More and more people these days are overweight and looking for solutions to help with their appearance and health. One way to improve the appearance of your stomach is to have a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) done. A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a surgery that shrinks an individual’s stomach through tightening the abdominal wall. You may have considered this procedure yourself but wonder about tummy tuck prices. How much will this cost you?
According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (www.surgery.org), in 2008 the U.S. national average price of a tummy tuck was $5,470. This was the fee for the surgeon and does not include other fees that can be charged such as anesthesia, facility fees and other hospital or surgical costs. The cost will vary depending on the surgeon who does the procedure, the geographical area in which you live or have the surgery performed, your health, weight, age, and other factors. Tummy tuck pricing can range anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 or so. A tummy tuck is generally considered to be cosmetic and therefore not usually covered by health insurance, unless there is a hernia or other medical issue where it is required.
As you can see the procedure is not cheap and can vary quite a bit, so you will need to do some thorough research upfront to determine the cost. You may be able to save a substantial amount of money by shopping around and comparing prices amongst various surgeons or even consider having surgery outside the local area where you live. However, do keep in mind that when it comes to any type of surgery, including cosmetic surgery, you should never choose by just price alone. You need to make sure the surgeon you choose is qualified so that you will get the results you want and not endanger your health.
Keep in mind that the initial prices that you are quoted for a tummy tuck may only cover the surgeon’s fees and not the other surgery or hospital costs. Make sure when you are comparing prices from different surgeons that you are taking into account all of the costs and not just the surgeon’s fee.
The best way to get accurate tummy tuck prices is to have a consultation with the surgeon or their staff to go over your individual needs and review your options. Make sure you get a quote that includes all of the costs. Also be sure to check on the surgeon to make sure they are qualified and have a positive history in performing tummy tucks before making your final decision.