A tummy tuck combined with a breast lift typically costs between $9,000 and $20,000 total, though the final number depends heavily on where you live, your surgeon’s experience, and how extensive the work is. When priced separately, surgeon fees alone run $8,000 to $13,500 for a tummy tuck and $6,500 to $11,000 for a breast lift, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ 2024 data. Those figures don’t include facility fees, anesthesia, or other charges, so the all-in price is always higher than the surgeon’s fee alone.
What’s Included in the Total Price
The quoted price for combining these two procedures covers several separate charges that add up quickly. The biggest line item is the surgeon’s fee, but you’ll also pay for the operating facility (whether it’s a hospital or a private surgical center), anesthesia, prescriptions for pain management and antibiotics, medical tests done before surgery, and post-surgery compression garments. If you’re adding breast implants to the lift, that’s another cost on top.
When surgeons quote a combined procedure, they sometimes offer a slight discount compared to booking each surgery separately, since you’re only paying for one round of anesthesia and one facility booking. But this isn’t universal. Always ask for an itemized breakdown so you can see exactly what you’re paying for. A quote that looks low may be missing the facility or anesthesia fees, which can each run into the thousands.
Why Prices Vary So Much
The $9,000 to $20,000 range is wide because several factors push the price up or down. Geography is the biggest one. Surgeons in major metro areas like New York, Los Angeles, and Miami charge significantly more than those in smaller cities or the Southeast and Midwest. A board-certified surgeon with decades of experience and a strong reputation will also charge more than someone newer to practice.
The complexity of your case matters too. A mini tummy tuck on someone close to their goal weight is a shorter, simpler operation than a full abdominoplasty with muscle repair on someone who has lost 80 pounds. Similarly, a breast lift on smaller breasts with mild sagging is less involved than one on larger breasts with significant drooping. More tissue removal, more reshaping, and longer time under anesthesia all increase the bill.
Will Insurance Cover Any of It?
Insurance does not cover cosmetic tummy tucks or breast lifts. Both are classified as elective procedures. Abdominoplasty, repair of separated abdominal muscles, and body contouring are all explicitly excluded from coverage by major insurers like UnitedHealthcare.
There is one narrow exception. A panniculectomy, which removes a large flap of hanging skin and fat from the lower abdomen, can sometimes be classified as medically necessary and covered by insurance. This applies when the overhanging tissue causes chronic skin infections, persistent back pain that hasn’t responded to other treatments, or significant difficulty with daily activities. A panniculectomy is a more limited operation than a full tummy tuck: it removes the excess tissue but doesn’t tighten the abdominal muscles or reposition the belly button. Some patients have a covered panniculectomy and then pay out of pocket for the cosmetic portions of a tummy tuck performed at the same time.
Financing Options
Most plastic surgery practices offer some form of payment plan, and many allow you to apply right in the office. The most common options break down into a few categories.
- Medical credit cards like CareCredit are designed specifically for healthcare expenses. They typically offer 12 to 18 months of no interest, but they use deferred interest, meaning if you don’t pay off the full balance before the promotional period ends, you’ll owe retroactive interest on the entire original amount. That can be a costly surprise.
- Personal loans from lenders like SoFi, LightStream, or PenFed offer fixed monthly payments over a set term. Interest rates range widely, from around 8% to 35%, depending on your credit score. Loan amounts start at $1,000 to $5,000 and go up to $50,000 or $100,000, with repayment terms from one to five years.
- In-office payment plans are sometimes available directly through your surgeon’s practice. These may not charge interest, but they often require faster repayment, which means higher monthly payments.
- Credit cards with 0% introductory APR can work if your credit limit is high enough and you can pay off the balance before the intro period expires, usually 12 to 21 months.
Whichever route you choose, do the math on total interest paid over the life of the loan. A lower monthly payment stretched over five years can cost thousands more than a higher payment over two.
Hidden and Recovery Costs
The surgeon’s quote won’t capture everything you’ll spend. Recovery from a combined tummy tuck and breast lift typically takes four to six weeks before you can return to normal activity, and you’ll need supplies and support during that time.
Compression garments, which you’ll wear for several weeks, can cost $50 to $150 or more. Post-surgery supply kits that include abdominal pads, foam padding, scar treatment tape, and other recovery essentials run roughly $100 to $150. You may need follow-up visits that carry their own copay or fee. And if your job requires physical activity, plan for lost income during recovery, since most surgeons recommend at least two to three weeks off work for desk jobs and longer for anything physical.
Childcare and household help are another real cost that people often overlook. After a tummy tuck, you won’t be able to lift anything heavy, including small children, for several weeks. If you don’t have someone who can help for free, hiring assistance adds to the total.
Getting an Accurate Quote
The only way to know your actual cost is to get consultations from board-certified plastic surgeons. Most charge a consultation fee of $100 to $250, though some apply it toward your surgery if you book. When comparing quotes, make sure each one is all-inclusive: surgeon’s fee, anesthesia, facility, garments, and follow-up visits. A quote that bundles everything is far easier to compare than one that lists only the surgeon’s fee.
Getting two or three consultations in your area gives you a realistic sense of local pricing and lets you evaluate surgeons’ experience and communication style. The cheapest quote isn’t always the best value, and the most expensive one isn’t automatically the best result. Look for a surgeon whose before-and-after photos show outcomes on bodies similar to yours, and who explains clearly what your specific procedure will involve.