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How To Pick A Surgeon > Cost of Liposuction

Cost of Liposuction


Cost of Liposuction is an important factor when considering liposuction. However the quality of liposuction is more important than the cost of liposuction. If the ultimate goal of liposuction is to have a happy patient, then the surgeon's expertise and experience are probably more important than the price. Price is important, but it is not the most important. Be careful not to put your body on the "Discount Rack".

Lowest Price Can Be Most Expensive
Choosing a surgeon based on the lowest price might ultimately be the most expensive choice if the initial cosmetic results are so bad that another surgeon must be paid to repair the work of the first surgeon. Among the most common undesirable outcomes of liposuction are 1) incomplete liposuction with very little evidence that liposuction was actually done, 2) excessive liposuction producing an unnatural or disfigured appearance, 3) irregular and uneven results with unsightly depressions in the skin, and 4) large scars that reveal that the patient has had liposuction. Caveat emptor (Buyer beware).

How to Use Fee Table (Below)
The total cost for a surgery is the sum of the non-surgical fee plus one or more surgical fees. The non-surgical include the cost of the operating room, nursing staff, pre-operative laboratory tests, post-operative garments and supplies. The surgical fees represent the cost for surgery of each individual area. For example, the total cost for liposuction of the hips, outer thighs and buttocks might be the sum of the surgical fees for hips ($2400), outer thighs ($3000), and buttok ($1800), plus non-surgical fee ($1600), which equals $8,800.

The following table is merely a rough estimate of the possible fees.

Table of Approximate Surgical Fees in the United States of America
Body Area Approximate Lower End of Range of Surgical Fee ($) Approximate Upper End Range of Surgical Fee ($)
Abdomen, upper & lower 3,000 7,500
Abdomen, lower 2,000 2,000
Arms 1,500 5,000
Back, female 1,500 4,000
Breasts, female 3,000 7,500
Breasts, male 3,000 5,000
Buttocks 1,500 4,500
Chin, Cheeks, Jowls, Neck 2,000 4,500
Flanks, male 2,000 5,000
Anterior Thighs & Knees 2,000 5,000
Inner (Thighs & Knees) 2,000 5,000
Hips/Waist 1,600 5,000
Outer Thighs 1,600 5,000
(Total fee = All Surgical Fees + Non-Surgical Fee). If an anesthesiologist is required, then an additional fee must be anticipated.



Factors That Determine Cost
Factors that determine cost of liposuction include 1) The size of the patient, 2) Amount of time and effort required of the surgeon, 3) Cost of anesthesiologist's services, 4) Operating room fees, 5) Preoperative laboratory fees, 6) Other related expenses, such as elastic compression garments, etc.

Expected Time and Effort
The expected time and effort that is required to accomplish a liposuction surgery is the most important factor in determining the cost of liposuction. Factors that typically affect the surgeon's time and effort include 1) Number of areas being treated, 2) Size of the patient, 3) Anticipated degree of difficulty. Thus, cost of liposuction of the abdomen alone is less than the cost of doing liposuction on both the abdomen as well as the inner thighs and knees. Similarly the cost for abdominal liposuction on a patient who weighs 80 kilograms (176 pounds) might be more than the cost for liposuction of the abdomen of a patients who has never weighed more than 60 kilograms (132 pounds). Liposuction is more difficult and requires more time if the patient has previously gained and then lost a significant amount of weight. In any area previously treated with liposuction the fat often contains scar tissue which makes liposuction in the same area more difficult.

Other Variables Affecting Cost
Other variables affecting cost of liposuction include the 1) experience of the surgeon and 2) geographic location of the surgeon. An expert liposuction surgeon who has done thousands of liposuction procedures, who consistently achieves outstanding results, and who is in great demand, will often charge more than a less experienced surgeon. Surgeons who are not busy may offer discounts, or entice prospective patients by offering free consultation. Surgeon's who have had unhappy patients and who do not have a good reputation might also lower prices in order to attract new patients. In geographic areas where rents and labor costs are high, one can expect higher fees for liposuction.

Global Fee
Some surgeons will quote a single global fee that includes almost every possible surgery-related expense in one lump sum. Typically a global fee is the sum of the surgical fees, plus the non-surgical fee, plus the anesthesiologist's fee (if general anesthesia is used). A global fee is commonly used when the surgery is done in the surgeon's office or surgericenter. When a prospective patient telephones a surgeon's office to inquire about the cost of liposuction, be certain to determine if the quote is for a global fee or merely the surgical fee. An office employee who answers the telephone might only give information about the surgeon's fee and not mention other important items such as the anesthesiologist's fee, and operating room fee.



Itemized Fees Including Surgical Fee
Some surgeons prefer to give prospective patients an itemized list of all the anticipated costs of liposuction. These separate costs might include the surgical fee (money paid to the surgeon for his services), anesthesiologist's fee, operating room fee, pre-operative laboratory test fees, charges for post-operative elastic compression garments, and possibly fees for antibiotics and other recommended drugs. Sometimes itemized fees are used when the surgeon cannot control all of the related expenses, such as when the surgery is to be done in a hospital operating room with a hospital anesthesiologist. Itemized fees are also used by surgeons who are in the habit of doing multiple unrelated surgical procedures at the same time that the liposuction is done.

Telephone Estimates are not Precise
It is almost impossible to provide an accurate estimate of liposuction fees unless the surgeon has had the opportunity to examine the patient. One can expect to be given a range of prices or at least the smallest fee charged for a specific area. For example, if Dr. Jones always quotes an all-inclusive global fee, then, for example, the receptionist should be able to state that "for abdominal liposuction, the minimal fee is $4000 and may be as much as $7000 for a very large abdomen".

Written Estimate
Written estimate of total cost for the liposuction surgery is essential. Beware of any surgeon who is not completely candid, open and honest about all of the associated fees.

Financing and Loans
Financing and loans for cosmetic surgery are available through private finance companies. Often, one can also pay for liposuction surgery using a credit card. Liposuction is generally regarded as a luxury and thus going into debt to have liposuction requires careful consideration.