Plastic surgery pricing in the UAE: based on your individual assessment

Start with the proposed operation

Ask for the procedure name, areas to be treated and the intended surgical setting in writing. A quotation for liposuction of one area cannot be compared directly with a different treatment plan. Similarly, silicone breast implants, a breast lift and a reduction address different goals and should not be treated as interchangeable purchases.

Your assessment may change the proposed scope. If that happens, request an updated quotation before deciding. Note which items are confirmed and which depend on further evaluation, tests or a change to the surgical plan.

Separate the main fees

Ask whether the total covers the surgeon, anaesthesia and operating facility. Check whether a proposed hospital stay is included and what happens if the length of stay changes. An amount described as a surgeon's fee may not represent the complete cost of treatment.

• Assessment and tests: which consultations and investigations are included?
• Procedure supplies: are implants, prescribed garments or other specified items included where relevant?
• Medicines: are discharge prescriptions included or paid separately?
• Follow-up: which appointments are included, for how long and at which location?

Add questions specific to your treatment

For silicone breast implants, ask which implant and related documentation are included in the proposed plan and what longer-term monitoring or future surgery could involve. Ask whether ongoing appointments or further treatment would be charged separately.

For a tummy tuck or a circumferential body lift, clarify the planned extent of surgery, facility arrangements and any garments or follow-up care listed in the quote. For facial surgery, confirm which procedures are actually included rather than relying on a broad package name.

Ask what happens if more care is needed

Request the policy for unplanned assessments, complications and any further procedure. Ask which charges could be separate and who would provide that care. This is a request for clarity, not a promise that additional treatment will or will not be necessary.

If insurance may be relevant, obtain the insurer's written response for the specific proposed treatment and possible complications. Do not assume that a general health or travel policy covers elective cosmetic surgery, and do not treat the clinic's estimate as an insurance approval.

Include the costs around recovery

Make a separate list for travel, accommodation if needed, transport to appointments, help at home and time away from work. Those costs may sit outside a surgical quotation even when the clinical fees are fully itemised.

If you live outside the UAE or need to travel between locations, discuss follow-up arrangements before booking non-refundable travel. Leave room in your planning for a changed appointment or a longer stay if your recovery requires reassessment. The recovery guide can help you prepare that conversation.

Compare clarity and suitability, not only the total

Use the same headings for each quotation: treatment scope, clinical fees, included follow-up, exclusions and payment terms. Mark unanswered points rather than filling them with assumptions. Ask about the currency, quote validity and cancellation or rescheduling terms before paying a deposit.

A lower figure alone does not establish value or safety, and a higher figure does not guarantee a result. Consider the individual treatment recommendation, the operating arrangements and the clarity of the care plan alongside the cost.