of liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy) with fat grafting (autologous fat transfer) to the breast is driven mainly by the extent of the liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy). The breast side of the operation is much the same from patient to patient. What changes is how many donor areas I harvest from, how much fat needs to be collected, and how long that takes in theatre. Operating time sets the anaesthetist’s fee and the hospital’s theatre charge, so the more donor areas involved, the higher the total.
This is a cosmetic operation. No Medicare item number applies, no health fund contribution applies, and 10% GST is added to the surgical, anaesthetist and hospital fees.
As an example, take a patient with a normal BMI who has VASER liposuction (ultrasound assisted lipectomy) of the abdomen as the single donor site, with the harvested fat filtered, prepared and grafted into both breasts in one session, as a day stay with no drains and no additional procedures. That operation takes around 2.5 hours. My surgical fee for this case starts at $8,250 including GST. That is my fee only. It covers the single-use fat processing canister and your post-operative garments. The anaesthetist and Maitland Private Hospital bill separately and set their own charges, so the total is approximately $20,500 including GST. A second donor area, a larger harvest, or a second grafting session at a later date each move the operating time and the fee together. You receive an individual written quote after your consultation.
I am Dr Bernard Beldholm, M.B.B.S B.Sc(Med) FRACS, Specialist Surgeon. I operate at Maitland Private Hospital in the Hunter Valley and see patients from Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, the Central Coast and regional NSW.
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What my fee includes
My surgical fee covers more than the time in theatre. It includes:
A second consultation at no cost before surgery
Including review of your blood results. This can be done remotely.
All follow-up after surgery
You are seen closely for the first 2 weeks by my nurse and by me, with Healite II LED light therapy at those visits. After that you are reviewed at 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months. Your GP is handed back your ongoing care at the 4-week visit.
The single-use canister
Used to filter and prepare the harvested fat for grafting.
Your compression garment for the donor site and your surgical bra
Both are worn full time for 4 weeks, then in the daytime only for a further 2 weeks.
Comfeel dressings
Which are water resistant, so you can shower the day after surgery.
There are no separate charges from my rooms for dressings, garments, follow-up visits or the fat processing canister.
What makes up your total cost
Your total is made up of 3 separate bills and a small number of things that change the quote:
My surgical fee
Set by the extent of the liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy) and the operating time it needs. Includes the fat processing canister, garments, dressings and all follow-up.
The anaesthetist’s fee
Billed separately by the anaesthetist, based on the length of the operation. The anaesthetic consultation is by phone in most cases.
Maitland Private Hospital fees
Theatre time and a day stay, billed by the hospital.
Additional donor areas
Harvesting from the flanks, thighs or arms as well as the abdomen adds theatre time, and the fee, anaesthetist’s fee and hospital charge move together.
A second grafting session
Some patients choose a further session at a later date to add more volume once the first graft has settled. This is a separate operation with its own quote.
Other procedures in the same operation
A mastopexy (breast lift) or any other breast procedure done at the same time changes the operating time and is quoted as a different case.
Medicare and health funds
There is no Medicare item number for cosmetic liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy) or for cosmetic fat grafting to the breast, so Medicare and your health fund do not contribute to this operation. Because no item number applies, 10% GST is added to the surgical, anaesthetist and hospital fees, and Maitland Private Hospital charges a higher rate for cosmetic theatre time than it does for an operation with an item number.
Revision surgery, if ever needed, is charged depending on your insurance position; this is covered in the full breast surgery cost guide.
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Your next step
A GP referral is required before your first consultation. Consultations are held at my rooms in Lorn, Maitland. If you live further afield, the first consultation can be done by telehealth, with an in-person examination before surgery to assess your donor areas and plan the operation. Your written quote follows that consultation.