Breast lift/augmentation and Medicare rebates.

[AnyDream]

My understanding is that Medicare pretty much only pays if there is a medical need for the procedure.

So, for example, for a reduction, the woman would need to have had ongoing issues with pain etc that makes the reduction necessary.

In terms of augmentation, the only situation I've ever heard of it being covered by Medicare is in the context of breast reconstruction after breast cancer. For eg, if a woman has had one breast removed and reconstructed, and has the other breast lifted/augmented so that the reconstructed breast and the healthy breast match each other. In that instance the surgery there is a rebate and the surgery can be done in the public hospital system.

I have also read that Medicare pays a rebate for lifts only if the degree of breast droop (ptosis) is of a certain severity (nipple has to lie below the crease under your boob) provided your child is under a certain age, but in that instance implants/augmentation would not be paid for. I don't know whether you could get it done through the public system (I suspect it would be a verrrrrrrry long wait) so there are likely to be other costs involved if you see a private surgeon. If this is something you want to pursue, it's worth having a chat to your GP and if possible get a referral to see a surgeon who operates both in the public/private system as they will know how it works in both places (sometimes you can get get added to their surgery list at the public hospital andit works out a bit cheaper that way).

[AnyDream]

PS - get ready to say "ouch" when you're told about the costs because cosmetic surgeons generally cost a bomb.