Personal Finance and Healthcare Expert
If you're considering cosmetic surgery, such as a tummy tuck, there's a lot to consider. We explain what a tummy tuck involves and how much you can expect to pay so you can make an informed choice.
A tummy tuck is a cosmetic surgical procedure that aims to give patients a more toned stomach and an improved appearance. It's also known as abdominoplasty surgery and can help improve patients' self-esteem and confidence. Depending on the patient's needs, there are two different types of tummy tuck surgery, but each can remove excess skin and fat and provide tighter abdominal muscles.
A tummy tuck can help various patients with excess skin and loose muscles. Patients can be left with loose skin and stretch marks after pregnancy or weight loss, particularly if they've lost a lot of weight. A tummy tuck can remove excess skin to improve the overall appearance.
Some patients also experience diastasis recti, where the abdominal muscles stay separated after pregnancy and cause a bulging stomach. A tummy tuck can tighten loose muscles.
While a tummy tuck can remove excess fat, it isn't weight loss surgery. Most surgeons will only perform abdominoplasty surgery on patients with a healthy BMI, meaning it's ideal for patients left with excess skin after weight loss but not those who still have a lot of weight to lose.
All surgery carries some risks, meaning it's vital you fully understand the risks and benefits to make an informed choice about your treatment. If you're considering a tummy tuck procedure, think about how you hope to benefit from the surgery and how your current condition impacts your life. Speak to your chosen surgeon to understand the risks of tummy tuck surgery and what results you can expect to achieve. After your initial consultation, your surgeon will typically offer a short cooling-off period so you can consider whether to proceed before booking your surgery date.
Liposuction can be an alternative to a tummy tuck if you have excess fat but not loose skin. Physiotherapy treatment can also help improve muscle tone and strengthen your core.
You can talk to a counsellor or psychologist to improve your self-esteem. You could conclude that you don't need surgery at all. Alternatively, it could help you assess the risks and benefits of surgery to make an informed choice.
Your GP can refer you for physiotherapy and counselling; most private health insurance policies also cover some treatment sessions.
Cosmetic surgery is only available on the NHS in limited circumstances. You may be eligible for NHS care if a cosmetic issue causes psychological distress or physical symptoms. For example, a breast reduction can relieve back pain.
You'll likely need to pay for a private tummy tuck. However, this has its advantages. NHS waiting times can be lengthy, while you can typically book a private consultation quickly and receive a surgery date soon after. Private hospitals will always give you a private room, and they often have hotel-style facilities such as en-suite bathrooms and chef-prepared meals.
When you have a private tummy tuck, you can choose a surgeon and hospital to perform the operation. This gives you more choice, but it can be overwhelming, so consider your priorities before you start investigating your options.
It would be best if you found a surgeon with the right experience and training. You may prefer to travel further to see a consultant with an excellent track record of performing tummy tuck surgery. The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) and the British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) have search functions to help you find a member near you. You can learn about their membership requirements on the BAAPS and BAPRAS websites. The CQC provides inspection reports for hospitals and clinics on its website.
You might also want a hospital with specific facilities or one close to home so your loved ones can visit.
Find out more about choosing a consultant.
Many tummy tuck surgeons operate at dedicated private clinics that focus solely on cosmetic surgery procedures. They'll typically offer various surgeries and treatments provided by specialist staff.
Alternatively, you can choose a private hospital that offers a broader range of treatments. These include hospitals run by some of the UK's largest private healthcare providers, such as Bupa, Spire and Nuffield Health. Many surgeons carry out private treatment alongside their NHS work. They may offer appointments at several private hospitals, meaning you can choose the one you prefer.
Some NHS hospitals have private units on site that operate separately from the main hospital. This lets you go to your local NHS hospital but pay privately for your care, which is a great option if you live near a specialist centre or your nearest hospital has excellent safety ratings and patient reviews.
We researched private surgery costs across the UK and found that tummy tuck prices range from £6,500 to £9,500. Tummy tuck costs vary widely depending on your chosen hospital and clinical factors, so it's a good idea to get quotes from several hospitals before choosing. It also makes it challenging to obtain detailed information about the cost of a tummy tuck.
Hospital location significantly impacts your tummy tuck cost as it influences the hospital's expenses, including wages and rent. However, cosmetic surgery costs can also differ between providers depending on their business structure and how much they invest in new technologies, medication and staff training.
If your chosen surgeon has decades of training and experience, you'll likely pay more in consultant fees to benefit from their expertise. Before deciding who to choose, it's a good idea to get several quotes and see what's included.
You can read more about the factors that influence private surgery costs here.
As we've mentioned, a hospital's location is often the most significant factor in cosmetic surgery costs. Hospitals in central London typically have the highest prices, with other major cities coming in a close second.
The figures above suggest a national average of around £8,000 for a tummy tuck. However, we've been unable to find published figures for tummy tuck in hospitals in London, which could mean the average is higher. The highest prices were £9,447 in Norwich and £9,030 in York. The lowest was £6,500 in Livingston, Scotland, which was £1,200 cheaper than Edinburgh, just up the road. Interestingly, average prices are higher in the north of England and West Midlands than in the South East.
Private healthcare providers' costs vary depending on factors including their overheads and business structure. We found tummy tuck prices for 12 hospitals in the UK operating as part of large private healthcare groups. Circle Group had the lowest price at £7,000, however only provided information for one hospital in Glasgow, meaning you may find higher costs elsewhere in the UK.
Elsewhere, we found average prices of £8,631 at Nuffield, £8,451 at Spire and £7,961 at Ramsay hospitals. We must stress that prices vary across the UK so always do your own research with hospitals in your local area.
Choose Wellsoon and get back to what matters most to you.
If you're considering tummy tuck surgery now you've seen how much it'll likely cost, you're probably wondering about the best way to pay. There are two options to choose from.
Tummy tuck procedures usually involve an overnight stay in the hospital. Your surgeon will explain what the procedure involves, how you need to prepare for your tummy tuck and what to expect while you recover so you can plan. Here's our guide to tummy tuck procedures and what happens before, during and after surgery.
Your preparations before your tummy tuck help reduce the risk of complications during surgery and your recovery afterwards.
Infection and blood clots are one of the main risks of any surgical procedure, so your surgeon will likely advise you to give up smoking before your tummy tuck to reduce the risk of a wound infection. Taking the contraceptive pill can increase the risk of blood clots, so they may advise you to stop taking it around a month before your operation.
A tummy tuck is usually more effective on people with a healthy BMI, so weight loss is also a good idea to get you as close as possible to your ideal weight. This also reduces the risk of post-operative complications.
Finally, you'll need to stop eating and drinking a few hours before surgery to reduce the risks associated with anaesthesia. You may also need to wear compression stockings to help prevent blood clots.
There are several types of tummy tuck procedures, but they're generally either a full tummy tuck or a mini tummy tuck. Your surgeon will recommend the best type based on a patient's physical requirements, such as the amount of excess skin and fat that needs removing and the size of the scar. A tummy tuck procedure typically takes around three hours and is carried out under general anaesthetic, so you'll be asleep during your tummy tuck.
During a full tummy tuck, the surgeon will cut along the bikini line and round the belly button to tighten the muscles and remove excess skin and fat. Then, they'll pull the skin down and make a further incision to ensure the belly button is in the right place. The procedure leaves scars where the incisions have been made.
A mini tummy tuck suits patients with less excess skin and fat. It only requires an incision along the bikini line, so there's usually less noticeable scarring.
After your tummy tuck procedure, you can expect to spend up to three days in the hospital. You'll have dressings over your wound and a drip in your arm to deliver fluids and medication such as painkillers. Depending on the technique your surgeon used for your tummy tuck, you may also need tubes to drain any fluid away from your wound.
If you have drains in place, your medical team will usually remove them before you go home. Your drip can also come out when you're up to drinking fluids regularly. Before you return home, your doctors will advise you on how to look after your wound and what will happen with your stitches. Some stitches dissolve by themselves; if not, you'll need to return to the hospital so staff can remove them.
When you're ready to go home, you'll need someone to drive you and, ideally, stay with you for at least 24 hours.
You'll likely feel sore after your tummy tuck, so it's important to take it easy and avoid straining your tummy muscles. Your surgeon may advise a couple of days in bed when you first return home, but getting up and about can aid your recovery. You'll usually need to wear compression garments such as a corset to help the swelling go down and reduce your pain. You can also take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol. Your surgeon will likely recommend that you sleep with your knees raised rather than lying flat on your back and roll onto your side as you get up to avoid straining your stomach muscles.
Most patients recover in around six weeks, but everyone's different.
After your tummy tuck, you can expect to feel some pain and find it difficult to stand up straight. You'll have bruising, which will fade, and scarring, which will be raised and red initially but will fade over time. A tummy tuck often involves cutting through nerves, meaning you might feel numbness around your scar site. This can improve, but some people find it never completely resolves.
Every surgical procedure carries a risk of complications, including excessive bleeding, a reaction to the anaesthetic, infection or blood clots. Some people experience permanent, prominent scarring.
A tummy tuck can sometimes leave you looking asymmetrical or with loose skin and fat between your scar and belly button, meaning you need additional surgery. There's also a risk of nerve damage, resulting in permanent pins and needles or numbness.
Sepsis is a rare but potentially fatal infection that causes chills, shortness of breath, low energy, sickness and diarrhoea, and a rash that doesn't go away when rolled under a glass. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
Depending on your job, you'll need four to six weeks off work after surgery. Your surgeon can advise you based on your circumstances and the type of work you do.
You must avoid heavy lifting, which could strain your stomach muscles, for about 12 weeks. If your job involves manual labour, you'll likely need a longer absence and may need some time on light duties.
Most people can start driving within two to four weeks of a tummy tuck, but others need longer. Some movements can strain your stomach muscles and risk damage to your stitches, which could cause infection. You must be able to carry out an emergency stop, use the steering wheel and turn to check your blind spot comfortably before driving. Your surgeon can guide you. It's also worth speaking to your insurance company to check their guidelines on driving after surgery so it doesn't affect your coverage.
Rest will help your recovery after a tummy tuck, but you can gradually build up to your usual activities. Start with gentle movements such as walking around the house and making drinks. You can gradually build up to longer walks. Your physiotherapist may also give you some exercises to strengthen your abdominal muscles. You should avoid sit-ups for at least six weeks and intense exercise or heavy lifting for around 12 weeks.
If you're planning a holiday abroad, check with your surgeon and chosen airline to see if it's safe for you to fly. Most airlines have guidelines on flying after surgery, which can vary. Surgical procedures can also impact your travel insurance coverage, so let your insurer know. NHS guidance includes advice on travelling abroad for plastic surgery, an increasingly popular option. They recommend avoiding plane travel for seven to ten days after a tummy tuck.
MyTribe guides are designed to provide general advice to help you understand your private healthcare options, but they're no substitute for specialist advice. If you're considering a tummy tuck or any other cosmetic procedure, speak to your doctor to weigh up the pros and cons. While health insurance doesn't usually cover cosmetic surgery, it can provide access to high-quality private healthcare. If you'd like to find out more, contact us for a comparison quote.
Disclaimer: This information is general and what is best for you will depend on your personal circumstances. Please speak with a financial adviser or do your own research before making a decision.
Kirsty is a personal finance and healthcare expert who enjoys demystifying legal and insurance topics for a wider audience. She’s a former solicitor with a personal injury and insurance background.
