What Is the Cost of Post-Pregnancy Body Contouring?

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Pregnancy and birth change your body significantly. Some of these changes reverse naturally as your body recovers from childbearing, while others persist no matter how much time passes or how healthy your lifestyle is. Post-pregnancy body contouring is an option for women who wish to address these changes through surgery.

The decision to undergo post-pregnancy surgery is significant personally and financially. As you consider your path forward, we want you to be fully informed about the potential costs involved, so you can make a responsible decision and plan ahead.

This guide contains critical information about the cost of post-pregnancy body contouring in Sydney. For additional information and a personalised quote, request a consultation with Dr Ellis Choy.

What Is Post-Pregnancy Body Contouring?

Post-pregnancy body contouring refers to a combination of surgical procedures designed to address the physical effects of pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. Rather than being a standardised package, it is a customised plan tailored to each patient’s unique concerns.

The most common areas targeted by post-pregnancy body contouring are the breasts and abdomen, as these typically experience most significant changes during the various stages of motherhood. Procedures may include:

What General Costs Are Involved in Plastic Surgery?

The total cost of any plastic surgery procedure is made up of various smaller fees. These typically include:

  • Surgeon’s Fee: This covers your preoperative consultations, the surgery itself and your postoperative care. The fee varies based on your surgeon’s qualifications, experience, location and reputation.
  • Anaesthetist’s Fee: This fee covers the services of the anaesthetist who administers and monitors your anaesthesia during surgery. The cost depends on the type of anaesthesia used and the duration of your procedure.
  • Surgeon’s Assistant Fee: Your surgeon may require an assistant, particularly if it is a longer or more complex operation.
  • Hospital and Facility Fees: This covers the use of the operating theatre, equipment, nursing staff and your hospital stay (if required). These fees tend to be higher in major cities and for procedures requiring an overnight stay.
  • Medications: You may need medications before surgery as part of your preparation, as well as after surgery for pain management and infection prevention.
  • Recovery Supplies: You might need special compression garments, dressings or other products to support your recovery.

How Do Different Post-Pregnancy Procedures Affect the Cost?

Each procedure included in your post-pregnancy body contouring plan will affect the overall cost.

Breast Procedures

  • Breast Lift: A breast lift elevates the breasts by removing excess skin and repositioning the underlying tissue. This procedure typically starts from $9,000. Ranges from $9000 to $16000
  • Breast Augmentation: If you are looking to increase breast size, breast augmentation with implants generally ranges from $9,000-$15,000.
  • Breast Reduction: A breast reduction can alleviate the physical discomfort of very large breasts. This procedure typically costs between $12,000 and $20,000.

Abdominoplasty

Abdominoplasty (commonly called a tummy tuck) removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen while repairing separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti). The cost of abdominoplasty in Sydney typically ranges from $20,000 to over $30,000.

Liposuction

Liposuction can reduce fat deposits in various areas, including the abdomen, flanks, thighs and arms. The cost varies based on the number of areas treated, starting from approximately $4,000 per area.

Labiaplasty 

Labiaplasty improves the symmetry of the inner labia (minora) and helps resolve health issues like difficulty maintaining hygiene or pain during intercourse. In Sydney, the cost can range from $4,000 to $10,000. 

Does Medicare Cover Post-Pregnancy Body Contouring in Australia?

Medicare coverage for post-pregnancy body contouring is limited.

In general, procedures performed solely for aesthetic enhancement are classified as cosmetic and not covered by Medicare. However, certain aspects of post-pregnancy body contouring may qualify for Medicare benefits under specific conditions.

Abdominoplasty

Medicare provides an item number (30175) for abdominoplasty for postpartum patients with diastasis recti (separation of abdominal muscles). To qualify, you must:

  • Have documented evidence of diastasis recti of at least 3cm on clinical imaging
  • Be at least 12 months post-pregnancy
  • Have tried nonsurgical treatment unsuccessfully
  • Be experiencing significant discomfort or functional impairment

Breast Reduction

Breast reduction may be eligible for Medicare coverage (under item numbers 45520, 45522 or 45523) if:

  • Your breasts are causing documented physical symptoms
  • Conservative measures have failed to alleviate these symptoms
  • A certain amount of tissue will be removed during the procedure

For both procedures, your surgeon must provide evidence that the surgery is medically necessary, not just of interest cosmetically.

Does Private Health Insurance Cover Post-Pregnancy Body Contouring?

Private health insurance may cover certain components of post-pregnancy body contouring, but only if they qualify for a Medicare item number. The level of coverage depends on your specific insurance policy. Generally, you’ll need mid to top-tier hospital cover to receive benefits for plastic surgery procedures.

Even with Medicare and private health insurance, you’ll likely have out-of-pocket expenses for post-pregnancy plastic surgery. Before scheduling surgery, you should contact your health fund to confirm what’s covered under your policy and what your out-of-pocket expenses might be.

The Final Tally: What Is the Cost of Post-Pregnancy Body Contouring in Sydney?

The total cost of post-pregnancy body contouring varies based on the specific procedures you choose and whether any components qualify for Medicare and private health insurance coverage.

When multiple procedures are performed together, you only pay certain fees once, such as facility fees and anaesthesia costs. However, the total price will still be higher than having any single procedure.

As a general estimate:

  • For a breast procedure combined with abdominoplasty: $30,000-$40,000
  • For a comprehensive post-pregnancy body contouring plan that includes breast surgery, abdominoplasty and liposuction: $40,000+

Please note that these figures are averages only. For a quote tailored to your specific circumstances, you must have a consultation with Dr Choy. This is when you will receive a detailed Cost/Payment Schedule that outlines all costs associated with your proposed surgical plan.

Meet With Dr Ellis Choy to Discuss Your Post-Pregnancy Body Contouring Procedure

Dr Ellis Choy is a fully qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeon in Sydney with extensive experience in post-pregnancy body contouring. 

To schedule your consultation with Dr Choy and receive a personalised quote for your procedure, please call (02) 8962 9388 or request a consultation online. We look forward to discussing the possibilities with you.


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