Lili Cordell
Liposuction is intended for those who desire further fat reduction that is unattainable by daily exercise and a healthy diet. There are several different types of liposuction, such as laser liposuction and power assisted liposuction; some are more suitable than others, depending on the patient. The most common methods, however, are tumescent liposuction and ultrasonic liposuction.
Liposuction Procedures
Tumescent liposuction is suitable for patients who have small deposits of fat in the body that they wish to remove. It is not intended for people with large amounts of fat on their body, as the trimming of excess skin is not a part of the procedure.
First, tumescent fluid is injected into the area to be operated. It consists of epinephrine, lidocaine, and salt water, along with other fluids. The epinephrine is used to shrink the blood vessels, while the lidocaine is used as the local anesthesia. The shrinking of the blood vessels induces a significant amount of swelling, which will cause the surgery to be paused for a short time while the surgeon waits for the swelling to recede.
Once the swelling has subsided, the surgeon is free to begin making incisions using a scalpel. They are 2/3 of an inch in length or shorter, depending on the patient’s size and the amount of fat to be extracted.
A cannula is then slid through the incisions. The cannula is a long, cylindrical instrument that acts like a vacuum against the fat deposits. It sucks the unwanted fat out of the treated area and is removed. The incision is then closed with sutures.
Ultrasonic liposuction is performed when there the area to be operated is difficult, like the face. This method may also be utilized when a tumescent liposuction requires further correction.
A tumescent anesthesia is used in this procedure as well, and the incisions the surgeon makes are usually the same length, about 2/3 inch. The main difference with the ultrasonic liposuction is the treatment of the fat before it is removed. Like the tumescent procedure, a cannula is inserted through the incisions. Instead of vacuuming the fat, the cannula first liquidates the fat, allowing for easier and quicker suction later. Ultrasonic waves being transmitted through the cannula by means of an attached generator provide the heat necessary for this process. The entire surgery is often completed in less than two hours, a considerably shorter amount of time than the tumescent surgery.
Liposuction Costs
Insurance
Insurance companies do not cover the cost of plastic surgery unless it is to correct problems caused by an accident. For this reason, a person wanting liposuction either pays the full cost themselves or obtains financing from another entity.
Approximate Costs
There are significant differences in price between the Tumescent and Ultrasonic procedures. Because of its popularity and the technology used in performing it, ultrasonic liposuction tends to be $1,000 to $2,000 more expensive than the tumescent method. However, the general area of the body that is to be operated plays a much larger role in the assessment of procedural costs of liposuction.
The cheapest areas to have corrected by liposuction are the arms, outer thighs, buttocks, hips and waist, back, and face (chin, jowls, cheeks, and neck). A liposuction performed on any of these regions generally costs between $1,500 and $5,000.
The more expensive regions include the breasts, flanks, and abdomen. These areas are larger and require a more intricate surgery. A liposuction on these regions will cost between $3,000 and $8,000.
The amounts above are procedural fees, and do not include additional fees such as hospital fees, facility fees, medications, and liposuction before and after care. These fees vary depending on the experience level of the physician, as well as where the cosmetic surgery is performed.
[page updated December 2008]