We take a look at some of the factors involved when thinking about having liposuction. From the price of the surgeon to their experience and expertise. For a medical procedure such as this is always important to go with the best so hopefully this guide can help you find what you are looking for.
1. Liposuction is a technique that helps to shape or sculpt the body and remove
unwanted fat deposits from the body. Liposuction is best suited for the belly, hips,
thighs, inside of knees, upper arms, and chin.
Liposuction Cost:
Liposuction stomach $5,500
Liposuction inside of the thigh or the outside of the thigh $5,500
Liposuction hips $5,500
Liposuction arms $5,000
Liposuction neck $4,000
Liposuction in combination with SmartLipo. That is, both conventional and
SmartLipo. Prices above $8,000
Liposuction of love handles in conjunction with abdominoplasty. $3,100
SmartLipo
"Liposculpture" with SmartLipo $4,000
Lower part of abdomen $5,000
SmartLipo Thigh (or inside) $5,500
SmartLipo Hips $5,500
SmartLipo arms $5,000
SmartLipo Knees $4,500
SmartLipo neck $4,000
SmartLipo is done under local anaesthesia. General anaesthesia is an additional
charge of around $1,100 in most cases.
Best results of liposuction can be obtained if the skin has good elasticity and shrinks
after surgery. Otherwise there may be an excess of the skin which may need to be
surgically removed. There are 3 different non-surgical treatments for excess skin. Triactive, radio frequency, and Thermage. The treatment for cellulite, Tri-Active
(cosmetic laser and micro massage of the skin, the coolness) is excellent in
combination with liposuction as its connective tissue massage increases skin
elasticity.
Liposuction is no replacement for real, dieting or exercise, although liposuction can
remove "stubborn" fat that will not disappear with weight loss or exercise. Sometimes
it is a fact that fat accumulates in the "wrong" place. The fat will not come back if you
keep the weight off.
You must be realistic in your expectations regarding your liposuction. Bearing in
mind that liposuction cost a lot of money. Discuss thoroughly with your plastic
surgeon as appropriate for you.
Liposuction can be risky for patients with medical problems such as diabetes, heart
and lung disease, poor blood circulation, or if you have had surgery in the area to be
suctioned (eg abdominal surgery on the stomach).
Liposuction Cost
2. Liposuction is usually performed under general anaesthesia (where you are fully
asleep), if it is a smaller area or a smaller correction to be made local anaesthesia is
usually used. You will need to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.
Before the surgery the plastic surgeon injects the local anaesthetic mixed with sodium
chloride (brine) in the area to be suctioned to facilitate the operation and also reducing
the bleeding and bruising after. This is done even if the patient receives general
anaesthesia.
The plastic surgeon adds a few small incisions 1-1 1/2 cm in length on the skin in
order to insert a liposuction cannula. The cannula is moved back and forth to loosen
the fat to then be sucked out. Tissue fluid and blood also comes out with this, the loss
is replaced with drip during and after surgery. It is important that in the week after
surgery you drink plenty of fluids. Avoid alcohol. Your plastic surgeon will inform
you about this before you go home. The small incisions are stitched together and you
get a bandage belt. If you have been told to buy a custom-stitched belt or bicycle
pants put those on. It can drain some exudate the first days of the cuts but it's
completely normal. You will be properly swollen and have bruises long after the
surgery. It will most likely be very sore. The swelling may remain for several months
while the bruises usually disappear after 2-3 weeks. The stitches will be taken after 710 days. You may shower after 2 days but let the tape on the stitches remain.
Risk of infection and bleeding are always present with liposuction but there is also a
risk of getting blood clots. Follow the instructions you are given by your plastic
surgeon very carefully to reduce this. Smokers are at higher risk for complications.
Remember that healing takes time, it can take up to 12-18 months before a final result
is reached.
Many patients can go home the same day after surgery, but if you have had a major
operation you are usually advised to stay overnight. Consult your doctor about which
pain relief is best for you.
SmartLipo is a method which is more sensible for smaller amounts of fat.
For larger quantities traditional liposuction is used.
For this method, it is recommended that a qualified plastic surgeon performs the
surgery so that the complications do not occur.
SmartLipo uses laser energy to exploit the weakness of distended fat cells. The
breakdown of fat cells in the body is more or less constant after puberty. When we
gain weight, since we get no more fat cells, the fat cells expand - they get fatter.
When the membranes of the fat cells get stretched out, they are more fragile and more
susceptible to damage. This means that fat cells rupture more easily than other cells
when they are exposed to low energy.
Therefore, if the energy injected into fat deposits, this will cause the fat cells to crack,
but not the surrounding tissue.
Liposuction Cost
3. Another technique for example, uses ultrasound. A very thin optical fibre is inside a
thin (1mm) needle-like instrument that is inserted into the skin's fat layer.
Laser light energy in the optical fibre and the wavelength of light pulses combined
with energy ruptures the cell membrane of the fat cells without damaging other types
of cells.
The contents of the cell will flow out of the cell and the body takes care of it. If there
is a lot you can gently suck it out using liposuction.
Thanks to this new technology with laser light to stimulate the skin, the elasticity of
the skin tightens up with a much better result than in other types of liposuction.
However, fat reduction laser can only be used on small unwanted fat collections on
the body such as love handles, double chin. There may be areas of the body that are
difficult to change with exercise or diet. If more than a decilitre of fat needs to be
removed then they must combine laser liposuction with regular liposuction to avoid
complications with the treatment.
A "face-lift" ("Smart Lifting") can be done to remove excess fat in the cheek and
tighten the skin in the neck. It is a minor procedure that is an alternative to a face lift.
The result can give a big difference for patients whose cheeks and / or neck hangs a
bit due to age or weight loss.
The method provides shorter recovery times and less post-operative side effects
compared to relatively major surgery. There is minimal scarring and it will mostly
disappear entirely. The liposuction cost can be higher as a result of these factors
however.
The ideal patient for laser liposuction is someone close to their ideal weight,
exercising regularly, not overweight, who has localized fat deposits that do not go
away with exercise or diet.
If desired, doctors can combine SmartLipo fat reduction together with the common
surgical liposuction when the patient is still under anaesthesia. This is done to fine
tune various areas.
The laser causes the fat cells to burst and be permanently destroyed. Either the fat is
sucked out suction or so it is left to be naturally carried away with the lymph fluid and
brought out through the liver, bile and intestines. The fat cells are destroyed forever.
Liposuction by laser
The laser light is not visible to the eye but it is visible when using a video camera. If
you look at the operated area with a video camera it will see the laser light spread
forth from the cannula in the shape and size of a large strawberry. The light energy is
spread evenly over a large area for each laser pulse.
It takes 4-6 months to see the results when the body slowly but surely takes care of
the fat naturally. A small bandage is protecting the effected area is often the only post-
Liposuction Cost
4. operative care needed. Some patients may need to wear tighter clothes (shorts) or a
girdle. Sometimes they are given prophylactic antibiotics.
In one week you can have bruising and swelling.
The processing time (about an hour) will vary depending on which part of the body is
to be treated. Patient generally remains at the clinic for an hour after treatment and
can be picked up by car, although most go themselves. Depending where on the body
the surgery is performed some patients return directly to work and some patients
return to normal activities after a few days. Note: If there is a major surgery, the
recovery time becomes longer.
Questions and Answers about SmartLipo
SmartLipo is laser-assisted instruments developed in Europe and has been used for
many years. It is widely used in the United States, Japan, Australia, Germany, Brazil
and France. The laser is fully tested and approved for use in Europe and is fully
approved by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration).
Is this treatment for me?
Despite the fact that losing weight and exercising certain muscle groups, there are
some stubborn fat deposits that refuse to back down. SmartLipo (laser lipolysis) is a
treatment for liposuction to permanently remove fat cells.
SmartLipo (laser lipolysis) is a recognized method for all ages. The area of fat, once
removed, will not come back because the body can not create more fat cells, just
expand the fat cells that exist. Of course, patients can still put on more fat in other
untreated areas.
Time spent in treatment. It takes between 20 to 60 minutes when doing the treatment
under local anaesthesia. You might have to take a day off from work, depending on
where the procedure is done. Often it is possible to return to work the day of the
treatment.
Results.
The treated area immediately will appear smaller, but they may sometimes look
bigger or the same as before the treatment. Gradually, the body contour that is
changing day by day will change to give the expected result for between 2 to 4
months. If a second SmartLipo treatment is necessary, it can not be done in the same
area less than 4 months after the last treatment.
Amount of fat per occasion
In combination with conventional liposuction, doctors take no more than 3 litres of fat
per occasion. Every operation must be at least 6 months apart. If you take more it
exposes the patient to a major medical risk unnecessarily.
Do I need anaesthesia?
Liposuction Cost
5. No, not for minor procedures.
How long should I be off work?
If you have a sedentary job, you can return the same or next day. If it is a major
surgery, you may need more recovery time.
Liposuction Cost