At a glance
- How much does skin removal surgery cost in Australia? One Australian patient was quoted an average of AUD 30,000 to 40,000, including elements covered by health insurance.
- How much did it cost in Turkey? She paid AUD 11,200 in Turkey, for a package that included the surgery, the anaesthetist, accommodation, transfers, food, a recovery hotel and a night nurse.
- What surgery did she have? A tummy tuck with a hip-to-hip incision and a new belly button. Almost two years later, she reports no issues.
- Is skin removal surgery the same as a tummy tuck? A tummy tuck is the most common form of skin removal surgery. When excess skin also affects the flanks, back, arms or thighs, an extended tummy tuck, a body lift, an arm lift or a thigh lift may be more suitable.
- What do clinics ask before surgery? A blood test, a health check, a stable weight and your height and weight, so the surgeon can confirm you are a good candidate.
After major weight loss or pregnancy, many people are left with loose skin that diet and exercise cannot remove. In Australia, removing it is expensive, which is why a growing number of patients look at skin removal surgery in Turkey. This page is based on the account of a young Australian woman who shared, in a public video, the costs of her surgery and why she chose Turkey. Her figures speak for themselves.
Skin removal surgery cost: Australia vs Turkey
In Australia, she was quoted an average of AUD 30,000 to 40,000 for skin removal surgery, including the part covered by health insurance. In Turkey, the whole package cost her AUD 11,200.
Skin removal surgery cost: Australia vs Turkey
In her words, it was the best decision she made financially, and, after going through it, the best decision overall. For a young patient without much savings, the difference made the surgery possible.
| Australia | Turkey (her package) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | AUD 30,000 – 40,000 on average | AUD 11,200 |
| Surgery and anaesthetist | Included in the quote | Included |
| Accommodation and recovery hotel | Not needed if you live nearby | Included |
| Transfers and food | — | Included |
| Night nurse and on-site hosts | Depends on the hospital | Included |
| Accompanying person | — | Included at no extra cost |
| Flights | None | To budget separately |
British patients reach the same conclusion: one UK patient’s itemised bill came to more than £13,600 for a full tummy tuck at home, as detailed in our comparison of the real tummy tuck cost in the UK and in Turkey. Whether from Sydney or London, it is the combination of price and quality of care that leads patients to choose Turkey.
AUD 11,200 in Turkey instead of AUD 30,000 to 40,000 in Australia: the surgery, the stay and the recovery care in one package.
What her Turkish package included
- The surgery and the anaesthetist.
- Accommodation and a recovery hotel.
- Transfers and meals.
- Hosts on site and a night nurse.
- One accompanying person at no additional cost.
What a package covers varies from one provider to another, so always ask for a written list before booking.
Skin removal surgery: an alternative to a classic tummy tuck
“Skin removal surgery” is not one single operation. It is a family of procedures that remove the loose skin left after weight loss or pregnancy. The best known is the tummy tuck in Turkey, which tightens the abdomen and can repair separated muscles. In this patient’s case, the surgeon cut from hip to hip and created a new belly button.
But when the excess skin goes beyond the front of the abdomen, a classic tummy tuck is no longer enough. Depending on your body, the surgeon may suggest:
| Where the excess skin is | Procedure usually considered |
|---|---|
| Lower abdomen only | Mini tummy tuck |
| Whole abdomen, with or without separated muscles | Full tummy tuck |
| Abdomen and flanks | Extended tummy tuck |
| Abdomen, flanks, back and buttocks | Body lift |
| Upper arms | Arm lift |
| Inner thighs | Thigh lift |
After a sleeve, a bypass or treatments such as Ozempic, several areas are often involved; our guide to surgery after massive weight loss explains how these procedures can be planned in stages. When the loose skin goes all the way around the waist, the surgeon may suggest a 360 tummy tuck (circular abdominoplasty); when the issue is fat on the flanks rather than skin, a tummy tuck with lipo 360 is often enough.
How the process works before you fly
The patient got in touch through a friend who had had the same surgery, then contacted the clinic on WhatsApp. She received an intake form and a list of what to provide:
- A blood test and a general health check.
- Confirmation of no underlying health conditions.
- Your height and weight, which must stay consistent: the clinic insisted on a stable weight before surgery.
A stable weight matters: further weight loss after surgery would bring back loose skin. She admits she was anxious because of what she had heard about surgery abroad, but describes a seamless experience, with surgeons and staff who spoke English. To prepare in the same spirit, read our guide on cosmetic surgery safety in Turkey and how to prepare your medical trip to Turkey.
Two years later
Almost two years after her surgery, she reports having had no issues and feeling confident in her skin again. Results always vary from one patient to another and depend on the surgeon, the technique and how well you follow the recovery advice.
How much is skin removal surgery at Aram Clinic?
At Aram Clinic, a tummy tuck costs about €2,800 on average in an all-inclusive package, and €3,000 to €4,000 when combined with liposuction. Extended tummy tucks, body lifts, arm lifts and thigh lifts are priced on quote, after the surgeon has reviewed your photos and medical history. Packages include the surgery, the hospital stay, a 5-star hotel and transfers with a driver; flights are to be budgeted separately.
Plan to stay around seven to ten days in Turkey for skin removal surgery, an estimate your surgeon confirms according to the procedure and how you heal.
Get your free skin removal quote on WhatsApp
Our surgeons for skin removal surgery
Your surgery is performed by an identified, experienced plastic surgeon in Istanbul or Izmir. Meet our plastic surgeons in Turkey.
Dr Mehmet Karaaltin (Istanbul)
A graduate of the Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in Istanbul, certified by the Turkish Board of Plastic Surgery and a member of EBOPRAS and ISAPS, he has more than 25 years of experience. As an ISAPS member surgeon, he provides ISAPS insurance for the cosmetic procedures he performs. His body surgery practice includes abdominoplasty, high-definition liposuction and body contouring.
Dr Tolgahan Alpaydin (Izmir)
A graduate of Ege University (Izmir), he completed his plastic surgery residency there (1995–2001), then a microsurgery fellowship and aesthetic surgery training at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (USA). He has directed the Izmir Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery Clinic since 2003. Body lift, abdominoplasty and body contouring after weight loss are among his specialisations.
Dr Orhan Fahri Demir (Istanbul)
Trained at Gazi University (Ankara) and in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery at Ege University, he has practised as a plastic surgery specialist at Memorial Bahçelevler Hospital in Istanbul since 2025, with more than eight years of clinical and academic experience. His specialisations include abdominoplasty, body contouring and skin reconstruction.