2026 cost guide · breast surgery
Breast Surgery Prices in Australia.
Realistic Australian pricing for augmentation, lifts, reductions, explants and gynaecomastia surgery — including when Medicare and private health insurance actually contribute.
Breast augmentation
Breast augmentation uses implants (or fat transfer) to increase size or restore volume. Implant choice, pocket placement and incision site all influence both the result and the price.
What moves the price:
- Implant type and brand — premium cohesive-gel implants cost more
- Surgeon credentials: FRACS specialist versus cosmetic physician
- Accredited hospital versus day-procedure facility
| 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 |
Breast lift
A breast lift (mastopexy) raises and reshapes sagging breasts without necessarily changing size. It is frequently combined with implants, which pushes the quote toward the top of the range.
What moves the price:
- Degree of ptosis (sagging) and technique required
- Whether implants are placed at the same time
- Revision cases cost more than first-time surgery
| 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 |
Breast reduction
Breast reduction removes tissue to relieve neck, back and shoulder pain as much as to change appearance. Because there is often a genuine medical indication, it is one of the few procedures that may attract Medicare and private health insurance rebates.
What moves the price:
- Volume of tissue removed and surgical time
- Medicare item 45523 eligibility — bring documentation of symptoms
- Hospital stay length
| 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 |
Breast implant removal
Explant surgery removes old implants, with or without the surrounding capsule (capsulectomy), and may be combined with a lift. Motivations range from lifestyle change to capsular contracture or rupture.
What moves the price:
- Simple removal versus en-bloc capsulectomy
- Whether a lift or fat transfer is done simultaneously
- Ruptured or textured implants add complexity
| City | Typical cost (AUD) | Clinics listed |
|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | $8,000 – $18,000 | 34 |
| Brisbane | $8,000 – $18,000 | 34 |
| Cairns | $8,000 – $18,000 | 7 |
| Canberra | $8,000 – $18,000 | 22 |
| Darwin | $8,000 – $18,000 | 10 |
| Geelong | $8,000 – $18,000 | 11 |
| Gold Coast | $8,000 – $18,000 | 31 |
| Hobart | $8,000 – $18,000 | 10 |
| Melbourne | $8,000 – $18,000 | 45 |
| Newcastle | $8,000 – $18,000 | 14 |
| Perth | $8,000 – $18,000 | 37 |
| Sunshine Coast | $8,000 – $18,000 | 14 |
| Sydney | $8,000 – $18,000 | 71 |
| Townsville | $8,000 – $18,000 | 5 |
| Wollongong | $8,000 – $18,000 | 19 |
Gynecomastia surgery
Gynaecomastia surgery flattens enlarged male breast tissue using excision, liposuction or both. Most cases are day surgery with roughly two weeks off physical work.
What moves the price:
- Glandular excision versus liposuction-only
- Unilateral versus bilateral
- Grade of enlargement and skin excess
| City | Typical cost (AUD) | Clinics listed |
|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | $7,000 – $15,000 | 34 |
| Brisbane | $7,000 – $15,000 | 34 |
| Cairns | $7,000 – $15,000 | 7 |
| Canberra | $7,000 – $15,000 | 22 |
| Darwin | $7,000 – $15,000 | 10 |
| Geelong | $7,000 – $15,000 | 11 |
| Gold Coast | $7,000 – $15,000 | 31 |
| Hobart | $7,000 – $15,000 | 10 |
| Melbourne | $7,000 – $15,000 | 45 |
| Newcastle | $7,000 – $15,000 | 14 |
| Perth | $7,000 – $15,000 | 37 |
| Sunshine Coast | $7,000 – $15,000 | 14 |
| Sydney | $7,000 – $15,000 | 71 |
| Townsville | $7,000 – $15,000 | 5 |
| Wollongong | $7,000 – $15,000 | 19 |
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
How much is a boob job in Australia in 2026?
Breast augmentation typically costs $12,000–$22,000 all-inclusive, covering the surgeon, anaesthetist, hospital and implants. Quotes below $10,000 usually mean a non-specialist operator, an unaccredited facility, or fees excluded from the headline price.
Does Medicare cover breast reduction?
Often, yes — breast reduction is one of the few cosmetic-adjacent procedures with a Medicare item number (45523) when there is documented medical need such as chronic neck, back or shoulder pain. If you qualify and hold private health insurance with the right cover, hospital costs may also be partly covered.
Are breast implants a one-off cost?
No. Implants are not lifetime devices — many need replacing or removing within 10–20 years. Budget for future revision or explant surgery ($8,000–$18,000) and periodic imaging when calculating lifetime cost.
Why do some clinics advertise breast augmentation for $6,000?
Headline prices usually exclude the anaesthetist, hospital stay or implants themselves, or reflect surgery by a non-specialist in unaccredited premises. Always ask for the total out-of-pocket figure in writing, itemised.