Chest VASER Liposuction (Ultrasound Assisted Lipectomy) Cost in Newcastle NSW and the Hunter Valley: BB grade 2, No Gland Excision
This page covers the cost of BB grade 2 surgery: VASER liposuction (ultrasound assisted lipectomy) of the chest wall on its own, with no gland excision. It applies where the chest enlargement is fat rather than breast gland, which is pseudogynaecomastia (chest fat without glandular enlargement).
The total cost starts from $11,500 for the least complex bilateral case, performed as a day stay with no drains at Maitland Private Hospital. My surgical fee within that total is $4,990 plus GST ($5,489 including GST). Liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy) on its own is cosmetic surgery, so no Medicare item applies and GST is charged on the fee. The anaesthetist and the hospital bill separately, and your individual quote follows consultation.
Surgery is performed by me, Dr Bernard Beldholm M.B.B.S B.Sc(Med) FRACS, Specialist Surgeon, at Maitland Private Hospital. I have more than 15 years of experience in gynaecomastia and male chest surgery. Patients come from Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, the Central Coast and regional NSW.
Where a firm gland disc is present as well as fat, the operation is BB grade 3 and has its own cost page: BB grade 3 gynaecomastia surgery cost. Where chest skin excess follows major weight loss, the operation sits in a different lane: male chest surgery after weight loss cost.
Book your appointment online now
What my fee includes
My surgical fee of $4,990 plus GST covers more than the hour in theatre.
A second consultation at no cost before surgery
Including review of any blood results. This can be done remotely.
All post-operative follow-up
There is 2 weeks of close follow-up straight after surgery, then reviews at 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months. None of these visits carries a separate charge.
Your compression vest
After BB grade 2 VASER liposuction (ultrasound assisted lipectomy) the vest is worn full time for about 4 weeks, then for a further 2 weeks during the day only.
Histopathology
Does not apply to this operation, because no gland is removed and liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy) aspirate is not sent for testing.
What makes up your total cost
The from-price of $11,500 is built from 4 parts. Only the first is my fee.
Surgical fee
$4,990 plus GST ($5,489 including GST). GST applies because chest liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy) on its own is cosmetic surgery.
Anaesthetist’s fee
Billed separately by the anaesthetist. The charge is based on the estimated surgical time plus 1 hour, so a 1 hour operation is billed as 2 hours of anaesthetic time. The anaesthetic consultation is by phone in most cases.
Hospital and theatre fees at Maitland Private Hospital
About 1 hour of theatre time for the least complex bilateral case, and a day stay, so you go home the same day. As no Medicare item applies, the hospital charges its cosmetic rate for theatre and day stay, and your health fund does not contribute to these.
Theatre consumables
Cannulas, tumescent fluid, dressings and the other disposables used during VASER liposuction (ultrasound assisted lipectomy). These are charged to uninsured patients, which for cosmetic surgery means everyone.
There are no drains with BB grade 2 surgery, so nothing is added for drain care. Where liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy) on the chest extends to more of the chest wall or the sides of the chest, surgical time and the quote move with it, which is why the from-price is the starting figure rather than a fixed price.
Medicare and health funds
Chest VASER liposuction (ultrasound assisted lipectomy) on its own does not meet the descriptor for the gynaecomastia Medicare items, which require removal of breast gland. No Medicare item applies to BB grade 2 surgery, so there is no Medicare rebate, no health fund contribution to the surgical, anaesthetic or hospital fees, and GST is charged on my fee.
If gland is found at consultation as well as fat, the operation changes to BB grade 3 and a Medicare item may apply where criteria are met. That is assessed at consultation, not by self-assessment against the item wording.
Revision surgery, if ever needed, is charged depending on your insurance position; this is covered in the full cost guide: gynaecomastia surgery cost guide.
Book your appointment online now
Your next step
A GP referral is required before a consultation. Your GP can also check for a cause of the chest change that needs treating before any surgery is considered.
Consultations are held at my rooms in Lorn, Maitland. Telehealth is available for patients in regional NSW and for the second consultation. At the first consultation I examine each side of the chest separately to confirm whether the enlargement is fat alone, which is BB grade 2, or fat with a gland disc, which changes the operation and the cost. You then receive a written quote for your case.