Cork or Dublin
Prices are in the same range in Cork and in Dublin. What changes is the travel. A tummy tuck has more check-ups than most operations, and the first weeks are the worst time to be on the road, so a surgeon closer to home has a real advantage. Choose on the surgeon first, the distance second.
If you choose Dublin
- Ask whether the first consultation can be by video, then meet the surgeon in person before you book.
- You'll stay at least one night in hospital. Many people from Cork add a night near the hospital before the drive home.
- You'll need an adult to drive you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours. That's a about 3 hours drive as a passenger, bent forward: recline the seat and stop often.
- On any trip of three hours or more, the HSE advises loose clothes, getting up to walk, compression stockings and calf exercises, because sitting still after surgery raises the risk of a clot.
- Ask which check-ups must be in Dublin and which can be done nearer home or by video, and who you ring at night once you're back in Cork.
The cost of travelling
Add fuel or train fares for about four or five return trips, a night or two near the hospital, and the driver's time. It's still far less than the difference between a cheap and a well-planned operation.
What it costs
Mini €5,600 to €7,900, full €8,000 to €12,000, full with liposuction €10,400 to €11,500, in Dublin or Cork. See the price guide.
Before you book
Every doctor practising in Ireland must be registered with the Medical Council, and only a doctor with specialist registration can practise independently as a specialist. For a tummy tuck, check that the surgeon is on the Specialist Division in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, using the Medical Council's online register.
A tummy tuck isn't for you yet if:
- your weight is still going down or up
- you plan more pregnancies: a pregnancy can undo the result
- you smoke and won't stop well before surgery (some surgeons won't operate on smokers at all)
- the problem is fat with firm skin, when liposuction may be enough
Questions from Cork
Is a tummy tuck cheaper in Cork than in Dublin?
Not really: prices sit in the same range, €8,000 to €12,000 for a full tummy tuck.
How far is Dublin from Cork for a tummy tuck?
About 3 hours by car outside rush hour, 254 km. Plan nights away and a driver.
Can my check-ups be closer to home?
Some can, depending on the surgeon. Ask before you book which ones must be in person with them.