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The cost of liposuction and laser liposuction depends on many different factors. But by knowing what part of the body the patient desires treatment we can begin to generalize how much a procedure will cost. Most clinics will provide a preliminary price estimate for laser liposuction patients based on this information. Generally, larger areas will cost more but the complexity or delicacy of the treatment also affects the final cost. It comes down to the amount of fat to be removed and the work required of the surgeon.

Large areas of the body such as the abdomen, back, chest or legs will cost the most to perform liposuction on. The cost of some of these areas can range from as little as $1,500 per treatment to as much as $10,000 or more. The average cost of abdominal liposuction is about $4,000 while liposuction legs, back or buttocks will cost approximately $3,000. Smaller areas of the body such as facial regions including the chin, jowls or neck can cost between $1,500 and $6,000 and average about $2,500 per treatment area. Despite being a fairly low amount of fat in the area the delicate nature or treating the face forces the surgeon to do more detailed work.

In general the cost of laser liposuction for a male patient will be higher than a female patient due to the generally large build of a male body. Men also tend to have more fibrous fat cells making it harder to break and remove from the body. Statistics have also shown that men tend to have liposuction in very particular areas of the body that are known to have the toughest fat cells to work with.

The only accurate way to get an estimate is by consulting a plastic surgeon for a price quote. Since consultation is free and a great way to learn more about options for an individual it is a good idea for anyone who is consider laser liposuction or any other cosmetic procedure. Be sure to verify that any quote you receive is explained so there is a clear understanding what fees or other charges might not be included.

Liposuction, like any medical treatment, comes with high prices.  Each region of the body corresponds to particular charges.  So, if you want to have fat removed from multiple parts of your torso, you have to be ready for a series of spending.

It doesn’t end there.  The liposuction techniques performed, which will be presented to you by the surgeon, also have corresponding charges.  Being informed beforehand is advantageous, since it gives you enough time to think things over and more importantly, prepare your finances.

Different Liposuction Techniques

Liposuction is pretty broad, in terms of the number of options that a surgeon can opt to take.  Each bears its advantages and disadvantages, based on efficiency, duration and price.  To give you a clearer picture, here are some of them (learn more at how much does liposuction cost):

* Wet Liposuction – In this process, the surgeon injects a solution – part anesthesia, part epinephrine – which helps in sucking out fat.  This method constitutes a 15% blood loss, which is quite risky, especially for those who are anemic.  However, it is also the cheapest among the four major types of liposuction.
* Superwet Liposuction – This method is a clear enhancement of wet liposuction.  It involves blood loss of only 8%, making it more efficient than wet liposuction.  The solution injected has adrenaline instead of epinephrine.
* Tumescent Liposuction – Tumescent liposuction is the most prevalent technique used, since it yields only 1% blood loss and is a bit cheaper than smart liposuction.  Its drawback is, however, the operation is quite long.
* Smart Liposuction – Gaining popularity on the market, this procedure amounts to very little blood loss, even less than tumescent liposuction, since it is not invasive.  Laser, sound waves or ultrasound is used to displace fat cells.

Charges

Liposuction costs can vary.  You’ll have to do some research in your area to know the price range.  More importantly, you should check the caliber of both the surgeons and the clinics, so you’ll be safe throughout the entire operation.

There are various categories of liposuction techniques that a surgeon can use. Depending on how invasive you want the surgery to be, you can choose the different techniques you want to use. Another factor that you can consider is the area that you are extracting the fats from. If the area is larger, then wet techniques would be better to cushion and lubricate that area. Depending on the type of technique used, the cost of surgery would also vary. Wet technique tends to be more expensive as compared to the dry technique.

Always seek the advice of your doctor before deciding on what technique to use. Certain techniques might not be suitable for you because of the types of fluid they inject in your body.

The major differentiating features of the various liposuction techniques are:

1. the amount of solution that is injected under the skin before liposuction
2. the use of any additional devices to assist routine liposuction

The various liposuction techniques are classified below:

Dry liposuction

The dry method does not use any fluid injection at all. However, this technique was abandoned because of the excessive blood loss it caused. Blood composed approximately thirty percent (30%) of the tissue that was removed by liposuction using the dry technique.

Tumescent Technique
Tumescent Technique (Tumescent Liposuction) requires an injection of a large volume of a anaesthesia. The injected liquid into the body firms the fat up till it is swollen. The firmed up fat is then removed with about 1% of it made up of blood.

Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction (UAL)
Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction (UAL) or ultrasound liposuction as the name suggests makes use of ultrasound waves to break down fats in a specific area. Once the fats are liquefied, a long, needle like tube is inserted to draw the fats out. The Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction method can be one to consider if you wish to target hard to reach areas like calves, knees, cheeks, neck, chin, elbow, neck, forehead, lower arm and shin.

The ability of this procedure to remove large amounts of fats at one time might prove to be a danger because rookie surgeons might tend to overdraw for that area. This might cause clogging if too much fats are extracted at one time.

Currently, there is the third generation ultrasonic device available in the market yet, it comes with a much higher price. The word ultrasonic means high-pitched sound waves. These sound waves are used to break down the fatty cells before they are suctioned. The procedure uses high temperature. The vibration involved as well as the high temperature combined together present higher risks compared with the other liposuction techniques. The risks include burning and scarring as well as nerve damage and are not limited to these. Just imagine the strong vibrations emitted and how such vibrations could affect the neighbouring cells as well. These risks were quite prominent with the two older generations of ultrasonic devices. The third generation comes as more sophisticated because the possibility of burning and scarring are greatly minimized. With the third generation, water is used to cool down the cannula or the rod-shaped equipment used to melt and suction fats. Reports in burning and scarring were high with the previous generations of ultrasonic liposuction yet such devices are still in used today because the third generation device is really expensive and most doctors chose to stick with what they already have. The old generations are already phased out because of the complications that are attached with their usage. But when these devices were still on the height of being sold, they were sold at high costs. Perhaps, you are wondering now why this procedure comes as very expensive despite the limitations and risks that come with it. More so, perhaps, you are thinking why some doctors as well as patients still patronize the procedure in spite of the reported cases of people who have suffered with complications.