1. How much does liposuction surgery cost?

Liposuction done under local anesthesia in an office setting using the SmartLipo or VASER technique generally starts at around $2,000 for the first area and $500 for each additional area. Liposuction done under general anesthesia generally runs about $1,500 additional for operating room and anesthesia fees.


2. Can exercise get rid of specific areas of fat without liposuction?

Exercise can get rid of significant amounts of fat. However, liposuction will get rid of extra fatty tissue that is resistant to diet and exercise. Some patients have genetic deposits of fat that respond better to liposuction. Once the fatty tissue is removed, it doesn' t come back as long as you maintain a healthy diet and exercise program.


3. Is liposuction a good way to lose weight?

No. Liposuction is a body contouring operation, not a weight loss procedure. The fat that is removed during liposuction doesn' t weigh that much, it is removed to help reshape your body contours. There are better ways to lose weight such as diet and excercise. In more serious cases, a medical weight loss clinic which would use nutritional counseling, diet suppresants and vitamins may be more appropriate to help one lose weight first. Later, liposuction can be done to remove any remaining deposits of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise.


4. Does liposuction take care of cellulite?

Liposuction can make cellulite look better, but the fibers that form between the fat cells will generally return after liposuction allowing the cellulite to recur. There is no cure for cellulite, but diet, exercise and certain radiofrequency devices such as Accent and Thermage will help.


5. Will liposuction tighten up loose skin?

Traditional liposuction by itself doesn' t tighten skin very much. However, the newer forms of liposuction such as VASER and SmartLipo will tighten loose skin significantly more. The VASER and Smartlipo heat up the collagen fibers in the skin resulting in about 50% tighter skin. People with very loose hanging skin may benefit more from cutting out the skin, such as a tummy tuck procedure.


6. What is the "tumescent technique"?

This technique uses local anesthesia and saline to numb the skin and expand the fatty tissue layer prior to VASER and SmartLipo. The tumescent technique allows us to perform the procedure without having to put the patient to sleep under general anesthesia.


7. What is ultrasonic liposuction?

Ultrasonic liposuction uses sound waves to melt or liquify the fat prior to extracting it. The sound waves specifically target fat cells without disrupting blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue. The fat is then able to be extracted much more gently with much less swelling, bruising and pain. The most common ultrasonic liposuction technique is known as the VASER.