Liposuction Cost
Liposuction cost can be very difficult to estimate in a general way. If you have worked hard to lose excess weight, are maintaining a healthful diet and participating in a regular exercise program – but there are still areas where the unsightly pockets of fat just refuse to come off – you are probably seriously considering liposuction. You might start by looking on the Internet. When you do, you will immediately be faced with such ads as: “Cost of Liposuction: $99!” Right below it, you’ll see “Affordable Cost of Liposuction — $1,999!” What’s going on here?
Factors that go into determining the cost of liposuction in your case will include: the procedure to be performed; the area of the body involved; the qualifications, experience, and expertise of the surgeon you select; the geographic location of the surgeon; the time and effort expected for the procedure; your overall size, health condition, and age; and other factors like the anesthesiologist’s fee. There will be some pre-operative test fees, and some post-operative fees for medication and compression garments.
Since liposuction is now the most frequently performed cosmetic surgery in the United States, it is possible to give an extremely rough estimate of the cost of liposuction in this country. These figures refer only to the surgical fees. When estimating the true cost of liposuction, you will need to add non-surgical fees (which could be around $2,000), and possibly the cost of an anesthesiologist. Here are just a few examples:
• Upper and lower abdomen – from about $3,000 to about $7,500
• Upper and lower arms – from about $1,500 to about $5,000
• Female breasts – from about $3,000 to about $7,500
• Male breasts – from about $3,000 to about $5,000
• Chin, cheeks, jowls, and neck – from about $2,000 to about $4,500
• Buttocks – from about $1,500 to about $4,500
• Hips and waist – from about $1,600 to about $5,000.
If you plan on having your whole lower body reshaped, the cost of liposuction will be calculated by adding the cost of separate areas, like Hips and Waist; Outer Thighs; Inner Thighs and Knees; Anterior Thighs and Knees; and probably Buttocks and Abdomen as well.
Consideration of the cost of liposuction should not outweigh consideration of its health benefits. In many cases, liposuction is more than just a cosmetic procedure to sculpt the body by removing excess fat. Sometimes a patient’s health is seriously endangered by the presence
of large amounts of excess fat; such fat deposits can put stress on the kidneys and lungs and overwork the heart. Even if your reason for wanting liposuction is primarily cosmetic, your psychological wellbeing should be considered as well as your physical health.
Be very careful in selecting a surgeon to perform your surgery. One reason there may be major differences in the cost of liposuction quoted to you by various surgeons is that those who charge the lower fees may not be properly qualified and board certified for liposuction. Remember that a poorly-performed procedure could wind up costing you many times more than the original cost of liposuction. You might have to undergo subsequent surgeries to repair the errors; at the very least, you would be unhappy with your results. The old adage “You get what you pay for” is especially applicable to the cost of liposuction. This is one place you don’t want to economize at the expense of quality!
Your best bet when you are seriously considering liposuction is to talk with many specialists in your area. As well, if you know anyone who has had liposuction, talk with them and gain from their experience. A more meaningful estimate of the cost of liposuction in your particular case will be available after you are examined by a plastic surgeon. At this time, you can ask all your questions about the procedure and its many costs additional to the surgeon’s fee.
