The verdict in three sentences
In Melbourne, a new website for a plastic surgery practice typically costs USD 11,700 to 26,000 with a local agency (about AUD 18,000 to 40,000) as a 2026 ballpark, and more with medical marketing specialists. Kolonell builds the same kind of site on a fixed grid of USD 2,900 (Starter), USD 4,900 (Growth) and USD 8,900 (Premium), with a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks (4 to 6 for Premium) and 3 months of support. The real comparison is the three-year total, including photography, compliance review and maintenance, and a site that respects AHPRA advertising rules from day one.
What Melbourne agencies charge, and what the fixed grid covers
| Option | 2026 ballpark (local terms) | Approx. in USD | What you usually get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelance designer or developer | AUD 6,000 to 15,000 | USD 3,900 to 9,800 | Template site, limited copy, little compliance awareness |
| Local web agency | AUD 18,000 to 40,000 | USD 11,700 to 26,000 | Custom design, project manager, copy often extra |
| Medical marketing specialist agency | AUD 45,000 to 100,000 | USD 29,300 to 65,000 | Strategy, content, ads, often a 12-month retainer |
| Kolonell Starter | Fixed price | USD 2,900 | Core practice site, native English copy, 3 to 4 weeks |
| Kolonell Growth | Fixed price | USD 4,900 | Full procedure pages, surgeon profiles, blog, analytics |
| Kolonell Premium | Fixed price | USD 8,900 | Multilingual tier (languages set in the quote), advanced design, 4 to 6 weeks |
Local ranges come from typical agency quotes and public agency rate pages; USD conversions are approximate at about 0.65 USD per AUD. Kolonell prices are quoted in USD only. Patient portals, booking integrations with practice management software and custom features are on quote, as is maintenance after the 3 included months. See the international offer for the full tier contents.
What a plastic surgery website must prove, page by page
Prospective patients compare surgeons more than clinics. They read credentials, look for honest procedure information and want to understand the consultation process before paying a referral visit. In Australia, cosmetic surgery advertising is closely regulated: AHPRA and the Medical Board of Australia publish advertising guidelines, including specific guidance for practitioners who perform cosmetic surgery, and the National Law restricts testimonials in advertising regulated health services. The TGA restricts public advertising of prescription-only medicines, which affects how injectables can be mentioned. The Australian Consumer Law prohibits misleading claims, and health providers are covered by the Privacy Act 1988 regardless of turnover. This is not legal advice: have your pages reviewed by your own adviser or indemnity insurer.
| Page | What it must prove | Compliance watch point |
|---|---|---|
| Surgeon profile | Registration, specialist title or endorsement exactly as on the public register, training, hospital affiliations | No "leading" or "best", no unverifiable titles |
| Procedure pages | What the procedure involves, who it suits, risks, recovery time, costs approach | Risks stated plainly, no promised outcomes |
| Consultation process | Referral requirement, cooling-off periods, number of consultations | Matches the current guidelines your adviser confirms |
| Fees and finance | How fees are set, what an estimate includes | No discount pressure or time-limited offers |
| Before and after gallery | Only if your adviser confirms it is permissible and consented | Context, same lighting, no retouching |
| Contact and enquiry form | Easy contact without collecting medical history | Minimal health data, secure handling |
| Hospital and facilities | Accredited facilities used, aftercare arrangements | Facts only |
Hidden costs and the three-year total
The build is rarely the biggest number. Photography, compliance review, hosting and maintenance add up, and they apply whoever builds the site. The table compares a Kolonell Growth site with a mid-range local agency quote of AUD 28,000 (about USD 18,200).
| Cost line over 3 years | Kolonell Growth (USD) | Local agency (USD, approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Website build | 4,900 | 18,200 |
| Professional photography of surgeons and rooms (external market assumption, AUD 2,500) | 1,600 | 1,600 |
| Compliance review of all pages by an external adviser (external market assumption, AUD 1,500) | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Maintenance after the included period (market assumption: USD 150 a month for 33 months vs AUD 300, about USD 195, a month for 36 months) | 4,950 | 7,020 |
| Hosting and domain (market assumption, USD 25 a month) | 900 | 900 |
| Three-year total | 13,350 | 28,720 |
On these assumptions, the gap is USD 15,370 over three years. Kolonell maintenance beyond the 3 included months is on quote; the figure above is a market assumption, not a Kolonell price.
When a local Melbourne agency is the better choice
Be honest about fit. A local agency makes more sense if you want regular in-person workshops at your rooms, if photo and video shoots must be run by the same team every month, if the site has to integrate deeply with your practice management system from the start, or if you want one supplier to run paid campaigns, social media and the website together on a retainer. If your need is a credible, compliant, well-written site delivered in weeks, a fixed grid usually wins on cost.
Questions to ask any provider: who checks the pages against AHPRA guidance, and when? Who writes procedure copy, and has that person written for medical practices before? Will the enquiry form avoid collecting clinical details? Who owns the domain, hosting and analytics accounts? What exactly happens after launch, and at what cost?
Mini case study
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Illustrative example. Yarra Aesthetic Surgery, a fictional two-surgeon practice in Melbourne, sees many patients whose first language is not English and opts for the Premium tier, with languages set in the quote.
- Kolonell Premium: USD 8,900.
- Translation of key procedure pages into the chosen languages by an external medical translator, about 6,000 words at USD 0.15 a word: USD 900 (external market assumption).
- Photography: USD 1,600 (external market assumption, AUD 2,500).
Total: 8,900 + 900 + 1,600 = USD 11,400. The practice's best local quote for a comparable multilingual site was AUD 38,000, about USD 24,700, so the difference is 24,700 − 11,400 = USD 13,300 before maintenance.
FAQ
How much does a plastic surgery website cost in Melbourne in 2026?
Local agencies typically quote AUD 18,000 to 40,000, about USD 11,700 to 26,000, as a 2026 ballpark. Kolonell's fixed grid runs from USD 2,900 to USD 8,900.
Can we show before and after photos on our site?
Only within the current AHPRA and Medical Board guidance and with patient consent, which your adviser should confirm. Many practices limit galleries and explain context, recovery and risks on every procedure page.
Can we publish patient reviews or testimonials?
The National Law restricts testimonials in advertising regulated health services, so this needs specific advice. A safer approach is factual content about the surgeon, the procedure and the consultation process.
How long does the build take?
Starter and Growth are delivered in 3 to 4 weeks and Premium in 4 to 6 weeks, provided content and photography arrive on time. Booking integrations are on quote and can add time.
What is included after launch?
Three months of support are included in every tier. Maintenance after that period is on quote; budget a market range of about USD 100 to 250 a month as an assumption when comparing offers.
Let's scope your project. A compliant practice site with surgeon profiles and procedure pages, on the Growth or Premium tier, delivered in 3 to 6 weeks. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
