Cosmetic surgery: what health insurance covers
Whether breast enlargement, nose correction or liposuction: cosmetic surgery is expensive. Health insurers rarely cover the costs. Comparis answers key questions on the topic.
03.10.2025
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1. How much does cosmetic surgery cost in Switzerland?
The cost of cosmetic surgery depends on various factors. For example: the part of the body, the extent of the procedure, the surgical technique and the clinic. You can find the approximate costs of breast enlargement, rhinoplasty and other procedures here.
Compare a range of providers and get multiple quotes. Pay attention to how the providers bill for additional services such as consultations or aftercare.
Comparis tip
When choosing a cosmetic surgery, you should not only look at the costs. Although low prices and discounts are tempting, they also involve risks.
Make sure that the treating surgeon is certified as a specialist for plastic surgery according to the Swiss Medical Association (FMH). Ideally, they should also be a member of Swiss Plastic Surgery (SGPRAC).
2. When does health insurance cover cosmetic surgery?
Basic health insurance only covers the costs of cosmetic surgery if it is medically necessary. For purely cosmetic procedures without a medical issue – such as a tummy-tuck for aesthetic reasons – health insurance does not cover the costs.
Treatments are medically necessary if there are regular physical or mental symptoms of a pathological nature. The intervention must aim to improve the symptoms. Examples include:
Breast reconstruction after cancer surgery or tumour removal
Removal of a mole in the event of suspected cancer
Nose correction in the case of a severely deviated nasal septum and impaired breathing
The detailed regulations can be found in the Health Insurance Benefits Ordinance.
3. Coverage commitments by health insurers for cosmetic operations
The insurer will check the health impairment based on the medical documents. Always ask your insurer for a coverage commitment as confirmation that it will cover the costs.
You’ll need a cost estimate from your surgeon to request one. Include this in your application for your health insurer to cover the costs. Explain why the procedure is necessary from a medical point of view and attach detailed documentation of your medical history, such as photographs and reports of treatments already received.
In the event of a dispute, you can contact the ombudsman service for health insurers online.
4. Which supplemental insurance covers the costs of cosmetic surgery?
Some health insurers offer supplemental insurance policies that cover cosmetic procedures. They cover part of the treatment costs – but also exclude many procedures.
The general insurance conditions specify the specific cosmetic treatments covered by the supplemental insurance (e.g. breast surgery or liposuction) and what the criteria are. Check this information before taking out supplemental insurance.
Also note any possible waiting periods. After taking out the insurance policy, you often have a waiting period before you can claim any benefits. The duration of the waiting period is specified in the contract.
5. How are follow-up costs of cosmetic surgery insured?
Medical complications are one of the risks of surgery. In Switzerland, you are covered for such complications by compulsory health insurance. It covers the costs of any medically necessary follow-up treatment. You only incur the costs of the deductible, the coinsurance and, if applicable, the hospital cost contribution.
Basic insurance does not cover any costs for surgical results that are only cosmetically undesirable, such as breasts of unequal size or asymmetrical lips.
6. Cosmetic surgery in Switzerland: frequently asked questions
The cost of breast enlargement in Switzerland is around 6,000 to 15,000 francs – depending on the method, clinic and individual requirements.
Beware of cheap offers abroad
Breast enlargement is often offered abroad at significantly lower prices. However, these offers involve considerable risks in terms of quality, safety and aftercare.
Rhinoplasty is available from around 6,000 francs and can cost up to 12,000 francs.
The cost of liposuction in Switzerland usually starts at around 4,000 to 5,000 francs, depending on the region of the body and scope of the procedure. The exact costs depend on the part of the body and the amount of fat cells to be removed.
Health insurance only covers the costs of liposuction in exceptional cases. Usually only after
at least 12 months of unsuccessful conservative therapy (consistent compression therapy and manual lymphatic drainage therapy),
a proven medical diagnosis
and in advanced stages of the disease.
Health insurance does not cover liposuction for aesthetic reasons.
According to the Federal Office of Public Health, liposuction for the treatment of lipoedema has been a compulsory benefit of basic insurance under certain conditions since July 2021 (Appendix 1 of the Health Insurance Benefits Ordinance). The following criteria are a prerequisite for cost coverage:
The pain associated with the lipoedema does not respond sufficiently to intensive and documented conservative therapy. The therapy must have lasted at least 12 months.
The costs are only covered based on the insurer’s expert opinion. The recommendation of the independent medical examiner is taken into account here.
The decision to undergo lipoedema surgery must be made jointly by at least two specialist doctors.
Liposuction must be performed by a doctor who has experience and special knowledge of this surgical technique.
Health insurance usually does not pay for aesthetic corrections such as nose alignment. The situation is different if the nose correction is performed because of functional problems. Strictly speaking, this is not a cosmetic procedure. In this case, too, you should always obtain a coverage commitment before the operation.
Health insurance only covers the costs of a tummy-tuck (abdominoplasty) if it is medically necessary. You must be able to prove that you have health problems that cannot be treated otherwise. Examples include:
Chronic skin inflammation
Recurrent infections in skin folds
Severe back pain
Significantly restricted movement
Health insurance does not cover a tummy-tuck for aesthetic reasons.
Breast reductions are often medically necessary. After all, an excessively large bust can cause health problems. An operation is then usually covered by basic insurance. The condition for this is that at least 500 grams of tissue per side must be removed. Conversely, basic insurance usually does not pay for breast enlargement.
Health insurance pays for breast surgery for psychological reasons only in particular cases. In this case, an independent medical examiner will check whether there is a pathological problem. The psychological complaints must be considerable and outweigh other (especially aesthetic) motives.
Breast reconstruction after cancer treatment
After cancer treatment, basic insurance covers the costs of breast reconstruction. It covers severe aesthetic impairments after an accident or illness on particularly sensitive parts of the body (in this case the breast).
The aim of the operation is always to eliminate breast asymmetry. Therefore, in principle, the reduction of the healthy breast is also covered by basic insurance. The detailed provisions are set out in the Health Insurance Benefits Ordinance.
This article was first published on 08.07.2022
