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

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.

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

Gregory Caputy Chief Surgeon

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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