There is no single price for plastic surgery. This page explains what makes up the cost of surgery with Dr Kumar, what Medicare and your health fund may contribute, and how payment works, so the quote you receive after your consultation holds no surprises.
In short: Every patient receives a written, itemised quote after their consultation, because the cost depends on the operation, how long it takes, the hospital stay and whether a Medicare item applies. The quote sets out Dr Kumar’s fee, the nurses’ fee (which includes your aftercare), the anaesthetist, the surgical assistant, the hospital and your garments. Where an operation meets Medicare criteria, Medicare and your health fund contribute. Purely cosmetic surgery receives no Medicare or health fund benefit and attracts GST. The first consultation fee is $400, with a Medicare rebate of about $88 when you have a GP referral.
What your quote includes
Your quote is prepared after your consultation, once Dr Kumar has agreed a plan with you and the hospital has checked your health fund. It lists each part separately.
| Part | Who charges it | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Surgeon’s fee | Dr Kumar | The operation itself. It depends on the procedure and how long it takes. |
| Nurses’ fee | Dr Kumar’s practice | Preparation before surgery and your aftercare, including dressings and reviews for 12 months. |
| Anaesthetist’s fee | Your anaesthetist | Your anaesthetic, based on its length and complexity. |
| Surgical assistant’s fee | Your surgical assistant | A doctor who assists Dr Kumar during the operation. |
| Hospital fees | Westmead Private Hospital or Somerset Private Hospital | Theatre, accommodation and consumables. Day surgery costs less than a stay of several nights. |
| Garments and implants | Listed in your quote | Compression garments, and implants if your operation uses them. |
Occasionally other providers bill you directly, for example for pathology if tissue or blood is tested, imaging, or another specialist if you need one.
For procedure-specific detail, see the cost of skin removal surgery, breast reduction cost and implant revision cost.
Medicare item numbers
Medicare contributes to surgery only where an item number applies and its criteria are met. A GP referral is needed for every operation, and Dr Kumar assesses at your consultation whether an item applies to you.
| Item | Operation | Main criteria |
|---|---|---|
| 30166 | Removal of redundant abdominal skin (wedge excision) | At least five BMI points lost, weight stable for six months, and functional problems |
| 30177 | Lipectomy with radical abdominoplasty | Intertrigo that has not responded to three months of treatment, interference with daily activities, and weight stable for six months |
| 30179 | Circumferential lipectomy (body lift) | As for 30177, where the excision runs right around the trunk |
| 30169 | Removal of redundant non-abdominal skin, such as the arms, thighs, back or chest | As for 30166, for areas other than the abdomen |
| 30175 | Radical abdominoplasty with repair of muscle separation after pregnancy | Separation of at least 3 cm on imaging, documented symptoms, and physiotherapy that has not helped |
| 45520, 45523 | Breast reduction | Symptoms caused by large breasts. Breast reduction and Medicare |
| 45558 | Breast lift (mastopexy) without implants | Medicare criteria must be met; no item applies when implants are used |
The six-month weight-stability rule is a Medicare criterion, not a reason to wait before seeing Dr Kumar. You can see him once your weight has been stable for a minimum of three months; surgery is usually some months after the consultation. Medicare for skin removal surgery and Medicare rebates for plastic surgery explain the items in full.
Private health insurance
When an operation has a Medicare item number, private hospital cover that includes plastic and reconstructive surgery contributes to the hospital’s charges and to part of the doctors’ fees. Under the national hospital cover tiers, Silver and Gold policies must include medically necessary plastic and reconstructive surgery; Basic and Bronze policies may include it as an option.
- Fund check. The hospital checks your cover while your quote is being prepared, so your quote shows whether you are covered.
- Confirm with your fund. Call your fund with the item numbers from your quote to confirm your excess and what they will pay.
- Waiting periods. If you have recently joined or upgraded, a waiting period of up to 12 months can apply for a condition that existed before you joined.
- A gap remains. Medicare and your fund contribute to the surgeon’s and anaesthetist’s fees, but there is usually an out-of-pocket amount, which your quote shows.
Health funds do not pay for surgery that is purely cosmetic. Health fund cover for body contouring goes through this in more detail.
Cosmetic or medically necessary?
The difference changes what you pay. Surgery that meets a Medicare item, such as skin removal after major weight loss with documented functional problems, attracts Medicare and health fund benefits and is GST-free. Surgery performed only to change appearance, such as breast augmentation or a breast lift with implants, has no Medicare item, receives no health fund benefit and attracts GST.
Dr Kumar will explain at your consultation which applies to the operation you are considering.
Paying for surgery
- Deposit. Surgery can only be booked once your seven-day cooling-off period has ended. A deposit is paid when you book, to secure your date with the hospital, the anaesthetist and Dr Kumar’s team.
- Balance. The balance is due one month before your operation. If it has not been received by then, the operation is cancelled.
- Interest-free payment plan. If you book up to six months ahead, you can pay in regular instalments until the balance is due. The plan is run by the practice, not a finance company, and there is no interest.
- Payment methods. Cash, Visa, Mastercard and direct deposit. Please include your surname with any direct deposit.
- Bulk billing. Most services cannot be bulk billed or offered with no gap.
Before any large financial decision, independent financial advice is worthwhile. Paying for body contouring surgery covers the options in more detail.
Using superannuation
Early release of superannuation on compassionate grounds is administered by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and is available only in limited circumstances. Dr Kumar’s team can discuss with you whether your procedure may genuinely meet the requirements, but ultimately the decision is between you, your financial planner and the ATO.
Comparing quotes
Quotes from different practices are often not comparable, because they do not all include the same things. When you compare, check whether each quote includes:
- the anaesthetist, the surgical assistant and the hospital, or only the surgeon’s fee
- a general anaesthetic in an accredited hospital, and the number of nights you will stay
- garments, dressings and implants
- aftercare and reviews, and for how long
You can check any practitioner’s registration, including whether they hold specialist registration in plastic surgery, on the Ahpra register.
Consultation fees and cancellations
Dr Kumar’s first consultation fee is $400. Consultations run for 60 minutes; consultations after weight loss, or where more than one area concerns you, are booked for 90 minutes. A current GP referral is required for every patient and allows a Medicare rebate of about $88 to be claimed against this fee. About GP referrals.
If you need to change or cancel an appointment, please give at least two full working days’ notice so the time can be offered to another patient. Appointments cancelled at shorter notice, or missed, are charged in full. The cancellation terms for surgery are set out in your written quote.
Common questions about costs
How much does plastic surgery cost with Dr Kumar?
It depends on the operation, its length, your hospital stay and whether a Medicare item applies. You receive a written, itemised quote after your consultation. The first consultation fee is $400, with a Medicare rebate of about $88 with a GP referral.
Why is there no set price on the website?
The total is made up of several fees that change independently: the surgeon, nurses, anaesthetist, assistant, hospital and garments. Medicare and health fund contributions vary from patient to patient, so a single figure would be wrong for most people.
Does Medicare cover skin removal after weight loss?
It can. Items 30166, 30169, 30177 and 30179 apply where weight has been stable for six months and the excess skin causes documented functional problems. Dr Kumar assesses whether the criteria are met at your consultation.
Will my health fund pay?
If your operation has a Medicare item and your hospital cover includes plastic and reconstructive surgery, your fund contributes to the hospital’s charges and part of the doctors’ fees. Silver and Gold policies must include it. Health funds do not pay for purely cosmetic surgery.
Do I need a GP referral?
Yes. A GP referral is required for every patient, and it also allows the Medicare rebate on the consultation fee.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes. If you book up to six months ahead, you can pay in regular interest-free instalments until the balance is due, one month before surgery.
Is GST charged on cosmetic surgery?
Yes. Surgery performed only to change appearance, with no Medicare item, attracts GST. Surgery that meets a Medicare item is GST-free.
Download our Costs, Medicare and Health Funds Guide
Ready to talk about cost?
Request a call from Dr Kumar’s team or call 1300 267 726. Before deciding on any operation, read the risks and complications of surgery. Individual results vary.
About Dr Rohit Kumar
Dr Rohit Kumar (MED0001630444) is a registered medical practitioner with specialist registration in surgery – plastic surgery. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS), ANZBCPS Board Certified, and has over 20 years of surgical experience.
His practice centres on breast and body surgery. He has a particular focus on body contouring after major weight loss in both men and women: the arms, chest and breasts, back, abdomen, hips, flanks, buttocks and thighs. He also treats changes after pregnancy and age-related breast changes, such as large or drooping (ptotic) breasts.
Dr Kumar performs all of his weight-loss surgery at Westmead Private Hospital, where he also trains surgical registrars and fellows in post-weight-loss techniques. He consults in Westmead, Penrith and Orange.
At your consultation, Dr Kumar assesses your concerns and explains what surgery can and cannot achieve, including the risks, before recommending a plan. Dr Kumar’s team supports you from your first phone call through to recovery. The nurses who prepare you for surgery are the same nurses who see you at every post-operative review.
Request a consultation or call 1300 267 726.
