Is muscle plication repair included in the cost of a full tummy tuck?

Thanks for your question. In my practise this is true in 98% of cases and muscle plication is included as part of the procedure and there is no extra fee. Nearly all my female post-pregnancy patients need muscle plication. In instances where there is severe muscle weakness and a large muscle gap ( over 6cm ) then additional measures may be required such as using a mesh or an additional layer of sutures - in which case I would mention an additional fee to address this problem. This is however only how I and the colleagues that I know, work. The way a fee is put together may vary from region to region and country to country.

The vast majority of patients who are candidates for a tummy tuck will benefit from muscle plication. For this reason most surgeons consider this part of the standard procedure and may reduce the fee if this is not necessary. Less commonly, some surgeons will have a baseline tummy tuck that does not include muscle plication and add the extra cost when this is done.

Thank you for your question. Typically a full tummy tuck would include the muscle plication. With that being said each surgeon can charge how they want to charge for the procedures they are doing. I would suggest speaking with your surgeon's staff to understand their process better. Best of luck to you.

Every surgeon charges different for procedures. Some will charge an all in one price and some won't. Not everyone that needs a tummy tuck needs their muscles tightened so that's why most charge an additional fee

Each surgeon sets their own pricing. There is no standardization. While it is common that a full tummy tuck includes the cost of muscle repair, it is not guaranteed. A full tummy tuck removes unwanted fat, tightens loose skin and repairs abdominal muscle separation above and below the belly button. However, not every tummy tuck includes all of these things. It is entirely dependant on the patient’s goals.

I think most practices would consider the muscle plication as a part of the tummy tuck procedure. Buyer beware if your surgeon is trying to nickel and dime you. As always, be sure to research who does your procedure to increase your chances of having a good outcome.

In our Seattle practice, the price quote includes all components of the particular procedure that has been discussed with a patient - in the case of tummy tuck surgery - the price quote includes muscle plication, which is done in most of the tummy tucks that we do.

A TT addresses both the loose skin and the lax abdominal wall as to give a nice, flat youthful contour to the abdomen. TT without muscle repair may make the recovery easier, but, if you have laxity in that area, the result will be better with plication. In general, the muscles should be brought to anatomic norms. The smaller the separation, the less tightening required and the less discomfort. Almost every patient requiring a TT will benefit from the muscle repair with a more youthful belly button and a scar along the lower public region. If the waist was smaller at one time, the waist can likely be reduced to those same measurements or smaller provided the muscular and fascial integrity has remained the same. The price of a TT at my AAAASF accredited surgery center includes plication.

In my practice we include muscle repair as a routine part of a tummy tuck. However, the reason why some may not is that not every patient requires or benefits from it.

It depends on the surgeon. I throw it in as part of the tummy tuck. I’m sure others charge separately so they can get more money out of it.