Costs and Benefits of a Tummy Tuck
When doing research on what type of cosmetic surgery you want, it is important that you consider what the costs and benefits of the surgery will be. Cosmetic surgery is not inexpensive, and it is important that you know as much information and feel as comfortable as possible before your surgery. A tummy tuck is no exception. So how much does a tummy tuck cost? And what can you expect after a tummy tuck? These are some questions that we will be discussing today to help you have a better idea of what you should expect before you schedule a consultation with Doctor Garrett Wirth.
How Much Do Tummy Tucks Cost?
There is a slight difference in whether you choose to get a mini tummy tuck (corrects a smaller area below the belly button) or a traditional tummy tuck (to contour the entire abdomen), but this difference doesn’t seem to be big enough to consider. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost of a tummy tuck in 2013 was $5,217 but can range up to $12,000. That average does not include anesthesia, operation room facilities, or related expenses like if you were to stay overnight.
The hard part about financing a tummy tuck is that most insurance providers do not cover any of the costs of surgery or any of the complications that may arise post-surgery. There may be some exceptions, but these need to be discussed with Dr. Wirth. This means that the financial responsibility relies solely on you.
Many surgeons—including Dr. Wirth—offer a financing plan to help you pay for your procedure over time. The total cost of your surgery will include:
- Anesthesia fees
- Hospital or surgical facility costs
- Cosmetic insurance
- Medical tests
- Post-surgery garments
- Prescriptions for medication
- Surgeon’s fee
- Potentially other fees depending on where you live and your surgeon
The surgeon’s fee will vary based on your surgeon’s experience, the type of procedure, and your geographic location. Clearly, the better your surgeon the more expensive your surgery, but the location where you receive your surgery can also factor into the cost so make sure you research possible locations.
What to Expect Before and After Surgery
So, after you have financed your tummy tuck, what can you expect before and after surgery? Well, you already know that before surgery you had a protruding stomach or some other contour issue that you just could not get rid of. The question is now, will a tummy tuck solve your problem? It is important that you talk with Dr. Wirth before and look at before-and-after pictures of past patients, as well as discuss your goals of the surgery to confirm that your anatomy and surgical risks are reasonable with your goals and expectations. You want to make sure the results you are wanting will be achieved by the surgery you have chosen.
A tummy tuck surgery is usually an outpatient surgery, but you may want to arrange to spend the night. Immediate results will be seen, but your final results will not be seen for up to several weeks or months because of swelling and bruising of the area. Patients may even need to wear an elastic garment for up to four to six weeks to help reduce swelling and gain maximum benefit for contouring. Every patient recovers differently, so you should speak with Doctor Wirth about your specific case. However, in most cases, patients were back to normal activity after 3 or more weeks. Although, it is recommended that patients avoid strenuous activities for at least six weeks minimum.
Post-surgery it is important to keep a healthy diet and exercise plan (when approved by Dr. Wirth) if you want to keep your results. Surgery alone will not fix your problems forever, even though the abdominal wall will remain tighter from the surgery. Now that you have considered the cost and benefits of surgery you should be able to decide if a tummy tuck is the right option for you. If you have any questions it is recommended that you meet with Dr. Garrett Wirth for an initial consultation to discuss any questions you may have.
Call us Wirth Plastic Surgery by dialing (949) 238-6713, or filling out an online case consultation form here. We look forward to seeing you at our office, conveniently located in Newport Beach!
Tummy Tuck