What Does a Tummy Tuck Cost?

The cost of a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) includes three fees: the anesthesia fee, the facility fee, and the surgeon's fee. The surgeon's fee is the most difficult to predict without first knowing the extent of the procedure and the qualifications of the plastic surgeon.

Average fees vary significantly, from $3,000 to $8,500. The anesthesiology fee is typically $500 to $700, and the facility fee is $700 to $1,000. The surgeon's fee is typically $3,500 to $6,000.

Extent of Tummy Tuck Procedure

The more skin and fat to be removed, the longer the surgical time requirement, and the higher the cost. Costs vary among facilities as well. Tummy tucks can be performed in an office surgical suite, but in many cases they are performed in a hospital.

The procedure often requires many hours in surgery. Some patients stay overnight in the hospital. The procedures with overnight stays are typically the most expensive.

Skill and Training Affects Tummy Tuck Cost

It's important to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon from the American Board of Plastic Surgery, who has extensive, specific abdominoplasty experience, as well as expertise in all areas of abdominal plastic surgery. Board certification requires specific and rigorous surgical education and training. More highly qualified, board-certified surgeons command higher fees, but they can also help ensure that you receive the most appropriate treatment for your condition, employ the most appropriate techniques, increase your odds of success, and reduce the risk of complications.

The type of certification is also important. There are more than 150 self-designated boards, but only a handful that are designated by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), such as the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Be sure to ask your surgeon about surgical training and board certification when you investigate the cost for abdominoplasty.

Payment

As with most cosmetic surgery, many tummy tuck surgeons offer payment plans. If the cost of the procedure is too large for you as a lump sum, ask your surgeon about monthly payments. For financing options and tips, continue reading about Patient Financing.

[page updated April 2008]