Medically reviewed by Dr. John Rosdeutscher – Written by Sine Thieme
How Much Does a Tummy Tuck Cost?
Tummy tuck prices at NuBody Concepts Nashville and Memphis start at $10,500. Your precise quote will depend on the scope of work and type of tummy tuck. After a personal consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon at either of our practices, you will receive a personalized quote.
We would like to point out that it is important to know what goes in your cost estimate before you compare prices between different providers, as each might price the procedure differently. Below we are going to examine the factors to consider when budgeting for a tummy tuck.
Average Cost of a Tummy Tuck
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the average cost of a tummy tuck is $6,092. According to Realself, the cost of a tummy tuck – also called abdominoplasty – ranges from $3,175 to $13,250.
All-Inclusive Pricing vs Fees & Surcharges
Why does it look so expensive on Realself? The reason is that Realself shows the range of what patients paid, while the ASPS averages surgeon fees, pointing out that these fees “do not include anesthesia, operating room facilities or other related expenses.” Needless to say, adding such fees can easily double the price.
When you compare tummy tuck price quotes, make sure you understand what is included and what isn’t. Some providers include the facility fee or anesthesia in the price, and others don’t.
At NuBody Concepts, every abdominoplasty price quote is all-inclusive. What you see is your final price – no hidden fees, surcharges, or taxes. If you need a compression garment for your recovery, it is included in your price. In addition, we apply your surgeon consultation fee to the cost of your procedure. The only expense not included in your NuBody price quote is the cost of your prescription drugs. You may also purchase additional compression garments from us if you’d like to have a spare.
IV Sedation vs General Anesthesia
We mentioned anesthesia fees above. Tummy tucks can be – and often are – performed in a hospital setting under general anesthesia. While this has some advantages for the surgeon, we recommend against it. General anesthesia requires intubation and carries higher risks than so-called IV sedation. It also typically results in a longer recovery. And lastly, it is more costly and will increase the price of your procedure.
IV sedation is perfectly adequate for tummy tuck surgery. It can be timed precisely to the length of your procedure and is easy to recover from. It allows a plastic surgeon to perform your tummy tuck as an outpatient procedure and does not require a hospital setting. All these factors help to keep the cost of the procedure affordable without affecting the results.
When asking for a tummy tuck price quote, make sure you understand whether the plastic surgeon would operate on you in a hospital or in a private operating suite in his or her practice. Your savings when having a tummy tuck in a plastic surgery practice versus a hospital could be substantial.
Surgeon Experience
Not all plastic surgeons are created equal. A board-certified plastic surgeon with many years of experience will probably be more pricey than a younger, more inexperienced surgeon. Surgeon experience is a good indicator of the results you are likely to get. It’s always a good idea to make sure a plastic surgeon has performed many procedures such as you are looking for. If a plastic surgeon mainly performs mini tummy tucks without any belly button work, you might not want to have him or her restore your belly button. If you’re not sure, it’s best to ask for before and after pictures of patients who most closely align with your size and body type.
Any research you can do ahead of time will pay off later. If you are unhappy with your results and need to have the area reworked, your overall cost will be higher than if you had just picked the best-suited surgeon, even if there were lower-priced options.
We invite you to meet our plastic surgeon with over 25 years of cosmetic surgery experience, Dr. John Rosdeutscher, our double-board certified plastic surgeon in Nashville and Chief Medical Officer of NuBody Concepts.
Tummy Tuck Cost by Geographic Area
The cost of abdominoplasty – and the cost of cosmetic surgery in general – may vary based on geographic location, often by a lot. In regions of the country with a higher cost of living, such as the New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles Metropolitan areas, you could easily pay $18,000 for a standard tummy tuck that might cost you only $9,000 in Nashville or Memphis.
Other countries besides the United States may offer even lower prices. A lively cosmetic surgery tourism to Mexico, India, or Turkey does exist. However, if you want to be sure that safety protocols as established by the ASPS and other organizations are adhered to, the United States is your best option.
You may prefer to undergo plastic surgery close to home where you have support during your recovery. But if you are on a tight budget, consider having your tummy tuck in Nashville, TN or a similar lower-cost area for plastic surgery. You won’t sacrifice your safety or the quality of the results and could save thousands in cost. Please make sure to ask us about information for out-of-town patients.
Tummy Tuck Financing and Payment Options
Once you have established a tummy tuck price and compared different providers, it’s time to look for financing. Of course it’s possible to pay for it upfront, but there is also the option to spread the payments over up to 12 months. This can make a big difference in affordability.
Most plastic surgeons work with medical financing companies who offer interest-free payment plans. Which plan you pick, together with your credit score, will determine your overall budget for a tummy tuck.
Check out our Payment Options for a free credit score check and to find a payment plan you qualify for. A minimum credit score of approximately 600 is necessary to qualify for medical financing from one of our four approved lenders. Each lender varies slightly in its credit score cutoff, so you might try several providers if the first one doesn’t work out. Once you schedule a consultation with our plastic surgeon, we encourage you to bring your lender paperwork with you for easy processing.
Please also note that as an elective procedure a tummy tuck is not generally covered by health insurance plans.
Cost of Different Tummy Tuck Types
Which type of tummy tuck you are getting will greatly affect the cost of your procedure. The more elaborate your procedure, the longer it will take. This will increase the cost of the surgeon and the anesthesia.
Cost of a Standard Tummy Tuck
The most common type of tummy tuck is a standard tummy tuck. It is easiest to compare prices when comparing the cost of a standard tummy tuck between different providers. However, most often a plastic surgeon will customize your procedure to accommodate your specific situation and your goals. If you have only slight skin laxity and no muscle damage, a mini tummy tuck may be all you need. If you have gone through multiple pregnancies or lost substantial weight after obesity, your tummy tuck may need to encompass repair of your abdominal muscles (a condition called diastasis recti) and redesign of your belly button to an aesthetically pleasing shape.
Tummy Tuck with Liposuction or Skin Tightening
It is also quite common to add liposuction and/or radio frequency assisted lipolysis to a tummy tuck to remove additional pockets of fat and tighten the skin in adjoining areas. Rather than pricing the liposuction as a separate procedure, you should be able to see some cost benefits from combining it with your tummy tuck. The same is true if you add a breast augmentation, breast lift, or breast reduction to your tummy tuck. Such procedures are also known as mommy makeovers.
We hope that we’ve given you a better understanding about the cost of a tummy tuck. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any other questions.
If you are ready to get started, use the pink button to schedule a consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeon in Nashville or Memphis.
References:
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons: How Much Does a Tummy Tuck Cost?
- Realself: How Much Does a Tummy Tuck Cost?
