How Much Does Liposuction Cost?
When it comes to the cost of liposuction, there is no hard and fast number. The first piece of information that affects the overall cost range is whether or not the procedure is being performed in-office using a local tumescent liposuction procedure (Smart LIpo, Vaser Lipo, Tickle Lipo, etc.) or if it’s being performed under general anesthesia in a hospital or surgery center setting. Many plastic surgeons still only offer liposuction procedures in a surgery center or hospital, while many cosmetic surgeons provide in-office liposuction, which can reduce your overall cost. Patients requiring massive amounts of liposuction or liposuction in conjunction with a skin removal surgery in the case of extreme weight loss will usually require the procedure to be performed under general anesthesia, greatly increasing your costs and your downtime/recovery period. However, if you simply have a pocket or pockets of some unwanted fat, your fat reduction goals can be easily accomplished with in-office liposuction, as Dr. Schwartz provides at his Kansas City cosmetic laser center. The second top factor influencing your overall cost will be the area of concern and amount of fat you are looking to have removed. Fat removal from the chin or knee area is typically going to cost less than fat removal from the stomach, flanks, thighs, etc.
Research conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that the average cost of liposuction is $3,548. Since liposuction is considered an aesthetic treatment, rather than a medical necessity, insurance does not cover it. Fortunately, we offer flexible payment plans to make out-of-pocket pricing more affordable. Because each and every patient’s fat reduction plan is so unique (one area or multiple areas, do you want to transfer any of the fat to another area, such as the breasts, hands or face, how much volume are you looking to reduce, and are you also looking for some additional skin tightening?), it is essential that you schedule a consultation with Dr. Schwartz to discuss your fat reduction and skin tightening goals. During this private consultation in our office, we can discuss your case, design a customized treatment plan, and provide you with an accurate price.
How Liposuction Works
When most people think of liposuction, a traditional surgical treatment typically comes to mind. In traditional liposuction, a metal tube called a cannula is inserted into the treatment area to suction excess fat out of the body. Most commonly, this surgery is performed under general anesthesia in a hospital or surgery center, and may require an overnight stay in the hospital. Traditional liposuction also involves some risk of serious complications, such as nerve damage, tissue trauma, and extensive pain.
About Tumescent Liposuction
If you’d like to reap the benefits of liposuction without the risk of the traditional surgery, you may be better off choosing tumescent liposuction which is performed in our office under local anesthesia. During tumescent lipo, a saline solution mixed with anesthetics is injected into the treatment area. This causes the fat to liquify and creates more room between the skin and subcutaneous tissue so that the cannula can move through the fat with ease during removal.
It’s important to note that the cannula used in tumescent liposuction is much smaller so you can resume your daily activities and recover much faster than you’d be able to with traditional liposuction. Some of the most common brand names for tumescent lipo include Tickle Lipo, VaserLipo, etc., Laser Lipo. We are pleased to offer all of these revolutionary types of liposuction in our office.
Since liposuction removes the fat cells permanently, you don’t have to worry about the stubborn fat bulges returning. In the event you do gain weight after you receive it, it probably won’t be in the area where the lipo was performed. However, liposuction is not a weight-loss procedure, so your results may become less prominent if you experience post-procedure weight-gain.
