What U.S. city offers the most affordable plastic surgery? I would like to have a circumferential tummy tuck.

Question

The Drs I have seen have prices from $12,000 on up. I'd like to stay under $10,000. If the quality and price is right I would travel within the U.S.

Jaime S. Schwartz, MD, FACS · Answer

I appreciate
your question.

Cost varies
by geographic location, surgeon expertise, OR time, anesthesia, length of
procedure etc.  I would recommend that you go to The American Society of
Plastic Surgery website and look for a list of board certified plastic surgeons
in your area.  You can call their offices in advance and ask for quotes
prior to scheduling consultations.

The best way
to assess and give true advice would be an in-person exam.

Please see a
board-certified plastic surgeon that specializes in aesthetic and restorative
plastic surgery.

Best of luck!

Dr. Schwartz

Board
Certified Plastic Surgeon

Director-Beverly
Hills Breast and Body Institute

#RealSelf100Surgeon

Hampton A. Howell, MD · Answer

Hi.  I would caution you against going for the cheapest you can find.  You should factor in distance from your surgeon, as that will impact your follow-up care.  If you are within reasonable driving distance, for instance, that lends itself to appropriate follow-up care and appointments, etc.  If you have to fly back to see your surgeon, that presents challenges and significant expense.  I would recommend consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon to go over the options.  I would be happy to see you in consultation if that would be helpful.  Good luck and take care, Dr. Howell

Erik Miles, MD, FACS · Answer

Cost is obviously always a factor when considering an elective cosmetic procedure.  However it should not be the deciding factor.  It always amazes me that people will spend $40,000 on a car without thinking twice, yet they will try to penny pinch when it comes to selecting a surgeon to perform a major operation that will have life long lasting effects on their body.  There are many plastic surgery "bargains "out there.  I'm sure you can find a gynecologist or a dentist to do your circumferential body lift if you look hard enough. You can also travel to a third world  country to have a practitioner with unknown credentials do your surgery.  These are all options for you. Traveling out of the city for your surgery also has added risks. You will not be near your surgeon for follow-up appointments. It will be inconvenient for you to be evaluated  if you have complications. You may also have to rely on other surgeons who did not do your surgery to manage these complications. In many cases, this can cost even more money in the long run.Do yourself a favor. Seek a consultation from an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon. These are the highest trained physicians who will give you the best chance of having a successful outcome.  Yes you have to be comfortable with the price. However if the price is not right at this time it will likely be better for you to simply wait until you have a little bit more money to have the procedure done.  There are many payment plan options available in most plastic surgeon's offices. Best wishes to you!

Gaurav Bharti, MD, FACS · Answer

Prices for these services vary based on different practices and geographic location. Pick your surgeon wisely. At the end of the day you can't put a price on your health and wellness. Good luck.

Steven J. Rottman, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question. It is worth having multiple consultations to evaluate cost variation among surgeons in your area. The cost for a tummy tuck commonly ranges from $8,000 - $11,000. Choose a board certified plastic surgeon based upon experience and the results he or she can deliver, not just on cost alone. Hope this helps and good luck with your procedure.

Melinda Lirag Lacerna-Kimbrell, MD, FACS · Answer

If you're willing to travel to stay under a certain price, it may be worth it to go with the $12k price and stay closer to home. A belt lipectomy that you're referring to, is highly invasive and you need to have extensive follow ups for close to 2 months after surgery. Being out of town can complicate that and become very costly.Thank you for your question and good luck!Melinda Lacerna, MD FACS

J. Garrett Harper, MD · Answer

Yes competition can drive prices down by the economic law of supply and demand.  Charlotte happens to have the 2nd highest plastic surgeon per capita ratio in the country (only Las Vegas is higher), so I would think costs are held in check pretty well here.  Circumferential tummy tucks are not your average everyday surgery for a plastic surgeon- there are lots of things to consider and plan for with this surgery and not all plastic surgeons feel comfortable doing them and quite frankly, that's a good thing.  Amount of tissue to excise, where to plan incisions to have scars end up where they need to, staging for surgeries to come...many things come into play with this surgery.  Your surgeon is basically doing the same procedure (albeit the front is a little more involved with abdominal musculature, etc) on your front side, your back side and your sides- all the while needing to plan for how to get the scars to end up on the same level (under your bikini line).  Remember- you pay for what you get.  Make sure you see before and afters and go to a plastic surgeon that can deliver you the results you deserve!  Hope this helps.-JGH

Victor Ferrari, MD, FACS · Answer

Yes, there are some slight regional differences in prices depending on where you live, but the overall idea is that price and quality go hand in hand.  High quality at a low  price do not coexist regardless of what city you consider.  In cities where there is a lot of competition, you will find lower prices, but that's because some surgeons are struggling to survive and make a living.  It's the same as going to the cheapest hair salon in town and "hoping" to get a nice haircut.   Do you really want to save a little money, but risk a bad outcome?  Plus, if you have a bad outcome and need more surgery, then your costs will quickly escalate and you may end up paying double in the long run (plus the extra time off work).  My advice would be to save up and get a good plastic surgeon to do your surgery.  Best wishes!

Robert H. Hunsaker, MD · Answer

Costs vary regionally. Competition is a large determinate of price since this procedure is not covered by insurance. Thus, it makes sense that where there is a higher concentration/number of qualified plastic surgeons fees tend to be lower. In addition, a city with a lower cost-of-living helps to keep costs lower. For instance, here in the Miami area fee are held down quite a lot because of the number of qualified/experienced surgeons here. Go just a few counties away and the fees rise quite a lot.While being cost-conscious is wise, remember to "shop the doctor, not the price".

Gregory Sexton, MD · Answer

The best way to answer that question is to randomly call some surgeons in cities you are considering, and check prices. After getting 3 or 4 reasonable quotes, make sure you do your research of the surgeon. As a starting point, in Columbia, S.C. we charge $8600 for an extended abdominoplasty, and a circumferential I think is $10,600 for everything, but you can call my office and they will give you exact prices.Good luck,Greg Sexton, M.D.Columbia, S.C.803 252-6222

What U.S. city offers the most affordable plastic surgery? I would like to have a circumferential tummy tuck.

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