Tummy Tuck Cost

The process of sculpting, tightening, and contouring the abdominal wall through a surgical procedure is called Tummy Tuck Abdominal Surgery or Abdominoplasty. This surgery is done by professional cosmetic surgeons and the cost of tummy tuck surgery varies with the kind of problem, complexity of the procedure and the status of the doctors involved. To calculate the total cost of a tummy tuck surgery, you will need to consider charges of the anesthetist, professional fee of the surgeon conducting the surgery, hospital charges (including preoperative preparation, operating room charges and postoperative care), compression garment and the medication prescribed after the surgery. While the fees of the anesthetist and the hospital facility are typically the same, it is the surgeon’s fees that will make all the difference.

Predicting the surgeon’s fee is quite difficult and the variations depend mostly on the extent of the surgical procedure and the professional qualifications and experience of the plastic surgeon.

On an average cost of tummy tuck the total procedure may cost between $3,000 and $8,500. The fee of the anesthesiologist is typically fixed between $500 and $700, while the facility may charge between $700 and $1000 for the services provided. The surgeon’s charges may vary anywhere between $3500 and $6000, depending on various factors.

How much of skin and fat need to be removed decides the duration of the surgical procedure. By rule of thumb, the longer the procedure, the higher the tummy tuck costs. While it is always advisable to have the surgery performed in a well equipped hospital, minor tummy tuck surgeries (also called mini tummy tuck) may be performed in the surgeon’s office suite. The total duration of the procedure runs into a few hours. After the surgery some patients may need to stay at the hospital overnight. In such cases the mini tummy tuck cost can be quite high.

Another major factor that affects the tummy tucks cost is the skill and the training undergone by the surgeon. It is essential to consult a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). It is even better if the surgeon has extensive, abdominoplasty specific experience and in depth knowledge of other abdominal and plastic surgery procedures. Board certification is always preferable as it demands specific and rigorous education in practical surgical procedures along with training. The more qualified and more certification the surgeon has, the higher the fees.

The advantage here is you can rest assured that you will get the most appropriate treatment, the best techniques suiting your condition would be employed which will help increase your success rate and reduce complications risk. The certification type is also equally important. With over 150 self-designated boards, only a handful is authorized by ABMS (American Board of Medical Specialties) which includes the ABPS. Do not be afraid to ask your surgeons for his certificates and details of surgical training when you are inquiring about the cost of tummy tucks.

Payment terms too can be negotiated with your surgeon. Like most cosmetic surgical procedures, tummy tuck plastic surgeons also offer different plans for payment. The cost for a tummy tuck procedure is generally quite large and is to be paid as a lump sum amount.Hence most surgeons allow for monthly payments. Depending on the health insurance you have opted for, check if tummy tuck costs are included in your health insurance plan.

However before plunging into the surgical procedure of tummy tuck which is a major operation, check if you are an ideal candidate. You should be in good physical shape except for extra skin or fat in your abdominal area which has become resistant to exercise. Women who have the laxity of underlying muscles caused by pregnancy are also ideal candidates. Normally after pregnancy women find it difficult to get their abdominal region to pre-pregnancy flatness as the muscles and the skin would have stretched beyond the point of return.

People who have undergone weight loss through rigorous diet and exercise regimen due to which the skin did not have the time to shrink back to its original shape, can also undergo tummy tuck surgery. As we age our skin loses its elasticity causing sagging skin. Such people too can undergo abdominolasty, provided they are in good shape. But the decision whether or not you are a good candidate for a tummy tuck surgery is up to your surgeon.

In the following video there is explained what a tummy tuck is and where the incisions are going to be made.