How much does liposuction cost? Whenever somebody tells their friends and family that they’ve decided to have liposuction surgery, that’s what they always ask. Nobody ever says ‘good for you’ or ‘you deserve it’ or ask ‘how much weight will you lose?’ Instead the first question out of their mouths is ‘how much is it going to cost?’ Maybe this is because we’re all instinctively greedy (and that’s why new mothers are always asked how many pounds worth of baby they got for their trouble) but it’s also because it is well know that body altering surgery of any type is expensive. However, with the increasing popularity of liposuction and with so many surgeons now offering the procedure, the cost of liposuction has gone down significantly since the procedure first became popular in the late 1980s. In that time a number of advancements to the surgical procedure have also been made, making it much safer. So perhaps it’s time to change the way we think about liposuction and begin thinking of it as an everyday, safe and economically viable answer to our weight and body issues.
The old view of liposuction simply no longer fits. We used to think of liposuction as an extreme measure and as something that only the very rich can afford. This is no longer the case. The cost of liposuction surgery varies from country to country and state to state, and depends largely on the type of procedure to be performed. However, in the U.S the average cost of liposuction is between $2000 and $7000. Whilst this is still a huge amount of money for some, it is hardly something that only movie stars can afford.
So why does the cost of liposuction surgery vary so much. Well, there are four major factors that will determine the cost of your surgery – type of procedure, target area, scale and time.
Type of procedure – There are several different types of liposuction surgery and which one you chose will effect the cost. For example, laser liposuction uses advanced laser technology to melt fat. This equipment is expensive and requires the surgeon to be skilled in its operation, so you may be charged more. However, the use of the laser will also reduce the operating time and this may cut the price slightly.
Target area – Costs of liposuction are usually determined by the area of your body on which the surgery will be performed. Typically, liposuction to the lower abdomen and buttocks will be the cheapest whilst the upper abdomen can be the most expensive.
Scale and time – The more fat you wish to be removed, the longer it will take and the more expensive the surgery will be. Surgeon often charge more for liposuction to male patients as they have, on average, larger bodies than women.
These are the main criteria. However, it is also down to the surgeon (or the surgeon’s clinic) to decide what prices he offers. Remember that just because a particular surgeon is the cheapest, it does not mean that he is the best. Often the opposite is true. So look for a surgeon who is both skilled and well priced.