Prices: Australian price: Price on request, get quotes from clinics. Overseas prices: Price on request, get quotes from clinics. We haven’t found a verifiable, dated public AUD source that covers the range of procedures people mean by “plastic surgery”.
Short answer: Medicare doesn’t cover elective and cosmetic surgery (Department of Health (opens official site)), and doesn’t cover you overseas (Smartraveller (opens official site)). ASAPS advises Australian patients not to fly for 6 to 8 weeks after cosmetic surgery because of clot risk (ASAPS (opens official site)). Smartraveller warns that fixing a procedure that goes wrong can cost more than the original trip (Smartraveller (opens official site)). Procedure overview: plastic surgery.
Risks and limitations to understand first
- Bleeding, infection, scarring, numbness, anaesthetic reactions, blood clots and the need for further surgery are risks across many procedures (healthdirect (opens official site); ASAPS (opens official site))
- Combining procedures can mean longer anaesthetic time and more healing sites; not every combination is appropriate (ASAPS (opens official site))
- Australia’s cosmetic surgery safeguards (GP referral, two consultations, seven-day cooling-off) often don’t exist overseas (ASAPS (opens official site); Ahpra (opens official site))
- In some countries, surgeon titles aren’t protected, and the surgeon you meet may not be the one who operates (ASAPS (opens official site))
- Medicare doesn’t cover you overseas, and basic travel insurance rarely covers medical tourism (Smartraveller (opens official site))
- Devices or implants used overseas may not be the same as those listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (TGA (opens official site))
See plastic surgery overseas for the procedure hub.
What affects the quote
- Which procedures are included (and whether staging would change risk or cost)
- Surgeon, anaesthetic and facility fees; overnight or ICU capacity
- Implants or devices (brand, model, ARTG status if you later need Australian care)
- Garments, medications supplied at discharge, planned follow-up visits
- What happens if you need extra nights, a return theatre visit or revision
Ask for an itemised written quote. Until we can verify figures, published amounts on this site show price on request.
Medicare and insurance
| Source | What it may pay |
|---|---|
| Medicare | Doesn’t cover elective and cosmetic surgery (Department of Health (opens official site)). Doesn’t cover you overseas (Smartraveller (opens official site)). |
| Private health insurance | Cosmetic procedures are generally excluded. Confirm any reconstructive item numbers with your fund using an Australian quote. |
| Treatment overseas | Funds often won’t cover treatment done overseas (Union Health (opens official site)). |
See health insurance gaps, Medicare overseas and travel insurance for cosmetic surgery.
Add these to any quote
| Cost | Notes |
|---|---|
| Flights | Timed around a written fit-to-fly plan. Price on request, get quotes from clinics |
| Accommodation | Weeks of recovery before flying clearance (ASAPS (opens official site)). Price on request, get quotes from clinics |
| Time off work | Your own estimate; swelling and limited activity are common |
| Insurance | Travel insurance for cosmetic surgery · medical tourism insurance |
| Follow-up and revision in Australia | Aftercare in Australia · revision surgery in Australia |
Use the trip budget planner to add travel items. Destination cost pages: Thailand, Türkiye - both Price on request, get quotes from clinics.
Comparing destinations without ranking
We don’t publish “best country” or price-league claims. Compare the named surgeon, facility capability for your procedure, accreditation on the day you book, and your aftercare plan. Orientation: Thailand, Türkiye, Bali, South Korea, compare plastic surgery by country, Thailand vs Turkey, Thailand vs Korea.
Related procedure costs (all Price on request, get quotes from clinics until verified): breast augmentation, tummy tuck, liposuction, rhinoplasty, facelift, BBL, mommy makeover.
Full trip cost beyond the procedure fee
Even when a hospital or clinic tariff is later verified, Australians should add:
- Flights (return; sometimes a second trip for staged work or bridge delivery)
- Hotel for the fly-safe window your clinician documents in writing
- Companion costs, time off work, garments, medications and follow-up visits
- Buffer for delayed healing, extra nights or a revision trip (Smartraveller (opens official site))
- Travel insurance that may still exclude elective or planned-procedure complications - read the PDS (travel insurance for surgery)
Use the trip budget planner and trip cost calculator for non-procedure travel maths only.
How to compare quotes without “best price” claims
- Same procedure labels and the same inclusions on every quote
- Named clinician and facility on the consent pathway
- Revision or remake policy in writing
- Total trip maths, not procedure-only marketing figures
- Soften “cheapest country” or “best country” searches - compare credentials, aftercare and risk, not inducements
We only publish AUD figures that sit in our verified price table with a source and access date. If status is pending, this page shows Price on request, get quotes from clinics.
Methodology note
We only publish AUD figures present in our verified price table with source URL and access date. Empty or pending rows show Price on request, get quotes from clinics. FX converts, when used elsewhere on this site, cite RBA indicative rates and must be rechecked on publish day. This page does not invent package discounts, holiday inducements or “cheapest country” crowns.
Related tools (non-procedure trip maths only): trip cost calculator · currency converter · savings calculator (educational; not a quote).
Guides: choosing a surgeon · questions to ask · complications overseas · aftercare in Australia · flying after surgery.
Paying without loan marketing
Cosmetic and hair cost pages on this site do not promote surgeryloans.com.au, BNPL or loan calculators. Use savings, a card you can repay, or licensed advice from your own adviser. Neutral trip maths: trip cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much does plastic surgery cost overseas?
We only publish verified, dated prices. Price on request, get quotes from clinics. Ask for an itemised written quote that names every procedure.
Does Medicare cover cosmetic plastic surgery?
Generally no. Medicare doesn’t cover elective and cosmetic surgery, and doesn’t cover you overseas.
Why can a low package still be expensive?
Recovery accommodation, time off work, insurance and Australian revision can exceed the headline fee. Smartraveller warns that repair can cost more than the original procedure.
Should I combine procedures to save money?
Cost is the wrong primary filter. ASAPS notes that not every combination is appropriate (ASAPS (opens official site)).
Does travel insurance cover complications?
Basic travel insurance rarely covers medical tourism. See our cosmetic insurance guide.
What should be in a written quote?
Itemised clinician and facility fees, anaesthetic, stay length, inclusions and exclusions, revision or remake policy, and what happens if you need a longer stay.
Why does the full trip cost matter more than the procedure fee?
Flights, hotel for the fly-safe window, companion costs, time off work, insurance and a revision buffer often exceed a low procedure-only figure (Smartraveller (opens official site)).
Does this site pick a best or cheapest country?
No. We soften those anchors. Compare named credentials, facility checks, aftercare at home and total trip maths.
Sources
All accessed 24 October 2026.
- healthdirect, Cosmetic surgery: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/cosmetic-surgery
- ASAPS, Heading overseas for cosmetic surgery: https://aestheticplasticsurgeons.org.au/news/heading-overseas-for-cosmetic-surgery-heres-what-you-need-to-know/
- ASAPS, Combining cosmetic surgery procedures: https://aestheticplasticsurgeons.org.au/breast/combine-cosmetic-surgery-procedures/
- Ahpra, Cosmetic surgery - information for the public: https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Resources/Cosmetic-surgery-hub/Information-for-the-public.aspx
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, What Medicare covers: https://www.health.gov.au/topics/medicare/about/what-medicare-covers
- Smartraveller, Going overseas for a medical procedure: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/travel-essentials/travel-health/medical-tourism
- TGA, Breast implants - things to consider: https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/explore-topic/breast-implant-hub/breast-implants-things-consider
- Union Health, Travelling overseas: https://unionhealth.com.au/faqs/manage-my-cover/travelling-overseas