How Much Does a Tummy Tuck Cost?

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By Carole Vansickle
eHow Contributing Writer

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A tummy tuck, also called an abdominoplasty, involves removing excess fat and skin from the abdominal area. The result is a flatter stomach and, in many cases, more defined muscle structure. Tummy tucks are often used to restore the look of the stomach after pregnancy or extreme weight loss.

Function

The Results of a Tummy Tuck
The purpose of a tummy tuck is to flatten the stomach and get rid of excess fat and skin. However, depending on how much surgery this process will require, the costs can fluctuate dramatically. Costs are mainly impacted by the local market, whether the procedure is combined with other procedures and your personal health.

Considerations

Tummy tucks can be time consuming to recover from, so you have to factor in the amount of money that time off work will cost you as well as the cost of the actual procedure. Also, if you expect to need full-time care during part or all of your recovery, you will need to include the wages of this person in your cost estimate. Also, you will not be able to be very active following the procedure, so you may need help with children as well, which can add to overall costs. Your insurance company may also raise your premiums even though tummy tucks are generally not covered because they can impact your future health.

Types

There are several different types of tummy tucks, and the type that you get can dramatically impact the price. Mini tucks do not take as much time and do not usually involve fat removal. They are the least expensive at around $3000. Traditional tucks are "mid-range," coming in somewhere between $4,000 and $7,000. Extended tummy tucks, which involve major changes and reconstruction, can cost $10,000 or more.

Benefits

One of the major benefits of a tummy tuck is that if you watch what you eat and how you exercise, the results are permanent. Unlike liposuction, which may only temporarily change your natural shape, tummy tucks are legitimately a one-time expense, assuming that you maintain the results. As a result, you do not need to factor in maintenance costs as you might need to with breast augmentations, for example, which often require replacements or upgrades in the future.

Features

You should be aware of the features involved in the cost of a tummy tuck to make sure that you are not surprised when you get to the doctor's office and write the check. Sixty to 80 percent of the cost will be the surgeon's fee. Pre- and post-operative care may or may not be included in this fee, depending on where the surgery will be performed. Anesthesia is generally not included in the surgeon's fee, so if it is not itemized on your price you need to verify that it has been factored in. Also, you need to allow for the fact that you may have complications that require a hospital stay or more surgery. Do not get a tummy tuck if you cannot afford to care for yourself after the fact.

Time Frame

Tummy tucks are a fairly invasive procedure and involve a fair amount of aggressive changes to your body. As a result, you should plan to miss at least 2 weeks of work, and potentially as many as 4. If you have a physically demanding job, you may need even more time off. If you are in poor physical condition, it will pay off for you to get healthier before you have surgery.