The Cost of "Tummy Tuck" Surgery

Because it is not covered by medical insurance, at least in the United States, cost is a major determinant of whether or not you will have a tummy tuck procedure. The cost of the procedure varies from $3,000 and $10,000 and do not look to your insurance company to cover the cost. The overall cost depends on the type of procedure that you want and the degree of change in your current body contour that you want to achieve. The cost also varies a lot depend on the geographic location; it varies among different countries and even between different localities within the same country. The facility where the procedure will be performed also affects the cost.

 

                The procedure is usually not covered under the medical insurance because a “tummy tuck” or abdominoplasty is almost always considered an elective surgery. A tummy tuck is usually purely cosmetic meaning that the patient desires to have the procedure so that their body will look more visually appealing. Cosmetic surgeries are often not medically necessary unless the surgery is to correct a gross abnormality. In many cases, patients simply want to get rid of a small amount of body fat around the belly for aesthetic reasons. Therefore most health insurance providers will not cover the procedure. In fact, if there are complications that occur from the surgery itself, many insurance providers will deny any hospital aftercare that is required to bring you back to health. Moreover, some insurance companies may raise your risk profile after you have received an elective surgery like a tummy tuck.

The caliber of the surgeon will play a critical role in the overall price you will have to pay for the procedure. Factors such as reputation, experience and skill level will allow the surgeon to charge a higher fee, as the demand for their services increases. Also, location makes a big difference. Since there are more cosmetic surgeries in major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles and New York, demand for available surgeons can be greater, again, raising the cost.  

Make sure to ask if there are other associated costs such as anesthesia and the anesthesiologist’s fee as well as laboratory studies and medical tests. If the surgery is carried out in a hospital rather than a surgeon’s private surgical suite, there is usually a facility or operating room fee as well. Treatment for post-operative complications can increase the overall cost of the procedure. Follow-up care during recovery from the tummy tuck procedure can add to the cost and also consider post-surgery pain medications, antibiotics and wound dressings.

When considering a tummy tuck, it is imperative to carefully review all the available options and costs. Some costs are obvious such as the surgeon’s fee, while others might not be, like an increase in health insurance premiums.