Average Tummy Tuck Cost in 2024 - Top Cities and States
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A toned stomach is a coveted yet elusive goal for many women. No amount of crunches or dieting can fix loose skin or stubborn belly fat. That’s why over 160,000 Americans have turned to tummy tucks to achieve the flat, firm midsection they desire [1].
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a popular cosmetic surgery that slims the abdomen. It involves removing excess fat and skin and tightening muscles in the abdominal wall.
If you’re considering this procedure, you may wonder how expensive it is. Many factors influence tummy tuck costs. But according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, you can expect to pay an average of $7,215 [2]. Exact costs vary depending on your city, state, surgeon qualifications, the extent of treatment needed, and other fees.
Tummy Tuck Procedure Cost by City and State
Tummy tuck costs can fluctuate depending on which city and state you live in. Geographic location is a major factor influencing the price.
Here are some average price ranges for a standard tummy tuck in major cities across the countries:
New York City, New York
New York City patients can expect to pay around $14,538 for a tummy tuck. The high cost of living here drives up the investment.
Los Angeles, California
Like New York City, LA is an expensive place to get a tummy tuck. On average, the surgery costs $15,409.
San Francisco, California
San Francisco is another expensive place to live — and it shows in tummy tuck costs. Women pay an average of $18,560 for the procedure here.
San Jose, California
In San Jose, you can expect similar tummy tuck cost averages as NYC — anywhere from $13,500 to $15,000.
Sacramento, California
Sacramento tummy tuck costs are a little more affordable than LA and San Francisco, at $13,130.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is a hot destination for cosmetic surgery. Here, you can get a tummy tuck for $10,733 on average.
Miami, Florida
Tummy tucks in Miami cost around $8,000 on average.
Dallas, Texas
In Dallas, women pay an average of $12,626 to get a tummy tuck.
Houston, Texas
The tummy tuck cost average for Houston is a bit more than Dallas, at $14,554.
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago residents pay an average of $12,462 for abdominoplasty.
Phoenix, Arizona
In Pheonix, it costs around $14,077 to get a tummy tuck.
What Factors Affect the Cost of a Tummy Tuck?
Many variables influence how much you’ll pay for a tummy tuck:
Surgeon's Experience and Reputation
Highly skilled, board-certified surgeons with years of experience command higher fees. Their expertise and exceptional results are worth the investment. Reputable surgeons with higher demand usually also charge more than those who don’t.
Geographic Location
As shown above, where you live significantly impacts prices. The cost of living, competition, and overhead costs all contribute to tummy tuck costs.
Complexity of the Procedure
A full tummy tuck is more complex and time-consuming than a mini-tuck. So, it costs more. The extent of muscle repair and skin removal also affects complexity (and therefore, your investment).
Facility Fees
Operating room and equipment costs may add fees at hospitals, surgery centers, or the surgeon’s facility.
Anesthesia Fees
General anesthesia and monitoring by an anesthesiologist add costs. This fee varies per facility.
How Does a Tummy Tuck Work?
A tummy tuck is a major surgery that requires anesthesia and intricate surgical techniques. It’s a multi-step process to reshape the abdomen by removing excess skin and fat and tightening muscles.
Here’s an overview of what’s involved:
Consultation and Evaluation
You meet with your plastic surgeon and his team to discuss your aesthetic goals and medical history. They examine your abdominal area and assess factors like skin laxity, excess fat, and muscle separation.
During your initial consultation, the surgeon shares a customized treatment plan based on your needs and anatomy. Before you go home, they explain the process in detail so you know what to expect.
Anesthesia
General anesthesia keeps you comfortable and pain-free throughout the procedure, which can take 1-5 hours.
Incision
The surgeon makes a horizontal incision between the belly button and the pubic area. This is usually within the bikini line so it’s hidden by underwear or swimsuits. They make a second incision around the belly button to reposition later.
Repairing the Muscles
The surgeon will tighten and stitch together the abdominal muscles using sutures. This creates a flatter, smoother, and firmer abdominal wall.
Removing Excess Skin
The surgeon trims away excess, loose skin. Then, they’ll drape the remaining skin tautly over the newly contoured area.
Repositioning the Navel
The surgeon repositions the belly button in a natural-looking position on the abdomen.
Closing the Incisions
Once everything looks good, the surgeon closes the incisions with sutures, surgical tape, and possibly skin adhesive.
Drains
Most surgeons place temporary plastic drainage tubes under the skin to prevent fluid buildup after surgery. Excess blood, fluid, and debris drain from the body into attached bulbs over the next couple of weeks.
You empty and measure drains daily while keeping track of the volume drained. Once the output is low enough, the surgeon removes the drains at a follow-up visit.
Initial Recovery
Since the tummy tuck is an outpatient procedure, you go home the same day after a few hours of post-surgery monitoring and recovery. You need someone to drive you home and help you for the first couple of days.
Swelling and bruising with tightness and moderate discomfort in the abdomen area are expected. However, your surgeon will prescribe medication to manage the pain. They’ll also give you helpful pointers for incision care, compression garment use, and limitations on activity.
Plan to take up to a month off work for rest and a smooth recovery. It’s important to keep activities to a minimum during the first week.
Follow-Up Visits
You can expect to return to the surgeon’s office within 1-2 weeks of surgery to monitor your healing. The doctor checks your incisions, changes dressings, and may remove sutures.
Further visits assess your progress with swelling reduction, numbness dissipation, and increasing mobility. Your surgeon will let you know when you can resume normal activities over several weeks.
Types of Tummy Tucks
Several tummy tuck techniques target different areas of the abdomen. They vary in complexity and cost. The best type for you depends on your specific goals, amount of loose skin, and muscle laxity.
Let’s look at 5 common tummy tuck types:
Standard Tummy Tuck
The standard tummy tuck addresses the entire abdominal area — hip to hip.
It involves:
The longest incision
Extensive undermining and muscle repair
Belly button repositioning
Maximum skin removal
It produces the most dramatic results but has the longest scar and potential recovery time. It’s common for women getting a mommy makeover to have a standard tummy tuck. The average cost ranges from $3,000 to $15,000 [3].
Mini Tummy Tuck
A mini-tuck uses a shorter incision and focuses only on the area below the navel. It has less undermining and muscle work. There’s minimal skin removal, so it only addresses mild laxity or looseness near the pubic region.
Mini tummy tucks are best for people in good shape with pockets of lower abdominal fat or mild muscle separation after birth. Recovery is generally faster and scarring is minimal. Costs range from $4,000 to $5,500 on average [4].
Extended Tummy Tuck
An extended tummy tuck includes the standard tummy tuck incisions plus an additional incision to treat flank fat. It’s more complex with longer surgery and recovery. The cost for this procedure depends on the treatment area’s size and the volume of fat. But it can be anywhere from $4,000 to $18,000 on average [5].
Panniculectomy
Panniculectomy removes a hanging abdominal “apron” after major weight loss or bariatric surgery. The apron can cause rashes, infections, and mobility issues. Insurance may cover this functional surgery. Average costs range from $8,500 to $15,000 [6].
Reverse Tummy Tuck
A reverse tummy tuck involves placing the incision under the breasts. It focuses on removing excess skin in the upper abdomen rather than the lower. This tummy tuck type is rarer and average costs are comparable to traditional tummy tuck costs [7].
Recovery After a Tummy Tuck
To ensure proper healing and best results, you must follow your surgeon’s post-op instructions.
Your recovery experience will involve:
Rest and Limited Activity: Avoid abdominal exercises and heavy lifting for 6-8 weeks
Pain Management: Take prescribed medication to control discomfort
Wearing Compression Garments: Wear compression garments to minimize swelling and support healing
Drain Management: Empty surgical drains daily until removal 1-3 weeks later
Wound Care: Clean the incision site daily and apply ointment as directed
Avoiding Strain on Sutures: Avoid heavy lifting, straining, or vigorous exercise that could disturb internal sutures
Monitoring for Complications: Watch for signs of infection, blood clots, or fluid buildup, and contact your surgeon promptly if any occur
Follow-Up Appointments: Attend all follow-up appointments to check incisions, change dressings, and monitor progress
Gradual Return to Normal Activities: Your surgeon will likely give you the green light to resume light activity after 3-4 weeks, driving after 2-3 weeks, and exercise after 4-6 weeks
Scar Care: Apply scar cream as directed by your surgeon to minimize scarring
Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle: Eat nutritious foods and be physically active (when given the green light) to sustain results
Emotional Support: Lean on family and friends to provide comfort during your recovery and transition
Can You Combine a Tummy Tuck With Other Procedures to Save Costs?
Some patients get a tummy tuck with other body contouring procedures at the same time to achieve optimal results.
For example, those getting mommy makeovers may get a breast lift, breast augmentation, and/or liposuction with their tummy tucks. Combining these complementary procedures helps reshape the body for more dramatic improvements.
Having multiple procedures done together allows you to save not only time but money as well. You’d consolidate general anesthesia fees, facility fees, and recovery time. Discuss your options thoroughly with your surgeon to determine if a combined approach makes sense for your needs.
Does Insurance Cover the Tummy Tuck Cost?
Health insurance won’t cover a tummy tuck purely for cosmetic reasons. But in some cases where it’s performed to correct functional impairments or conditions, insurance may provide partial or even full coverage.
After significant weight loss, removing hanging skin can sometimes be medically justified. You may get approved based on symptoms like rashes, pain, and mobility limitations.
Are There Financing Options for a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck can be expensive, but flexible financing makes it more accessible. Many cosmetic surgeons offer payment plans or arrangements through third-party medical financing companies. This allows you to spread payments over months at competitive fixed interest rates.
Surgeons may also run periodic promotions, such as limited-time reduced pricing or free combo procedures. Some practices offer discounts for paying the full cost upfront. Ask your provider about current deals or financing solutions to afford a tummy tuck.
Are Tummy Tucks Worth the Money?
A tummy tuck may be worth the money for women troubled by stubborn belly fat or loose hanging skin that diet and exercise can’t fix. Removing loose skin and repairing weakened muscles can help achieve a flat, toned stomach contour and sleeker physique. Clothes fit better, and many patients feel more comfortable in their bodies.
Tummy Tuck in Southern California | Roham Plastic Surgery
When researching your tummy options in Southern California, consider Roham Plastic Surgery. Our surgical team helps patients achieve stunning, natural-looking results. Dr. Ali Roham is a board-certified specialist with an artistic eye for aesthetics. He customizes each abdominoplasty using advanced techniques to meet unique patient needs.
Past patients rave about the compassionate care and incredible outcomes they’ve received. Learn more by scheduling a consultation. Call (714) 557-0777 (Santa Ana location) or (949) 248-1900 (San Clemente location) to get started on your journey to renewed confidence.
Sources:
1. 2022 Plastic Surgery Statistics Report, Plasticsurgery.org
2. How much does a tummy tuck cost?, American Society of Plastic Surgeons
3. How much does a tummy tuck cost?, AEDIT
4. Mini tummy tuck, AEDIT
5. What to know about an extended tummy tuck, Healthline
6. Panniculectomy Costs, Insurance and Surgery Explained, Care Credit
7. FAQs about a reverse tummy tuck, Verywell Health