Liposuction surgery actually has many variations in techniques to remove unwanted body fat from the body. When they ask what liposuction cost they are usually asking what tumescent liposuction cost because today tumescent liposuction is the most popular technique. The cost of liposuction surgery can range more widely than any other plastic surgery procedure because it can be used to treat a wide variety of areas of the body. The average can range anywhere from $2,000 for smaller procedures to as much as $10,000 for major treatments.
Tumescent Liposuction
Tumescent liposuction is a technique that has many benefits over earlier traditional liposuction techniques because it causes less damage to tissue surrounding the treatment area and reduces the amount of bleeding incurred during the surgery. It is a form of super wet liposuction which basically means that a liquid solution is injected into the area before the surgery begins.
Super wet just refers to the amount of fluid injected into the area. In the case of tumescent liposuction the injection is double, or sometimes triple, the volume of the body fat to be removed and consists of a local anesthesia and vasoconstrictor. This injection creates a space between the fat cells and muscle tissue which aids in the suction of the fat.
Tumescent Liposuction Cost Factors
Facility Cost
Compared to more traditional forms of liposuction surgery, this technique is generally less expensive for several reasons. It does not require a surgery room because the procedure is a smaller scale and can be performed in the clinic. This means there isn’t a charge for the use of a surgery facility which is normally billed to the patient.
Anesthesia Cost
Also, since it only uses a local anesthesia to numb the treatment area instead of general anesthesia to fully sedate the patient, an anesthesiologist does not have to be present for the administration of the drug. Coupled with the lower dosage, the difference in anesthesia fee is a significant money saver.
Other Costs
There are other charges such as post surgical care that have to be factored into the total cost of any plastic surgery procedure. Fortunately, this particular technique offers a faster recovery and that means less post surgical medication required and the medication would otherwise cost money as well.
Another factor that would affect the cost is if a specialized technique is used to assist in the procedure such as laser liposuction or ultrasonic liposuction. Then there would be additional charges for the use of the specialized equipment. The type of charges associated with laser liposuction is something discussed quite thoroughly here on this site and the concept applies to various forms of assistive techniques as well.
Each of the various costs and charges are influenced by pricing factors which ultimately determines how much does liposuction cost. For a more accurate estimate anyone considering tumescent liposuction should schedule a consultation session with a plastic surgeon. Use our director of board certified plastic surgeons to find one near you or ask someone you know for a referral.