Are you wondering about the current cost for a tummy tuck in Australia? You have come to the right place. ’Tummy tuck cost Australia’ is one of the top Googled questions patients have when thinking about cosmetic surgery.
Researching tummy tuck prices is frustrating, as you have probably noticed by now. It is hard to get a straight answer. Google, and you will be continually met with text saying the “cost will vary” and that the only way to get a price is to book a consultation.
Or even worse, vague answers like “prices start at $6000+”.
As a cosmetic surgeon, I don’t think that is fair. It’s like going down to the car dealership only to be told you can only find out the price of the car after you have spent all afternoon on the lot.
I know that you are busy and price is one of the most common questions there is.
In this article, I will discuss my pricing along with what I have found out about what other surgeons charge for a tummy tuck in Sydney and Newcastle.
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Just tell me the price! How much is a tummy tuck in Australia really?
I have looked at prices in Newcastle, Sydney, and Australia in general. I have found that the range is something like $7,000 to 35,000. That’s quite a spread!
When I researched prices, I noticed that there is around a $1,000 to $10,000 variation in the cost from practice to practice and from city to city. What gives?
More frustrating is that many surgeons do not publish their prices at all. Others may instead give you a “base price” that you most certainly will not pay anywhere close to once they tack on fees and surcharges. This renders the published starting price as pretty useless, if you ask me.
What does the price include?
Let’s face it: Plastic surgery can be expensive. That is true in just about all developed nations. In Australia, the costs range between $7,000-35,000. Let’s take a look at what that includes.
Performing surgery is not a “one man” job.
When you go under the knife, there is normally a small team of people in the operating room. You have the surgeon, of course. But you also have the anesthetist and nurse(s), each of whom has a specialized job to keep everything running smoothly. They take the load off the surgeon so that s/he can focus on the task at hand. The nurses and anesthetists must be paid for their time. The anesthetic fee ranges from $600-900 per hour, for example.
Surgeon fee
Most patients assume that the surgeon walks away with the entire payment. That is not true, however. There are many costs associated with providing surgery services.
The total price you pay includes more line items than you think. For example, there is a surgeon fee, operating room fee, hospital fee, and anesthesia fee, and so on. The surgeon must pay for his staff and overhead costs, surgical tools, equipment, and more.
The surgeon fee is just a portion of the total price. For a standard tummy tuck, you are looking at a cost anywhere from $6,000 and up. For a lipo-abdominoplasty, the cost is typically at least $7,500.
Hospital charges
The hospital charges range from around $1,100 per hour up to $2,000. An overnight stay will usually cost $600-900 per day. With my surgical technique, most of my tummy tuck patients only need to spend one night in the hospital. Keep in mind other surgeons’ techniques can vary, and may require up to one week in the hospital for a standard tummy tuck. Extensive surgeries like body lifts may require a hospital stay of 5-7 days.
If you have an item number (post-weight loss patients only) and health insurance, you will not need to pay for the hospital.
Download our short guide: “Preparing for your Abdominoplasty Surgery Checklist”
Compression garments and after care
After care items such as scar gel for healing may be included. I also happen to provide compression garments to wear after your surgery. Not every surgeon does that, and not all compression garments are created equal. I believe they are an important part of your healing, so it’s included for that reason. No need to waste your time looking for tummy tuck compression garments online.
How I determine my tummy tuck rates
The price I charge depends on the type of tummy tuck. I base my pricing largely on the time it takes me to perform each kind tummy tuck and my expertise as a body contouring specialist.
- A skin-only tummy tuck takes me about 2 hours
- A mini Lipo-abdominoplasty (which includes extensive VASER liposuction) takes me around 3 hours
- A full Lipo-abdominoplasty (which includes extensive VASER liposuction) takes me around 4 hours
- An extended Lipo-abdominoplasty (which includes extensive VASER liposuction) takes me around 5 hours
- A body lift can take 6-7 hours
- A Fleur de lis tummy tuck takes around 5-6 hours
The longer a procedure takes, the more it will cost.
Drumroll, please! My current tummy tuck prices for 2019
These are my current prices as of 1Aug 2019 for the most popular kinds of tummy tucks patients request:
My Lipo-abdominoplasty using VASER liposuction
Hospital: $7,000
Anaesthetist: $4,290
Surgeons fee: $10,490
Total charge: $21,780 if you don’t have Medicare
If you are covered for the corresponding item number, then $12,780 is the total charge.
My mini Lipo-abdominoplasty with extensive VASER liposuction
Hospital: $4,390
Anaesthetist: $2,970
Surgical fee: $6,490
Total charge: $13850
These prices are subject to change. I usually revise the cost every 6 months or so. Prices may fluctuate due to upgrading equipment and changing costs of doing business, overhead, etc. The rates above are accurate as of the time of publishing.
Please click this link to view up-to-date tummy tuck pricing for Dr. Beldholm: https://beldholm.com.au/body-contouring/tummy-tuck-cost/.
Can I get a cheap tummy tuck?
A tummy tuck is a major surgery that requires a highly-trained specialist surgeon FRACS. Everyone wants a good value, but you don’t just want to go to the cheapest doctor in town.
Cosmetic surgery is truly an art. Finding a qualified surgeon is an important decision. Choosing an expert body contouring surgeon like Doctor Bernard can make a big difference in the quality of your results.
Safety is a top priority as well. Surgeons who charge cut-rate prices may not have the latest equipment and safety training, so that is something to keep in mind.
Can you afford an abdominoplasty?
Financial planning is key for many patients since cosmetic surgery is normally paid out of pocket. It is rare for insurance to cover plastic surgery, although there are a few exceptions. In Australia, you can get a tummy tuck rebate if you meet certain requirements.
Tummy tuck rebates Australia
The abdominoplasty cost may be covered for major weight loss patients if they meet certain criteria set forth by the government. Australia offers tummy tuck rebates that you may qualify for.
Unfortunately, if you need a tummy tuck after pregnancy, you will not qualify for the rebates in Newcastle. Activists and surgeons are working hard to change those rules, but that is where things stand as of 2019.
Do you qualify for post-weight loss tummy tuck rebates? Find out now
Find out more information about getting your tummy tuck cost in Australia covered in the next article, Post Weight Loss, Body Contouring: Is my Operation Covered?