Cost of Liposuction

This section of our LiposuctionGuide.com is dedicated to help you understand the range of liposuction costs and the related fees. Costs vary depending on the type of liposuction, the size of the area being treated, your surgeon, the surgical facility and the state where your surgeon is located. Liposuction patients can expect to pay approximately $2,000 to $7,500 per area treated. The average liposuction procedure on the abdominal area, for example, costs about $6,500.

Liposuction procedures have become more affordable, thanks to the many improvements and advances in technology and techniques over the past decade. Modern liposuction procedures do not require general anesthesia or the associated fees.

The Most Common Factors that Determine Liposuction Costs:

• The surgeon rates
• Size of patient
• Amount of time to perform surgery
• Number of areas to be treated
• Costs for anesthesia or anesthesiologist's services
• Clinic or facility fees
• Preoperative laboratory fees
• Other related expenses, such prescribed medications and compression garments

This cost table will give you a general idea of what to expect to pay for the procedure:

Because liposuction is considered an elective procedure, insurance usually will not cover the costs. Most surgeons offer financing for patients who can afford to make monthly payments, rather than a lump-sum payment. Patients who need financial assistance to help with the liposuction fees and costs will likely be directed to apply online first to qualify.

Liposuction Surgery Costs and Questions

Because many variables determine the costs, you will want to go to your initial consultation armed with questions to help you learn the total costs for your procedure. Use our Surgeon Locator to find a qualified liposuction surgeon. Here are some to consider:

• How much do the recommended methods cost?
• Is there a bundled charge if multiple areas are treated?
• Does the quoted fee include the facility cost?
• How much is anesthesia? Local anesthesia with sedation is less expensive than general anesthesia.
• Will additional staff be required to perform the procedure(s)?
• What financing options does the surgeon's office recommend? What is the interest rate? What are the payment terms? In some cases, patients qualify for low monthly payments and a no-interest loan if the loan is paid in full within a certain time.
• Does your surgeon offer specials on liposuction surgery? Cosmetic and plastic surgeons compete in the same marketplace, so they can and do offer specials.

Liposuction and Medical Tourism

In today's tough economic times, people are searching for the best values, even when considering liposuction surgery and costs. When it comes to cosmetic or plastic surgery and your body, as a general rule, select the most experienced surgeon to perform your surgery. Liposuction costs should be secondary to achieving the optimum outcome and having a healthy recovery. Liposuction is not a time to sacrifice quality in search of a bargain.

Medical tourism has increased in popularity over the past few years. It offers a tempting option to travel to another state or country to have surgery, especially if there is a cost savings involved. Before traveling to another country to have surgery, do your research. Although many countries have very high medical standards, and a patient is highly likely to get satisfying results, some countries have less rigid standards for medical training and cleanliness, and the risk of complications could be much higher.

Various travel expenses such as plane tickets, hotel stays and follow-up visits can increase the overall price. Traveling abroad is not a good option if the patient is having only one procedure. This alternative makes more sense when the patient desires to have more than one cosmetic procedure performed and is able to take at least four weeks off work. Additionally, the patient might need to pay for their procedures in full because financing is usually not an option to non-residents of the destination country.

Liposuction Versus the Economic Recession

Cosmetic and plastic surgery, like every industry, has been impacted by the economy. Elective lifestyles and luxury items are often the first to go from the budget. However, in 2010, the industry saw a slight uptick in cosmetic procedures performed in the United States. Statistics given by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) show a nearly 9% increase.

The ASAPS states that 289,016 liposuction procedures were performed in 2010 in the United States, which is up from 2009.

Many people want to look and feel better to compete in a down economy and in the job market. Liposuction is an affordable way to achieve permanent results.

Things to Remember When Factoring Liposuction Costs

• A surgeon is a highly paid expert. Like any other professional (lawyer, doctor, architect), you are paying for his or her time, education and experience.
• Your size and proportions will be factors. The more areas to be treated and the more fat or weight to be eliminated, the higher the costs.
• More refined or complex areas of the body might cost more.
• Degree of difficulty and amount of areas being treated will affect time and cost.
• Surgeon's experience will affect his or her price. An in-demand cosmetic surgeon with an excellent reputation might charge more.
• The geographic location of the surgeon will influence his or her fees. Generally, large cities such as New York City and Los Angeles will average higher rates because real estate is more expensive there, and cosmetic surgery procedures are in demand.