 Question:
The Ballpark Costs of Liposuction |
| I'm 20 yrs of age & weigh 172lbs.
I am looking to have liposuction on my thighs can you
please let me know what the ballpark cost may be & if
this is something that I should be doing considering
my size? |
| Doctor's
Answer |
| Liposuction is not for weight reduction.
It is a process for changing your shape in areas that
are large even when you are at your target weight. I
have performed liposuction on many overweight people
but, mainly, on the inner thighs to allow them to excercise
without the friction occurring between the thighs. I
think that you should visit with a plastic surgeon to
see if this procedure is one that will benefit you. The
cost is about $2000 for the inner thighs in my practice.
Gregory
Caputy Chief Surgeon |
|
Question: Details About Liposuction's Costs |
| Typically how much
does liposuction cost. I want to get it for my wife and
would like to price things out a little. She had a double
chin, some handles, extra fat on the belly and some deep
stretch marks. She's 50. |
|
Doctor's Answer |
| The price for liposuction
varies, depending on how many areas are treated. There
are fees for the surgeon, for use of a facility and for anesthesia if it is
required--it usually is for larger areas.
In your case--usually double chins are better treated
with procedures other than liposuction, or sometimes
in combination with liposuction. It is the rare patient
whose double chin will be corrected by liposuction alone.
Liposuction of the abdomen and love handles would
typically cost about 2200-3000 for the surgeon's fee.
Anesthesia and facility fees can vary greatly--ballpark
500-1000 for the facility fee; 400-750 for anesthesia. But again, if your
wife's skin is stretched out, an if she had bad stretch marks, it may be,
she might be better off with an abdominoplasy. I would strongly advise
you to make an appointment for a consultation with
a plastic surgeon to get a better idea of what would
be best for your wife.
Good luck,
Carmen Paradis M.D.
Carmen
Paradis M.D. |
|
Question: Are Liposuction Costs Overpriced? |
Why do so many doctors charge $4-5000 for liposuction when the proceedure is
relatively simple enough that you could do it at home as long as you took the
proper precautions?
Are there any realistically priced doctors/plastic surgeons out there or do I
have to do it myself or even go to another country and have them do it for less?...I
look forward to your response. |
|
Doctors' Answer |
|
To be blunt, there is more to performing safe liposuction
than you think. The mechanics of liposuction are not
difficult but watching, fluid balance, blood loss,
anesthetic levels, patient well-being, lidocaine levels,
heart rate, blood pressure. How much, which cannula,
how long are all questions that a skilled and trained
plastic surgeon ought to know. I am troubled that you
feel the fees are too high. I feel that you ought to
seek out a doctor/surgeon who you feel is competent
to care for you the way you would want to care for
him! Price should not be a major variable in the equation.
Remember, you get what you pay for. Don't expect a
Ford to perform like a Mercedes. In terms of going
out of the country. I think that is ridiculous! The
entire world comes to the U.S.A. for medical treatments
of all kinds. The reason, the American physicians provide
the best medical care in the world. Just do a little
research about the work you want done. Check out www.plasticsurg.org,
the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive
Surgeons. Good luck!
Jonathan
Berman MD |
| Question:
Time to Recover from Liposuction |
| How fast is the recovery rate for
liposuction? I am 20 and just need a little touch up
work done? |
| Doctor's
Answer |
Dear Melissa,
Recovery is based on the extent of the procedure performed. In your case,
you will likely be able to return to work after just a few days and return
to full activity after as little as one week.
Gregory Caputy
Chief Surgeon |
|
Question: Questions About Ultrasonic Liposuction |
Does ultrasonic liposuction
really 'liquidify' the fats before extraction? Are results
really more significant than previous lipo? Is there
a limited number a times a patient can have lipo?
Is recovery faster under ultrasonic lipo?
Will the skin be affected by the 'heat' or whatever it takes to liquidy or soften
the fats? What kind of anasthetics are used? Estimated cost of treatment on whole
body? Is cost generally determined by areas or volume of fats to be extracted?
Is there any treatment available to 'whiten' skin? Procedure
and estimated cost?
Thank you. |
|
Doctors' Answer |
| Both regular liposuction
and ultrasonic liposuction liquify fat before extraction.
Studies do not show ultrasonic liposuction to be
more effective or to have fewer side-effects than traditional
liposuction. The recovery is the same. Precautions
have too be taken with ultrsonic liposuction to prevent
burning the skin.. The heat is generated by the rapid
motion of ultrsonic vibration.
The anesthetic for ultrsonic and traditional liposuction
is the same--usually local for small areas, general
for large areas.
There is far too much variation in what is considered
whole body to give you an answer about price. Price
is usually determined by the area treated. Large
volumn liposuction can have substantial risk and
should be performed in a hospital with at least an
overnight hospital stay.
There are prescriptions which can lighten skin. Chemical
peels can also be done. The cost will depend on the
problem.
Hope this is helpful to you
Carmen Paradis M.D. |
| Question:
Does Ultrasonic Liposuction Really Work? |
| I heard of a new non-surgical liposuction
procedure. I was looking for more information on this
procedure. |
| Doctor's
Answer |
|
Dear Dyani,
You are speaking of external ultrasonic melting of the fat beneath the
skin. All studies on this technique have shown it to be completely ineffective.
Gregory
Caputy Chief Surgeon |
|
Question: Should I Be Concerned About My Medical Health? |
| I am in my late 40's andwant to have liposuction on my double chin but have
read that they use epinephrine to inject the sites with to control bleeding
while they are performing the procedure. I have mitral valve prolapse and epinephrine
in dental shots causes my heart to beat very fast and I have panic attacks so
I have to take plain carbocaine. Can I still have liposuction or plastic surgery
without the epinephrine? |
|
Doctors' Answer |
|
Good question. You will need to have epinephrine
when you have liposuction. Epi will make your heart
race. You should make sure that the plastic surgeon
you are using discusses this with you. I think that
the amount of epi given is so little that it should
not cause a problem. You should discuss this with your
anesthesiologist as well as the surgeon; Good luck
Jonathan
Berman MD |
|
Question: How Long Does Lipsuction Take? |
How long does liposuction take? Can one do legs, buttocks, and thighs at one
time? What is the recovery time after surgery?
thank you. |
|
Doctor's Answer |
| Dear Laura,
Liposuction generally takes about one hour per paired area done (like outer thighs
or abdomen). The areas that you mention are safely done at one time as long
as the volume removed is not too great and you are in good general health.
Recovery is also based on amount removed. Usually about two weeks should be
allowed for full recovery but one week is all needed for most patients.
Gregory
Caputy Chief Surgeon |
| Question:
Is There a Way to Have Liposuction of the Pubic Area? |
| I was wondering if there is a way
to have liposuction on a woman's pubic area Ii had lost
weight and have a fatty patch down there and was wondering
if there was such a thing and usually how much the cost
would be . |
| Doctor's
Answer |
| Dear Leslie,
This is a common are requiring liposuction but one that is often ignored in tummy
tuck and liposuction procedures. I find that I can obtain better results using
ultrasonic-assisted liposuction in this area since there is often some bleeding
involved. The results are usually excellent. I charge $500 for the isolated
suctioning of this area but it is usually included in liposuction of the lower
abdomen.
Gregory
Caputy Chief Surgeon |
| Question:
Combining Liposuction with Other Plastic Surgery
Procedures |
I am considering having a breast
lift / augmentation. I would also like to have liposuction
on flanks (upper buttocks, lower back), my hips, lower
abdoman and inner thighs. Is it safe or recommended to
have these done at the same time? Would the recovery
be unbearable? Thank you.
Kameron |
| Doctor's
Answer |
| Dear Kameron,
Not at all. The recovery from liposuction is very easy and that from breast lift
almost as easy. Breast augmentation or coupled augmentation/mastopexy can by
somewhat sore but as long as the liposuction is of a reasonable volume (meaning
less than 2 or 3 liters) it could be safely performed at the same operative
time.
Gregory
Caputy Chief Surgeon |
| Question:
Will Insurance Cover My Procedure? |
| I'd like to have a liposuction.
My age is 30 and I'm a female. Could my insurance cover
this procedure? (Blue cross PPO) |
| Doctor's
Answer |
| Dear Selene,
I am safe in saying that there is absolutely no insurance which will cover the
cost of liposuction. This is purely a cosmetic procedure and is elective by
all standards. There may be one or two areas which would be partially covered
such as using liposuction as an adjunct in clinically necessary breast reduction
or in gynecomastia (reduction of the male breast) but these are very limited
exceptions.
Gregory
Caputy Chief Surgeon |
| Question:
Can Fat Return After Surgery? |
| After liposuction, is it possible
for the area affected to become fat again if the body
is not properly conditioned and the diet is unhealthy? |
| Doctor's
Answer |
| Dear Janine,
The area will, likely not become fat to the same extent again. If a large amount
of weight is gained after liposuction, it is more evenly distributed over the
entire body. The cost is typically about $2000 per paired area of the body
(such as the outer thighs) depending upon amount to be suctioned and size of
the area. Someone overweight, underweight or at the optimal weight is a candidate
for liposuction if there is an area or two or even three at is out of proportion
to the rest of the body in fat distribution.
Gregory Caputy
Chief Surgeon |
