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Liposuction is a very specialized field which should be well researched before being considered - and only after alternatives like diet and exercise prove ineffective.

A potential liposuction candidate should consider several factors before diving in - total cost, what areas of the body he or she really needs work on, the amount of risk involved and, naturally, how to find the most qualified and competent surgeon.

Liposuction Costs - National Average Prices

Liposuction patients are always advised they should focus first on the quality of the liposuction procedure rather than the costs.

But, of course, costs matter.

Liposuction prices will vary depending on the area(s) of the body chosen and the amount of work needed.

The total price is usually broken down into a few separate costs:

• Surgeon fees
• Facility fees
• Medications
• Anesthesia
• Surgical garments
• Medical tests

Surgeons fees vary based on the operation required. Anesthesia fees range from $500 to $1,000.

Facility fees vary based on the number of areas worked on and usually range from $600 to $1,200.

The average price of liposuction is as follows:

• Average minimum cost of liposuction: $2,603
• Average maximum cost of liposuction: $3,003
• National average cost of liposuction: $2,884 (ASPS, 2010)

Otherwise, liposuction costs are best broken down by the areas of the body and the number of procedures performed.

Below we'll go over the most common body areas for liposuction surgery with a brief introduction and a link to more detailed cost breakdowns for each body part.

We'll also provide some general information on risk, recovery and liposution techniques.

Liposuction Costs - Body Areas

Liposuction of the Face, Chin and Neck

Removing fat from the face and neck via liposuction is considered safer than getting a "face lift" because it leaves no visible scars and doesn't even require stitches.

Recovery is also relatively easy.

Average costs will vary depending on the location of the patient (In more densely populated areas such as New York City and Los Angeles, the cost of liposuction is often higher due to the greater demand for services) and the overall demand for a particular surgeon.

More information on national average cost for Facial, Chin & Neck Liposuction.

Liposuction of the Arms

Liposuction for the arms is most popular with women since it creates a shapely, sculpted look.

The pockets of fat beneath and behind the armpit are often targeted since they are hard to remove naturally.

Because of the extra work required to sculpt the arms and possible follow up procedures needed to remove more fat, average prices for arm liposuction are typically higher than for the average liposuction procedure.

More information on national average cost for Arm Liposuction

Liposuction of the Abdomen and Tummy

These are the most commonly treated parts of the body for both men and women because of their tendency to stubbornly retain weight.

Pregnancy is also a reason because it can stretch the abdominal wall and c-sections can leave a fatty bulge on the tummy.

Factors to take into consideration when planning surgery costs are the amount and placement of fat in the abdomen, the patient's weight history, age and gender (women have softer fat than men and are easier to work on) and. of course, pregnancy.

There is a general correspondence between the size of a body part and the cost for lipo, so with the stomach being a fairly large area prices tend to be higher on the scale than some others

More information on national average cost for Abdomen and Tummy Liposuction.

Liposuction of the Inner and Outer Thighs

Thighs (both inner and outer) are a particularly difficult area to work on as they can easily become misshapen if the surgery doesn't go as planned.

For maximum safety it is highly advised that you separate thigh liposuction into as many small operations as possible.

Often the hips are also worked on afor an all-around slimmer look. Because of the number of procedures involved, costs can also be expected to rise accordingly.

More information on national average cost for Inner and Outer Thigh Liposuction

Liposuction of the Breasts

Breasts are another area that tend to get wonderful results from liposuction.

Breast reduction and breast lifts via liposuction are usually fast, easy and leave no visible scars. The natural elasticity in the breasts cause them to lift once the excess fat has been removed.

The breasts will retain their original shape, only they will be smaller. A preoperative mammogram is recommended before surgery to insure that all is well.

Breast liposuction for men should only be considered if the problem is caused by to much fat in the breast, and not by glandular tissue.

More information on national average cost for breast liposuction

General Information - Liposuction Procedures and Techniques

Tumescent Liposuction

Tumescent lipo, as opposed to some other varieties of liposuction, can require general anesthesia. This alone can add significant expense to the procedure.

The price of tumescent liposuction also varies widely depending on the body part or parts involved.

More information on national average cost for Tumescent Liposuction.

Vaser Liposuction

Involves injecting fluid into the area and breaking down the fat cells using ultrasound vibrations.

This method is often used for sculpting areas of the body.

This technique can usually be done without the use of general anesthetic; often with anesthetic skin cream, so the patient is usually awake.

More information on national average cost for Vaser Liposuction

Laser Liposuction

Laser liposuction is becoming very popular among those seeking body sculpting.

Special lasers liquefy the fat cells which are drained through small incisions. There are several different kinds of laser liposuction available.

More information on national average cost for Laser Liposuction

Water Jet Assisted Liposuction

This type of liposuction is also becoming popular and is considered very un-invasive.

A slightly pressurized anesthetic solution is injected into the area and loosens the fat cells which are then easily removed.

The Risks of Liposuction and Safety Measures

There are several risks involved in the process of Liposuction. What can go wrong depends on the area being worked on.

The most common side effects include visible scars, skin irregularities, allergic reactions due to drugs or anesthesia, temporary numbness or bruising, and skin discoloration.

Several of these side effects are common after surgery and go away as one heals

When surgery goes very wrong, the effects can be far more serious.

Possibilities are hematomas, seromas, infections, blood clotting, loss of fluid, nerve damage, hypothermia, brain damage due to lack of oxygen and cardiac arrest.

In order to make a liposuction operation as safe as possible, it is advised that rather than have one large operation, one should break down their surgery into smaller operations.

Of course having as few medical problems as possible always allows for a safer surgery.

When handled properly, liposuction is recovered from in a short amount of time with no permanent after effects.

More about the risks of liposuction surgery here.

Liposuction Recovery

When recovering from the operation, you may be required to wear a compression garment in order to drain excess fluid.

Typical recovery time from liposuction is between a few days and a few months.

Usually a patient is able to move around normally within a week and can remove their compression garment and go about like normal within the next few weeks.

Patients should also rest and take showers instead of baths for the first two weeks following surgery.

Swelling will go down gradually and the skin will tighten up in the next few months.

After liposuction, a patient should exercise and eat healthy to maintain their new body.

More on liposuction recovery.

Choosing a Surgeon

Before choosing a liposuction surgeon, remember to. . .

• Make sure you are a good candidate by having all the information and asking the right questions.
• Check your surgeon's references and make sure they are fully certified with a legitimate association.
• Be fully informed about the procedure you are choosing and ask as many questions as necessary.

To be an ideal candidate for liposuction, you should be at least 18 years old, near your ideal weight (it's best when near your ideal weight for 6 months and not fluctuating), have good skin tone so the skin can tighten properly and have no serious ailments.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not have surgery, nor should people with allergies to lidocaine.

Make sure that your surgeon is registered with The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), no matter what other qualifications they have.

Only go to a surgeon with ABPS certification as it is the only official plastic surgery board.

Make sure that your surgeon has experience with the particular operation that you wish to undergo.

It's also good your surgeon has access to a hospital in case you need medical attention following surgery.

For a list of questions you should be sure to ask, check our find a surgeon page here or submit your information below to get in direct contact with one of our liposuction experts.