The Financial Guide to Loose Skin Removal Surgery
There’s so much to celebrate after a serious weight loss journey, including newfound health, confidence, and a dramatically improved lifestyle. But even after working hard at losing weight, pounds and pounds of loose skin can stick around, causing pain and discomfort.
Loose skin removal surgery can help with this, but the multiple costs associated with these surgeries can make them inaccessible to many. In this article, we’re providing a complete financial guide to loose skin surgery in Australia — from listing all the relevant costs to highlighting funding sources and providing practical advice for how you can gather funds.
What is excess skin removal surgery?
Loose skin removal surgery is an umbrella term for various body contouring procedures — including abdominoplasties, thigh lifts, buttock lifts, and panniculectomies — which involve the removal of excess skin folds.
Loose skin surgeries are usually performed following periods of major weight loss, targeting the skin folds that often remain on the legs, stomach, and arms. Getting rid of this extra skin after losing weight can help your clothes fit better, enhance your ability to exercise and improve your overall comfort.
Interesting facts about loose skin removal
- Abdominoplasty—more commonly known as a ‘tummy tuck’—was the 6th most popular cosmetic procedure performed across Australia in 2023, just behind liposuction.
- Tummy tuck recovery is different for every person. In general, you’ll have to avoid arduous physical activity for four to six weeks.
- Approximately 94% of Australians who undergo abdominoplasty surgery with private medical insurance experience some form of out of pocket expense.
How much does loose skin removal surgery cost?
There are quite a few factors which might affect the cost of your skin removal surgery. Your location, medical coverage, the experience level of your surgeon all factor into the final cost you’ll end up paying. On top of this, there is a wide variety of procedures which you can choose from — each of which comes with its own unique price tag. Here is a breakdown of the average costs incurred by loose skin surgery patients in Australia:
Body Lift: Approximately $30,000
Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck): $7,500
Brachioplasty (Arm Lift): $5,000 to $10,000
Thigh Lift: $9,000
How to raise money for loose skin removal surgery
While the costs associated with loose skin removal surgery can seem overwhelming, there are plenty of ways in which you can go about seeking help. From government grants to personal loans and starting a crowdfunding campaign — here are just a few sources of financial assistance that you can use to alleviate loose skin removal surgery costs.
1. Medicare
While cosmetic procedures are not typically covered under the Australian government’s Medicare system, you may be eligible for funding if certain criteria are met. The Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) states that the removal of excess skin can be covered by the programme when it is needed following pregnancy or a period of significant weight loss. On top of this, you’ll need to satisfy one or more of the following criteria in order for your loose skin surgery to be covered under Medicare:
- Intertrigo or a similar skin condition which has not improved after three months of non-surgical treatment.
- Difficulty completing everyday tasks due to the presence of excess skin.
- Achieving a stable weight for 6 months following a period of fat loss.
It’s also important to note that you will be entitled to different levels of rebate depending on the type of loose skin surgery that is required. Your age, income, underlying health conditions and other individual factors will all affect the level of assistance you can receive with loose skin surgery costs. If eligible, you can enrol in Medicare today by completing a quick online form.
2. Superannuation
Commonly referred to as ‘super’, superannuation is a long-term saving system which gathers funds that can be used once you retire. Australians are automatically enrolled into a superannuation programme on the day they first start working, with employers contributing a percentage of your salary on top of your regular payments.
You can apply for an early release of your super funds to pay for loose skin surgeries, provided that you satisfy certain requirements. Abdominoplasties, breast reductions, belt lipectomies and post weight loss body contouring procedures can all be paid for using super funds, as long as there are genuine medical reasons for your surgery. Purely cosmetic procedures are not eligible to be covered by your superannuation.
As this is a government-led programme, you’ll need to fill out a detailed ATO application form in order to gain early access to your superannuation funds.
3. Crowdfund for skin removal surgery
Thousands of people turn to crowdfunding every day to help cover the cost of surgeries, medical bills and other out-of-pocket expenses. While government programmes can provide valuable help with many medical and surgery-related costs, there aren’t many financial supports which extend through your recovery period. As it can take up to several months to fully recover from loose skin removal surgery, the financial burden caused by lost income can quickly build up. Luckily, crowdfunding can be of significant benefit during this time.
Starting a medical fundraiser allows you to quickly and securely raise money for any costs incurred during your loose skin surgery journey. All you’ve got to do is create your fundraising page, tell your unique story and share your crowdfunding campaign with friends, family and your social media networks. Decide on an achievable fundraising goal by calculating all costs related to your loose skin removal surgery, and boost your donations by putting some creative fundraising ideas into action.
Not sure where to start? Read our helpful guides for expert medical fundraising tips and to learn more about how GoFundMe works.
Loose skin surgery stories from GoFundMe
While crowdfunding to cover loose skin removal surgery costs can seem daunting, take comfort in the fact that you’re anything but alone. There are many others out there who have taken a similar path and have achieved huge success through their fundraising efforts.
Here are just a few inspiring stories of people who have used GoFundMe to raise money for excess skin removal procedures:
Georgia’s loose skin surgery
Over the course of 18 months, Georgia Reyer worked hard to complete a life-changing weight loss transformation. After completely changing her lifestyle and losing a grand total of 54 kilograms, Georgia was left with folds of excess skin which served as an unwanted reminder of the life she lived before.
Having tried everything she could to get rid of her loose skin, Georgia decided that surgery was the best option and began her GoFundMe journey. With a fundraising goal of $10,000, she hopes to supplement her personal savings to pay for her loose skin surgery.
Tashe’s loose skin removal
After reaching a peak weight of 270 kilograms, Tashe Grey underwent a self-funded gastric bypass surgery in 2017. The procedure was a success, and Tashe’s new lifestyle led to a total weight loss of 180 kilograms. However, the dramatic weight loss left a lot of excess skin, and a full body lift procedure became Tashe’s newest objective.
Having set an ambitious fundraising target of $50,000, Tashe hopes to successfully cover her loose skin removal costs while spreading awareness and positivity in the process. On top of this, she uses her unique story and experiences to help others, providing valuable education on the ins and outs of weight loss surgery.
Nick’s surgery rehab fund
Nick Chesterfield completed a lot of important work during his long career as a human rights and environmental justice journalist, but he also experienced his fair share of medical issues. Following a successful sleeve gastronomy procedure which resulted in a massive weight loss of 100 kilograms, Nick was left with debilitating folds of excess skin on his abdomen.
Struggling to raise the money for the endless medical bills, hidden expenses and out-of-pocket costs, Nick began his crowdfunding journey with the aim of making his condition more manageable. While he anticipated a lengthy struggle in raising the $15,000 he needed, the generosity of GoFundMe donors has already set Nick on a successful path towards achieving his goal.
Find financial relief for loose skin surgery today
If you don’t know how to pay for your skin removal procedure, online crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe can help. You can create a fundraiser in minutes, and our sharing tools make it simple to reach out to friends, family and your wider social network. Create your GoFundMe page today, and start putting the finishing touches on your weight loss transformation.