Tummy Tuck Costs: Here & Abroad

Before going for the tummy tuck procedure it is advisable to review the overall cost of procedure not only just for the procedure but also for the associated cost involved with it.  The total cost of the procedure varies from person to person. Cost of procedure alone depends mainly on three things: the surgeon's fee, anesthesia fee and the facility fee where the procedure will be performed. Surgeon's fee is usually the largest portion and can vary dramatically depending on the extent of the procedure, the expertise of the surgeon and how much demand there is for a particular surgeon. Tummy tuck procedures alone costs from $3,000 to $10,000.

 

People usually look at the cost of the procedure as the total cost and overlook some of the associated costs involved with the procedure. There may also additional lab work and medical tests required. Post-surgery medication and follow-up care should also be considered. If there are post-operative complications, it is likely that those will be denied by health insurance carriers.

Perhaps it makes more financial sense to have your tummy tuck procedure performed abroad. Some countries even have cosmetic surgery clinics setup as “spa resorts”, where the surgery is performed, and then the patient can recover in a resort setting in privacy along with medical attention. Thus you tell your coworkers you are going on an extended vacation (and in some sense you are) and when you return you have a trim new body and some much needed relaxation.

A survey conducted by Treatment Abroad PriceWatch 2008, which tracks medical tourism procedure prices, determined that abdominoplasty or tummy tuck procedures could be much less expensive than UK or US clinics. For example, the cost of the procedure in Brazil was as much as 78 % less than a comparable procedure in the United Kingdom. Incidentally, medical insurances routinely cover cosmetic plastic surgeries of all types in Brazil and may explain why the cost of this medical tourism destination is so reasonable.

Before you go abroad for a tummy tuck or any surgical procedure, it is extremely important to do research about facilities and surgeons in other countries. Look for the number of procedures that a surgeon has performed and their complication rate. Seek out testimonials from people who have been treated there and find out the training, licensure, and certification required in a given jurisdiction. The level of medical education varies throughout the world as does the stringency of the requirements to practice medicine and surgery. While costs of some surgical procedures can be less expensive abroad, consider that you might just get what you are paying for! Knowing the facts and risks of tummy tuck surgery ahead of time both here and abroad can allow you to make the right decision for you.