1. How much does liposuction surgery cost?

The cost of liposuction varies a good deal in different communities and even among different surgeons. My fee for liposuction of a single area (eg-abdomen) is approximately $1,800. There are other charges in addition to my fee (facility fee, anesthesia fee, garments, etc.). The total cost for a single area would be in the neighborhood of $3,000. Multiple areas are discounted somewhat in my practice. The costs on either coast would be a great deal more.


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

Exercise should always be attempted initially to get rid of fat. The ideal candidate for liposuction is someone who is at or near their ideal body weight but has specific collections of fat which are resistant to exercise. Following liposuction, losses and gains of body weight can still obviously occur, but these changes in contour should then be much more proportional.


3. Is liposuction a good way to lose weight?

Liposuction is not a good way to lose weight and should not be employed for weight loss. In fact, almost all serious complications which have occurred in the past several years have been in patients who are significantly overweight and have had large volumes of fat removed.


4. Does liposuction take care of cellulite?

Liposuction, like most other techniques, does not usually take care of cellulite. There are probably some cases in which there is an improvement in the appearance of cellulite following liposuction. Unfortunately, there are also situations in which the appearance of cellulite is worsened following liposuction, especially if the surgeon is overly aggressive.


5. Will liposuction tighten up loose skin?

Liposuction does not per se tighten skin. There does need to be skin tightening following liposuction in order to obtain good results, however. This is the reason that it is important to select patients undergoing liposuction that have good skin tone. This will allow the skin to contract and "redrape" over the area in which fat has been removed and lead to beneficent and good results.


6. What is the "tumescent technique"?

The "tumescent technique" was introduced 15-20 years ago in liposuction. This represents the introduction of a volume of fluid containing epinephrine which, by constricting blood vessels, leads to a significant decrease in blood loss. The fluid usually also contains a local anesthetic. Prior to the introduction of this technique, much larger cannulas were employed for the liposuction and there was much more blood in the aspirate.


7. What is ultrasonic liposuction?

In ultrasonic liposuction, the tip of the cannula oscillates at a high frequency. This is capable of liquefying the fat somewhat. There is a slightly higher potential for complications with this technique, especially injury to the overlying skin. I feel that ultrasonic liposuction is most useful in gynecomastia or male breast reduction, liposuction of the back, and in secondary liposuction (suctioning areas which have previously been treated with liposuction.