When patients contact our office asking about tummy tuck costs, they often share a range of reactions from “That seems very reasonable” to “I can get this surgery much cheaper in Miami.” It’s true that Miami and some national plastic surgery chains offer super low prices, but those quotes often come with compromises in quality, experience, or what’s included in the total cost.
To help patients make informed decisions, we gathered general pricing information from 10 board-certified plastic surgeons in Baltimore.
Our research reveals not only the average cost of a tummy tuck in the area but also what’s typically included in the price—and the surprising fact that expertise doesn’t always come with a premium cost.
How & Why We Conducted the Survey
We know cost is one of the biggest considerations for patients exploring tummy tuck surgery. Curious about how our abdominoplasty pricing compares locally, we surveyed plastic surgeons near and around our Baltimore office.
Average Tummy Tuck price in Baltimore $11,125
We called 9 board-certified plastic surgeons in Baltimore who perform tummy tucks. We asked questions like, ‘What is the cost of a tummy tuck?’ and ‘What is the cost if I add liposuction to the flanks?’ We included our own cost in the survey, to make it a total of 10 plastic surgeons.
Importantly, we confirmed what each office included in the ‘total cost’ to ensure an accurate, apples-to-apples comparison.
What’s Included in the Total Cost?
We confirmed that the quoted prices covered the following standard components:
- Plastic Surgeon’s Fee
- Surgical Facility Fee (OR and Recovery room)
- Anesthesiologist’s Fee
- Follow-up appointments
- Post-surgical garments and pain control
Key Findings from Our 2024 Tummy Tuck Pricing Survey:
Based on our survey of ten Baltimore-area surgeons, we identified notable patterns and key details about tummy tuck pricing. The average base price of each of the 10 plastic surgeons is shown in the map above. The findings are:
1. Wide Range in Base Tummy Tuck Pricing
The cost of a full tummy tuck, which involves an incision from hip to hip (iliac crest to be exact), muscle tightening, and removal of excess skin and fat, typically ranges from $8,000 to $15,000.
For an extended tummy tuck, which includes a longer incision extending beyond the hips to address the flanks and lower back, the cost typically ranges from $11,000 to $20,000.
2. Average Tummy Tuck Price in Baltimore
The average price among 10 Board-certified Plastic Surgeons in Baltimore was:
- Standard Tummy Tuck: $11,125
- Extended Tummy Tuck: $15,290
3. Wide Range in Addition Lipo to Flanks
- Addition of Lip to the flanks: $2,500 – $4,500
- Average Cost adding Lipo: $3,100
4. More Experience Doesn’t Always Mean Higher Prices
Quite surprisingly, surgeons with over 20 years of experience (post Board Certification) offered lower Tummy Tuck costs compared to their younger colleagues. We found this interesting as the more experienced surgeons have individually performed hundreds, if not thousands, of Tummy Tucks, bringing a wealth of expertise to their patients.
5. Pain Management Options Vary
More than half of the plastic surgeons we surveyed offer pain management following tummy tuck surgery, such as an Exparel injection or a pain pump. While some surgeons include this as part of their package, others charge an additional fee. However, a few surgeons do not offer post-operative pain management services like pain pumps at all.
6. Financing Options are Widely Available
A total of 9 of the 10 surgeons surveyed offered Financing, typically through Care Credit and/or Alpheon.
Tummy Tuck Cost Comparison: Baltimore Surgeons
Here’s a detailed comparison chart of Baltimore-area plastic surgeons, including their experience, price ranges, and whether pain control is included. This information was collected by telephone calls.
| Doctor | Experience | Base Price | Max Price | Pain Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. AB | > 25 yrs | $9,950 | $14,000 | Included |
| Dr. AW | 19 yrs | $11,000 | $15,000 | No |
| Dr. CP | 7 yrs | $8,000 | $16,000 | No |
| Dr. EB | 6 yrs | $9,000 | $12,500 | No |
| Dr. JS | 16 yrs | $15,000 | $20,000 | Included |
| Dr. MC | > 25 yrs | $10,000 | $14,000 | Included |
| Dr. MS | 24 yrs | $9,500 | $14,000 | Included |
| Dr. Rodriguez | > 25 yrs | $8,800 | $14,400 | Included |
| Dr. SM | 17 yrs | $15,000 | $18,000 | Included |
| Dr. SR | 9 yrs | $15,000 | $15,000 | Add $500 |
| Averages | $11,125 | $15,290 |
Factors Affecting the Cost of a Tummy Tuck
The base price typically reflects a standard tummy tuck, while the higher price accounts for more extensive skin and tissue excision, such as extended tummy tucks.
Several factors can influence the cost of a tummy tuck:
Location:
Plastic surgery tends to be more expensive in larger cities due to higher overhead costs. However, our survey showed that there is even distinct variation in prices by neighborhood.
Surgeons with offices near each other, have similar prices. You can see that in the Lutherville area, there are 3 Plastic Surgeons, including our office, which have Tummy Tuck costs that do not vary widely.
Surgeon Experience:
Surgeons with more years of practice, higher qualifications, or a reputation for exceptional results often charge higher fees. However, our survey revealed a surprising trend: some of the most experienced surgeons in Baltimore offer lower average tummy tuck costs!
To ensure consistency in measuring experience, we calculated the years of practice based on the year surgeons achieved Board Certification.
Using the ASPS website, we identified each surgeon’s Board Certification year. Then we determined their total years in practice following certification. This method allowed us to standardize our comparison of experience across all surgeons surveyed.
Anesthesia:
In Maryland Surgery Centers, your anesthesia can either be administered by a CRNA (a type of trained nurse) or a Board Certified Anesthesiologist. As one might imagine, the cost of Anesthesia with a Board Certified Anesthesiologist (an M.D. who did a residency in Anesthesia) is higher than the cost with a CRNA.
Be sure to consider this difference when making your final decision.
Complexity of Surgery:
An Extended Tummy Tuck will cost more than a Standard Tummy Tuck simply because the procedure takes longer, as the incision extends out around the hip area. The addition of liposuction will add more costs for most all practices.
Why Extended Tummy Tucks Cost More:
Women with larger frames or those needing longer incisions may require a more involved procedure. For example, to address excess skin that extends over the hips, an extended tummy tuck is necessary.
This procedure takes more time in the operating room, and OR time is a pricing factor for any surgical procedure.
Addition of Lipo to the Flanks:
Liposuction to the Flanks can be added to any Tummy Tuck procedure. The flanks includes the love handles, and the back muffin top around your backside. Liposuction to the flanks typically adds an hour of surgical time. Thus, there is an additional cost to add it to the surgical plan.
FAQ’s about Tummy Tuck Costs
When patients call to ask about our pricing, they often have additional questions about the procedure. Here are answers from our pricing to some of the most common questions we get:
At our practice in the Timonium area, pricing starts at $8,800 for a standard tummy tuck and $11,000 for an extended tummy tuck, with the option to add liposuction for an additional fee.
Many patients use third-party financing companies to cover some part of the cost. Financing options such as CareCredit and Alphaeon offer plans with flexible payment terms and low-interest rates.
The vast majority of health insurance plans do not cover the cost of a tummy tuck, as it is considered a cosmetic procedure. However, if you have documentation of medical issues such as skin infections from loose skin, partial coverage might be possible.
While most reputable surgeons provide an all-inclusive quote, there may be additional costs for certain services. Patients should be clear if their quote include anesthesia, Facility, post op garments, and post op pain control .
Patients should also ask if the surgery goes longer than expected, will there be an extra bill from the Facility or Anesthesia.
Tummy tucks consistently rank as one of the most satisfying cosmetic procedures, with a 95% ‘Worth It’ rating on RealSelf. Patients often feel the investment is worthwhile because the procedure not only removes excess skin and fat but also tightens abdominal muscles, leading to a flatter, more contoured midsection.
If you’re planning to have children, it’s worth holding off for a tummy tuck to ensure you get the best and longest-lasting outcome. However, patients do have Tummy Tucks and still retain the majority of the result.
Yes, combining procedures like liposuction, breast augmentation or reduction, or other body contouring surgeries with a tummy tuck is common. This approach can be cost-effective and optimize recovery time.
The most common procedure performed at the same time as a Tummy Tuck is Liposuction to the front and back flanks. Additional areas can be added such as the upper back (scapular) or the inner thighs.
The recovery period after a tummy tuck varies from person to person, but most patients can expect to return to non-strenuous work within 14-21 days. Most surgeons recommend no driving for at least 2-3 weeks. If your job involves heavy lifting, or more physical activity, you may need to wait up up to 4 to 6 weeks before resuming those duties.
Dr. Rodriguez
Over 25 years experience
Tummy Tucks:
Standard, Extended,
and Lateral thigh lift
I personally invite you to schedule a consultation where we can discuss your goals, answer your questions, and design a plan just for you.
Let’s work together to create results that help you look and feel your best,
