Hey guys,

I've tried to google this without much success :help:

But I am seriously considering that I will need to have a tummy tuck or apron removal or some kind of lower body/tummy surgery once I get to goal. The skin on my lower tummy is ruined by stretch marks and just won't snap back. Its pretty yuck and hanging over after 26 kilos loss already actually

Anyway I have no idea how much this is going to set me back.

I was going to buy a new car after my wedding in July, but heck I'd rather a new tummy. The old car can last me a few more years lol. But I just want to know what kind of $$ I am looking at having to spend to get my bod reflecting all the hard work I will have put in by then.

Of course, I probably won't be at goal until the end of the year, so I have some time to figure it all out, my surgeon likes for you to be a goal for a while before having PS.

But just wanting to see if any one has any ideas of the costs here in Australia? Anyone had one they will share details of, or know some one who has?

Thanks!

Hi meredith, I obviously have not had any kind of plastic surgery done, but I am all for it, if it will give you confidence and boost your self esteem. I think Jess on this site (Parvathi) has had some surgery done. She would be able to give you some answers if you pm her.

From what I have heard, this kind of surgery could set you back in the ball park of about 8 to 10k. It could be less, not sure exactly.

It is definately worth it. I don't mean to ask a personal kind of a question, but are you planning a pregnancy any time soon? It may be relevant in terms of holding off until afterwards. Pregnancy can really stretch your skin also. I saw my sisters tummy and she had lots!

Anyway whatever you decide I wish you lots of luck with it of course.

Susannah

All up after Medicare and private health refunds I paid about $1800 for my tummy tuck.

Get referrals from your GP, and go to a Plastic and Re constructive Surgeon (Medicare will not pay if you go to a Plastic / Cosmetic surgeon, or if you go to any surgeon without a referral from your GP)

If Medicare and my health fund had not paid anything towards my surgery, I would have been out about 7 or 8 thousand dollars. I would have to check all of my documents to be sure, about that roughly.

Best of luck.

Thanks guys. Thats about what I was thinking it was going to set me back. So at least it wasn't a rude shock to hear the dollar figures haha Chickie I will definitely follow your advice and get a referral from my GP, hes very supportive of my band, so I am sure he'll help me out on this one too when the time comes

As for kids, my fiance and I aren't planning on having any children, so thats why I'm asking now. Its will just be a matter of getting down to goal and having the blessing of my Drs, oh and having the $ and its a goer.

I was talking to my fiance about it earlier tonight and I said to him I didn't want to do all this hard work and got down to a healthy weight and not have a body that reflects that. Having excess skin from a 100lb+ weight loss himself, he understands my reasons behind it and he is totally supportive me wanting to do this should I need it (I told him we could get his and hers TT surgery - they might give us a discount :biggrin1: hahaha).

Hey Meredith, Great news that Medicare could cover some part of the procedure for you. I thought that given it was plastic surgery you may have to cover it yourself. Cool! I am not sure how I would feel about getting it done, given the fact that I am a big wuss. :biggrin1: Susannah

Oh don't get my wrong, I am a wuss too! But nothing in the world could be as painful as when I got my wisdom teeth out. NOTHING I tell you!! haha

Yeah thats awesome about medicare. I'll have to ask my Mum about it, she works there. She'll be able to make sure I do it all right to get the max amount of $$ back.

The thing with getting Medicare to cover a tummy tuck is, you have to see the right type of surgeon, and have the right code and all that jazz. They don't call it a tummy tuck or even an abdominoplasty, its a (I am drawing from memory here..) a radical lipocectomy (I think, I would have to check my paperwork)

It is for all intents and purposes, a tummy tuck, but it is renamed for Medicare.

Another point is, if your case is not deemed "Medically Necessary" by your GP, surgeon, or your health fund, you may be out of luck.

I know a few of the other Aussie girls here have had TT's and boob jobs and paid for them 100% out of pocket (Pav and Kell, I think) They may be able to give you a better idea of what you would be charged by a cosmetic surgeon (my surgeon was a re constructive surgeon, and I think that there is a big difference in the prices of re constructive work, and cosmetic)

Thanks so much for your advice!

my understanding is that we are more likely to have it covered if we go to a recontructive plastc surgeon rather than a cosmetic surgeon- I am sure that I will need the apronectomy at the very least - I already have quite a droop forming at losing around 34kg. I think I will need a thigh reduction too if I want to get an effective prosthetic limb- I am confident that would be covered as it is medically necessary. I am also making a point of discussing skinfold irritations etc with my gp so that there is documentation to say there is a medical need. previously I self treated. I don't hink we have as much of a problem as our US comrades but I think there is a distinction between what is purely cosmetic and what is recontrucve and medically warrented

I had a tummy tuck done about 4 yrs ago now and it was all covered by medicare but was put under as a lipocectomy like Chickie stated.

If my doc wouldv put down a tummy tuck i prob would have been up for lots of $$$$$.....but this doc did it this way for me as i have known him for 14years and this was my reward for losing so much weight at that time back then...but then i put it all back on again..hence thats why i ended up getting the band..lol.

I really think it all depends on the surgeon:)