The cost of a tummy tuck is often a deciding factor for patients when choosing which plastic surgeon they trust to perform their tummy tuck. When searching for the best plastic surgeon to perform your abdominoplasty, it is important to note that expertise, training, skill, and ensuring the highest level of patient care, safety, cleanliness, and materials are all variables that will affect the overall cost of your tummy tuck.
If the low price for a tummy tuck seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you are hesitant about the low cost of a tummy tuck, you can always do more research by asking questions about the facilities, surgeon’s credentials, and expertise in performing the procedure to make sure the plastic surgeon specializes in tummy tucks and is not cutting any corners. In order to have lower tummy tuck costs, the surgeon may not use the best quality materials or may be compromising the quality of care, service, cleanliness, and safety. Although cheaper plastic surgery may seem financially appealing, plastic surgery is real surgery and you only have one body, so you do not want to bargain when it comes to your safety & appearance.
Since plastic surgery is considered elective cosmetic surgery, tummy tucks are typically not covered by medical insurance. However, tummy tuck surgery involves various costs besides the actual surgical fee for the procedure, such as labs or medications, and some of these costs may be covered by insurance. Typically, the pricing for a tummy tuck and all associated fees is broken down on a formal price quote that is presented to you at the consultation, so you will know exactly what they are paying for before committing to the surgery. We will go over the general breakdown of tummy tuck costs below.
Geographical Location
The cost of a tummy tuck varies greatly depending on the surgeon’s geographical location and the demand for the procedure in that area. The national average cost for a tummy tuck, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, is around $6,000. However, in cities with high demand, like Beverly Hills, the cost of a tummy tuck can range from $12,000 to $50,000.
1. Consultation Fee
The first fee you will pay along your plastic surgery journey is the consultation fee to meet with your plastic surgeon, discuss your goals, and create your surgical plan. Some plastic surgeons do not have consultation fees, but usually, when the consultation is free, you do not meet with the plastic surgeon, you will meet with a nurse or the surgeon’s patient coordinator instead. The consultation fee secures the time and date of your appointment since there are limited consultation spots, and it is typically applied towards the total cost of your abdominoplasty procedure. Every plastic surgery office is different, so it is best to call beforehand and clarify exactly who you will be meeting with at the initial consultation.
2. Abdominoplasty Surgical Fee
The surgical fee or surgeon’s fee is the cost for the surgeon to perform the plastic surgery procedure. There are various factors that can determine the price of the surgical fee such as the surgeon’s expertise, the length of the surgery, the different types of abdominoplasty, and how complex the procedure is. Also, if it is the surgeon’s specialty and how often they perform tummy tucks. The tummy tuck surgical fee is typically the main cost in the quote breakdown since it is the price of the procedure itself.
3. Operating Room and Anesthesia
Plastic surgery is typically performed at a surgery center or hospital. These facilities have fees in order to provide your surgeon with an equipped operating room and staff to perform your tummy tuck, as well as fees to pay the anesthesiologist to administer the anesthesia, and for the anesthesia medication itself. The operating room and anesthesia fees are separate facility costs and are typically charged by the hour, so if your surgery takes longer than the expected time, you will be expected to cover the overage fees. Some hospitals charge flat rates by the procedure for operating room and anesthesia costs, instead of by the hour, so it is best to check in with your plastic surgeon’s office to ask for more details about the facilities they operate at.
4. Post-Operative Surgical Garment
Another cost to keep in mind is the surgical garment you will be wearing after surgery to help facilitate your healing and enhance your results. Some patients purchase more than one garment so it’s easier to wash and dry the garment in-between wears since the post-op garments are typically worn for at least 4-6 weeks after surgery, and you are only supposed to be out of your garment for about a maximum of 30 minutes. The cost of a tummy tuck surgical garment is typically anywhere from a hundred dollars to a couple of hundred dollars depending on the quality of the material and the company that your surgeon prefers for his or her post-op garments.
5. Medications
You will be prescribed a few medications for the post-operative healing stage. Most insurance companies will cover the cost of post-operative prescriptions, even for elective cosmetic surgery, but it will depend on the insurance and your policy. You can always check with your insurance company beforehand so you can calculate the anticipated costs associated with your procedure. Antibiotics are prescribed after plastic surgery procedures to prevent infection, especially if you have drains. Prescription pain medication is also typically prescribed after plastic surgery to help with any pain or discomfort, but it depends on the surgeon. Some plastic surgeons like Dr. Cat Begovic are known for their gentle technique, so Dr. Cat’s patients do not need to take prescription pain medication after tummy tuck surgery, just Tylenol to manage any discomfort.
6. Tummy Tuck Scar Care
After plastic surgery, many patients chose to undergo scar treatment in order to have the least noticeable scar. Scar treatment will vary depending on the size and pigment of the scar, but it can range from topical silicone patches and gel to scar camouflage with medical tattooing.
You can always call your insurance to determine which types of scars and treatments are covered and which will incur out-of-pocket costs.
Tummy Tuck Financing
Payment is due in full before the procedure, but many plastic surgery offices accept financing, meaning you can finance the amount of your procedure upfront and then pay the balance over time, making smaller monthly payments to the finance company. It is always best to check with your plastic surgeon’s office beforehand to see what their payment and financing options are before scheduling.
The Best Tummy Tuck in Beverly Hills
Dr. Cat Begovic is a tummy tuck specialist in Beverly Hills who has an extensive background in performing tummy tuck surgery. Over the years, she has developed her very own special, gentle surgical technique that has little to no pain, a nearly invisible scar, and creates refined, natural-looking tummy tuck results. She has patients that travel from all across the globe to have her signature tummy tuck. She is highly sought after for tummy tuck surgery because of her expertise, attention to detail, and for having the highest standards of safety, and patient care.
Dr. Cat’s patients receive her undivided attention with personalized patient care from start to finish, so her patients heal phenomenally with no complications, which is something you truly can’t put a price on. Dr. Cat mentions “I have had many patients go elsewhere because of price and then 6 months later they call my office saying they went with another surgeon, something got horribly botched and now they are willing to travel to fix it.”
For this reason, Dr. Cat emphasizes the importance of having tummy tuck surgery done correctly the first time because depending on the complexity of the revision, sometimes the errors are irreparable, even for a surgeon like Dr. Cat, who is highly skilled in performing complex revision tummy tucks. You should also consider the cost of medical bills that come with post-op complications. Not to mention, revision surgery is more expensive than the initial procedure because of the complexity. These are all factors to consider when trying to decide on which surgeon you trust to perform your tummy tuck surgery safely and to produce the best possible result. Contact Dr. Cat Plastic Surgery today for a top-rated Abdominoplasty in Beverly Hills!
