How Much Does Liposuction Cost?

Surgical Warning: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

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The Role of Liposuction in Body Contouring

Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure performed by plastic surgeons that sculpts the body by removing unwanted fat in localised body areas. Fat cells are suctioned out using a cannula that minimises disruption to surrounding tissues for more proportionate body shape.

It’s important to understand that liposuction is not weight loss surgery; rather it is an effective technique to shape the body by removing excess fat deposits that you are struggling to shed through consistent exercise and a healthy diet. It can be performed in conjunction with other surgical procedures such as abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) to achieve your desired result.

Liposuction at Me Clinic

At Me Clinic in Melbourne, our plastic surgeons are specialist qualified with many years of experience in performing liposuction on suitable patients. We only ever use qualified anaesthetists as well as day hospitals and theatres and surgical hospitals that are fully accredited.

The Cost of Liposuction

Factors Influencing the Cost of Liposuction

When it comes to liposuction in Australia, the most common question we encounter is, “How much does liposuction cost?” The truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all solution with this cosmetic procedure. The total cost depends on many factors and each patient is an individual with individual needs and requirements. Some of the biggest factors that determine how much liposuction will cost you in Australia include:

• The number of areas to be treated
• The specific areas being treated
• The amount of fat removal required for each area
• The total time needed to perform the procedure in theatre
• Any other individual requirements unique to each patient

General Fee Guidelines for Liposuction

The best way to know exactly what liposuction surgery will cost you is to speak to a Me Clinic plastic surgeon. We provide one-on-one consultations with our licensed medical practitioners where we can examine and assess the areas to be treated and give you an accurate cost. Each customised quote will be tailored to your individual needs and requirements.

If you’re interested to know whether liposuction is within your budget however, we’ve put together a handy general liposuction surgery fee guideline to give you an overview of what you may expect:

• One area generally costs between $4,000 to $8,000
• Two areas generally cost between $9,000 to $15,000
• Three areas generally cost between $15,000 to $20,000+

Cost Breakdown by Body Area

Of course, the surgical fee is not only determined by the number of areas of the body being treated but also the specific target area. From excess waistline fat (love handles) to the upper arms and a double chin, each part of the body has a different price range that will affect the total amount. To give you an idea, we’ve broken down the liposuction surgeon’s fee for some popular treatable reas:

• Outer thighs and inner thighs – Around $10,000
• Abdomen – Around $9,000 for one area
• Chin and neck – Around $5,000

Components of Liposuction Costs

Surgeon’s Fees

The surgeon’s fees are provided to you in your initial quotation. This fee will depend on a number of factors, including:

• The specific area
• The number of areas and amount of fat,
• Total time in theatre
• The expertise level required to perform the procedure,
• Your level of required aftercare for optimal results
• The location of the hospital or theatre
• Experience of the surgeon

Theatre and Hospital Fees

Hospital and theatre fees will be advised separately to the surgeon’s fees. This will vary depending on the location of the theatre or day hospital when you attend. Most liposuction cases are a same-day procedure and you will likely be charged an hourly rate. In general, the more areas you have treated, the longer the procedure and higher the cost although this isn’t always the case. When being advised of hospitals, consider:

• Fully accredited hospitals and theatres
• Suitably trained medical staff
• High standards, which are typically published for the public

Anaesthetist Fees

Liposuction can be performed with either a local anaesthetic or general anaesthetic. Ensure your anaesthetist is a member of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) and is fully qualified to perform general anaesthesia services. Anaesthetist fees can range from $800 to $1,200 per hour with a single area generally requiring 1-2 hours. Your Me Clinic surgeon will discuss what type of anaesthesia will be used during the consultation.

Post-operative Care

Your recovery time will depend on how many areas you have had treated and the type of area as well as your general wellbeing. This fee is included in the procedure fee. The Me Clinic surgical and nursing team is committed to providing comprehensive post-operative care to ensure optimal results.

Post-operative Garments

After your procedure, you will be fitted with compression garments to reduce swelling and assist in recovery. The amount of time you will need to wear the garments depends on the amount of fat removed and the target area.

Types of Liposuction

The most common types of liposuction include:

Tumescent Liposuction

Tumescent Liposuction involves diluted local anaesthetic and adrenaline that are infused into the area to be treated to minimise discomfort. A small incision is made in the treatment area and the unwanted fat cells are extracted under vacuum using a small suction tube (cannula) while also working to sculpt and shape the problem area.

Ultrasound

The Vaser liposuction technique that uses ultrasound waves to break up and liquify fat cells so that they are easier to extract. This is a highly precise form of lipo for fat removal that effectively ‘melts’ stubborn pockets of fat and suctions it out with minimal downtime.

Laser Lipolysis

Laser Lipolysis uses laser to heat the excess fat, melt it and extract it while contracting collagen fibres to target loose skin and tighten skin elasticity for smoother results.

Power-Assisted

This technique uses a power cannula to delicately move through fat that is being aspirated.

The Liposuction Journey at Me Clinic

Initial Consultation

You will start your Me Clinic journey with a thorough one-on-one consultation. Here, your surgeon will discuss your concerns and set realistic expectations for the procedure so that you understand what is possible and what is not. You’ll have the chance to ask any questions and we’ll provide you with a customised quote.

Medical Investigations

During your consultation, we will arrange medical investigations to ensure that you are healthy and medically fit for cosmetic surgery. We’ll also discuss potential risks and side effects.

The Liposuction Procedure

Tumescent liposuction involves making small incisions in the treatment area while the patient is under sedation using either general anaesthesia or local anaesthesia. With modern liposculpture techniques, specialised steel cannulas are inserted to remove fat cells without disrupting blood vessels or nerves with the assistance of medical suction machines. In most cases, liposuction is a same-day procedure.

Post Operative Care

Many of our liposuction treatments require minimal downtime. After surgery, you will be fitted into compression garments and allowed to return home to begin your recovery. You may feel drowsy as the sedation subsides, so arrange for someone to pick you up and stay the night.

Your garments will need to be worn between 4-6 weeks. Expect a small amount of swelling to the treated area that can last up to 6 weeks. Between 1-3 days, you will return to the clinic for your first follow-up. Our medical team will continue to monitor you closely throughout the duration of your recovery with regular post-operative checks and ongoing assistance.

The Importance of Aftercare

It’s essential that you follow the post-operative care regime prepared for you by your surgeon. It has been specifically designed to give you optimal results that are long-term and to maximise your healing after surgery.

Health and Wellbeing Considerations

Choosing Me Clinic Melbourne

Me Clinic, with a long history of providing liposuction services in Australia, is committed to maintaining high standards in patient care and treatment. Our team includes plastic surgeons and cosmetic doctors with extensive training and qualifications, ensuring that each patient receives care that is customised to their needs.

When considering plastic and cosmetic surgery, it’s important to realise that your cosmetic procedure is also a medical procedure that requires the expertise of plastic surgeons in an accredited day hospital facility. With overseas surgeons, it can be much more difficult to know the standards and qualifications of those involved in the procedure. Me Clinic’s surgical team are all Fellows of The Australian College of Surgeons and Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons and must adhere to the high standards set out in the code of conduct to ensure safe provisions for every Australian patient.

Finding the Best Surgeon for Your Liposuction Procedure

It is important to assess the credentials of everyone involved, from the plastic surgeon to the nurses to the anaesthetist. You must also ensure you fully understand the entire process before commitment, from pre-care through to post-care, as well as costs.

Contact Me Clinic today to discover whether liposuction is right for you.

Surgical Warning : Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Risks associated with liposuction may include but are not limited to infection, scarring, adverse reaction to anesthesia, changes in skin sensation, damage to underlying structures, unsatisfactory results, and the need for additional procedures. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

Disclaimer : The information on the website is for general guidance only and cannot be used as a basis to make a surgical decision. An initial consultation with our plastic surgeons is required to assess if you’re a suitable candidate and to help you make an informed decision before proceeding with any surgical procedure.