2026 cost guide · body & contouring
Body Surgery Prices in Australia.
What Australians actually pay for tummy tucks, liposuction, lifts and mummy makeovers — with city-level pricing from our directory of 1,100+ clinics, fee breakdowns and Medicare guidance.
Tummy tuck
A tummy tuck removes loose abdominal skin and repairs separated abdominal muscles, most often after pregnancy or major weight loss. It is one of the most involved procedures in cosmetic surgery, with the longest typical recovery in this guide.
What moves the price:
- Standard versus extended versus 360° (circumferential) techniques
- Muscle repair adds operating time and cost
- May attract a Medicare item number after massive weight loss when strict criteria are met
| City | Typical cost (AUD) | Clinics listed |
|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | $15,000 – $30,000 | 34 |
| Brisbane | $15,000 – $30,000 | 34 |
| Cairns | $15,000 – $30,000 | 7 |
| Canberra | $15,000 – $30,000 | 22 |
| Darwin | $15,000 – $30,000 | 10 |
| Geelong | $15,000 – $30,000 | 11 |
| Gold Coast | $15,000 – $30,000 | 31 |
| Hobart | $15,000 – $30,000 | 10 |
| Melbourne | $15,000 – $30,000 | 45 |
| Newcastle | $15,000 – $30,000 | 14 |
| Perth | $15,000 – $30,000 | 37 |
| Sunshine Coast | $15,000 – $30,000 | 14 |
| Sydney | $15,000 – $30,000 | 71 |
| Townsville | $15,000 – $30,000 | 5 |
| Wollongong | $15,000 – $30,000 | 19 |
Liposuction
Liposuction removes stubborn fat from targeted areas such as the abdomen, flanks, thighs or arms. It is a contouring procedure, not a weight-loss method, and works best on patients near their goal weight.
What moves the price:
- Number of areas treated — most quotes are per area
- Technique: tumescent, VASER or laser-assisted
- Whether it is combined with skin excision
| City | Typical cost (AUD) | Clinics listed |
|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | $4,000 – $15,000 | 34 |
| Brisbane | $4,000 – $15,000 | 34 |
| Cairns | $4,000 – $15,000 | 7 |
| Canberra | $4,000 – $15,000 | 22 |
| Darwin | $4,000 – $15,000 | 10 |
| Geelong | $4,000 – $15,000 | 11 |
| Gold Coast | $4,000 – $15,000 | 31 |
| Hobart | $4,000 – $15,000 | 10 |
| Melbourne | $4,000 – $15,000 | 45 |
| Newcastle | $4,000 – $15,000 | 14 |
| Perth | $4,000 – $15,000 | 37 |
| Sunshine Coast | $4,000 – $15,000 | 14 |
| Sydney | $4,000 – $15,000 | 71 |
| Townsville | $4,000 – $15,000 | 5 |
| Wollongong | $4,000 – $15,000 | 19 |
Arm lift
An arm lift (brachioplasty) removes hanging skin from the upper arms, usually after significant weight loss. The trade-off is a scar along the inner arm, which fades over 12–18 months.
What moves the price:
- Extent of skin removal and whether liposuction is combined
- Day surgery versus overnight stay
| City | Typical cost (AUD) | Clinics listed |
|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | $9,000 – $16,000 | 34 |
| Brisbane | $9,000 – $16,000 | 34 |
| Cairns | $9,000 – $16,000 | 7 |
| Canberra | $9,000 – $16,000 | 22 |
| Darwin | $9,000 – $16,000 | 10 |
| Geelong | $9,000 – $16,000 | 11 |
| Gold Coast | $9,000 – $16,000 | 31 |
| Hobart | $9,000 – $16,000 | 10 |
| Melbourne | $9,000 – $16,000 | 45 |
| Newcastle | $9,000 – $16,000 | 14 |
| Perth | $9,000 – $16,000 | 37 |
| Sunshine Coast | $9,000 – $16,000 | 14 |
| Sydney | $9,000 – $16,000 | 71 |
| Townsville | $9,000 – $16,000 | 5 |
| Wollongong | $9,000 – $16,000 | 19 |
Thigh lift
A thigh lift reshapes the inner or outer thighs by removing excess skin and fat. Medial (inner) thigh lifts are the most common; extended versions run longer and cost more.
What moves the price:
- Inner, outer or circumferential approach
- Combination with liposuction or a lower body lift
| City | Typical cost (AUD) | Clinics listed |
|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | $12,000 – $22,000 | 34 |
| Brisbane | $12,000 – $22,000 | 34 |
| Cairns | $12,000 – $22,000 | 7 |
| Canberra | $12,000 – $22,000 | 22 |
| Darwin | $12,000 – $22,000 | 10 |
| Geelong | $12,000 – $22,000 | 11 |
| Gold Coast | $12,000 – $22,000 | 31 |
| Hobart | $12,000 – $22,000 | 10 |
| Melbourne | $12,000 – $22,000 | 45 |
| Newcastle | $12,000 – $22,000 | 14 |
| Perth | $12,000 – $22,000 | 37 |
| Sunshine Coast | $12,000 – $22,000 | 14 |
| Sydney | $12,000 – $22,000 | 71 |
| Townsville | $12,000 – $22,000 | 5 |
| Wollongong | $12,000 – $22,000 | 19 |
Brazilian butt lift
A Brazilian butt lift transfers your own fat — harvested by liposuction — to the buttocks. It carries a higher risk profile than most cosmetic surgery, so surgeon credentials matter more than price here.
What moves the price:
- Volume of liposuction required to harvest enough fat
- Surgeon experience — BBL safety depends heavily on technique
- Hospital-level anaesthesia and monitoring
| City | Typical cost (AUD) | Clinics listed |
|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | $15,000 – $25,000 | 34 |
| Brisbane | $15,000 – $25,000 | 34 |
| Cairns | $15,000 – $25,000 | 7 |
| Canberra | $15,000 – $25,000 | 22 |
| Darwin | $15,000 – $25,000 | 10 |
| Geelong | $15,000 – $25,000 | 11 |
| Gold Coast | $15,000 – $25,000 | 31 |
| Hobart | $15,000 – $25,000 | 10 |
| Melbourne | $15,000 – $25,000 | 45 |
| Newcastle | $15,000 – $25,000 | 14 |
| Perth | $15,000 – $25,000 | 37 |
| Sunshine Coast | $15,000 – $25,000 | 14 |
| Sydney | $15,000 – $25,000 | 71 |
| Townsville | $15,000 – $25,000 | 5 |
| Wollongong | $15,000 – $25,000 | 19 |
Labiaplasty
Labiaplasty reshapes the labia minora for comfort or appearance. It is usually day surgery under local or general anaesthesia with a two-week typical recovery.
What moves the price:
- Local versus general anaesthesia — local is substantially cheaper
- Unilateral versus bilateral correction
- May qualify for a Medicare rebate when there is a documented functional problem
| City | Typical cost (AUD) | Clinics listed |
|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | $5,000 – $12,000 | 34 |
| Brisbane | $5,000 – $12,000 | 34 |
| Cairns | $5,000 – $12,000 | 7 |
| Canberra | $5,000 – $12,000 | 22 |
| Darwin | $5,000 – $12,000 | 10 |
| Geelong | $5,000 – $12,000 | 11 |
| Gold Coast | $5,000 – $12,000 | 31 |
| Hobart | $5,000 – $12,000 | 10 |
| Melbourne | $5,000 – $12,000 | 45 |
| Newcastle | $5,000 – $12,000 | 14 |
| Perth | $5,000 – $12,000 | 37 |
| Sunshine Coast | $5,000 – $12,000 | 14 |
| Sydney | $5,000 – $12,000 | 71 |
| Townsville | $5,000 – $12,000 | 5 |
| Wollongong | $5,000 – $12,000 | 19 |
Mommy makeover
A mummy makeover combines procedures — most often a tummy tuck with breast surgery — into one operation and one recovery. Combining saves on hospital and anaesthetist fees compared with staging the surgeries separately.
What moves the price:
- Which procedures are combined and in what order
- Total theatre time — combined cases can exceed six hours
- Overnight hospital stay is usually required
| City | Typical cost (AUD) | Clinics listed |
|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | $25,000 – $50,000 | 34 |
| Brisbane | $25,000 – $50,000 | 34 |
| Cairns | $25,000 – $50,000 | 7 |
| Canberra | $25,000 – $50,000 | 22 |
| Darwin | $25,000 – $50,000 | 10 |
| Geelong | $25,000 – $50,000 | 11 |
| Gold Coast | $25,000 – $50,000 | 31 |
| Hobart | $25,000 – $50,000 | 10 |
| Melbourne | $25,000 – $50,000 | 45 |
| Newcastle | $25,000 – $50,000 | 14 |
| Perth | $25,000 – $50,000 | 37 |
| Sunshine Coast | $25,000 – $50,000 | 14 |
| Sydney | $25,000 – $50,000 | 71 |
| Townsville | $25,000 – $50,000 | 5 |
| Wollongong | $25,000 – $50,000 | 19 |
Non-surgical body contouring
Non-surgical body contouring covers fat-freezing, radiofrequency and electromagnetic muscle treatments. Results are subtler than surgery but there is essentially no downtime.
What moves the price:
- Number of sessions — most plans need three to six
- Size of the treatment area
- Device brand and clinic overheads
| City | Typical cost (AUD) | Clinics listed |
|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | $500 – $10,000 | 58 |
| Brisbane | $500 – $10,000 | 59 |
| Cairns | $500 – $10,000 | 39 |
| Canberra | $500 – $10,000 | 48 |
| Darwin | $500 – $10,000 | 38 |
| Geelong | $500 – $10,000 | 52 |
| Gold Coast | $500 – $10,000 | 66 |
| Hobart | $500 – $10,000 | 36 |
| Melbourne | $500 – $10,000 | 59 |
| Newcastle | $500 – $10,000 | 54 |
| Perth | $500 – $10,000 | 50 |
| Sunshine Coast | $500 – $10,000 | 48 |
| Sydney | $500 – $10,000 | 94 |
| Townsville | $500 – $10,000 | 39 |
| Wollongong | $500 – $10,000 | 50 |
All figures are indicative national and city-level ranges from this directory's editorial research, updated October 2026. They are general information only — not medical advice, and not a quote. Every patient and every clinic is different: always confirm an itemised written quote with an AHPRA-registered practitioner before proceeding.
Common questions
What is the cheapest body surgery procedure in Australia?
Non-surgical body contouring starts around $500 per session. Among surgical options, liposuction on a single small area starts near $4,000. At the other end, a mummy makeover combining several procedures runs $25,000–$50,000. The cheapest quote is rarely the safest — verify the surgeon's AHPRA registration and the facility's accreditation first.
Does Medicare cover tummy tucks or body lifts after weight loss?
Sometimes. Abdominoplasty and lipectomy can attract Medicare item numbers when excess skin causes documented medical problems (recurrent infections, rashes, functional impairment) and you meet strict criteria including stable weight. Your GP and surgeon can assess eligibility; private health insurance may then cover hospital costs.
Why do Sydney and Melbourne prices run higher?
Higher rents, hospital fees and surgeon demand. Our directory data shows city-level spreads of 15–30% on identical procedures between the largest capitals and regional centres such as Townsville, Cairns or Hobart. Travelling can save money, but factor in follow-up visits and who manages any complication after you return home.
Is it safe to combine procedures to save money?
Combining procedures saves one set of hospital and anaesthetist fees and one recovery, which is why mummy makeovers exist. The trade-offs are longer anaesthesia and a harder recovery. Most surgeons cap combined elective surgery around six hours for safety.