Average Liposuction Cost in 2024 - Top Cities and States

Liposuction is a popular form of cosmetic surgery, with over 250,000 performed in the US each year [1]. As one of the most sought-after body contouring treatments, many prospective patients wonder — how much does liposuction cost?

The national average is $4,449 according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons [2]. But the total cost of the procedure largely depends on the area for liposuction and the amount of fat removed. It can exceed $10,000 if it involves multiple body areas or is combined with other procedures like tummy tucks.

Learn about the average liposuction costs per body area, by city and state, and the factors that influence pricing.

Average Liposuction Procedure Cost by City and State 

Liposuction costs vary across different cities and states based on factors like cost of living, demand, complexity of the procedure, and surgeon fees.

Here are the average liposuction prices in major US cities:

New York City, New York

As one of the most expensive cities in the US for cosmetic procedures, liposuction in NYC costs around $8,490 on average.

Los Angeles, California

With its beauty-focused culture, LA is another pricey city for liposuction averaging $13,096 depending on the extent of the treatment.

San Francisco, California

San Francisco has similarly high liposuction costs as LA, coming in at around $9,133 on average.

San Jose, California

As a more affordable alternative to San Francisco, residents of San Jose pay around $4,000 for liposuction in one area.

Sacramento, California

Sacramento liposuction costs are lower than major California cities like LA and San Francisco, with average prices from $5,000 to $7,000.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Known for cosmetic surgeries, Las Vegas sees an average liposuction cost of $6,500.

Miami, Florida

Miami is a major hub for cosmetic procedures. Liposuction here costs an average of $5,500.

Dallas, Texas

In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, liposuction surgery costs an average of $9,239.

Houston, Texas

Houston liposuction prices align with rates found in Dallas, coming in at around $8,121 on average.

Chicago, Illinois

The Windy City provides liposuction costs averaging $8,107.

Phoenix, Arizona

Rounding out our list is Phoenix, where liposuction averages $8,114.

What Factors Affect the Cost of Liposuction?

Several factors determine the price range of liposuction:

Area of the Body

Smaller areas like the chin or arms average $4,000 to $5,000 while larger areas like the stomach, thighs, or back can cost upward of $20,000.

Amount of Fat to be Removed

If you only need a small amount of fat removed, costs start lower. Those looking to contour multiple body zones or remove larger amounts of fat across bigger surface areas will pay more.

Liposuction Technique

Depending on what technique your surgeon uses, your liposuction procedure could cost more or less. For example, tumescent liposuction can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000, while Smart Lipo ranges from $2,000 to $7,000.

Geographic Location

New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles have the highest liposuction costs nearing $10,000 on average. Cities like Las Vegas provide savings, with liposuction costs around $6,500 on average.

Surgeon's Expertise and Reputation

Board-certified surgeons with years of experience and proven results often charge more for their in-demand services.

Facility Fees

Having your procedure at a hospital or specialized surgery center raises costs over an office-based provider.

Anesthesia Fees

General anesthesia administered by an anesthesiologist costs more than local numbing agents.

Post-Operative Care

Any follow-up visits for drain removal, massage, or other post-op care add to the total liposuction costs.  However most surgeons include post-operative visits and garments into the surgical fee without additional charges.

Consultation Fee

Some surgeons charge an upfront fee for the initial consultation, while others don’t. Call your desired surgeon’s office and ask before booking a liposuction consultation.

Insurance Coverage

If you can get coverage for any portion of the procedure, costs will be lower. But in most cases, insurance won’t cover liposuction because it’s usually a cosmetic procedure.

Additional Procedures

Combining liposuction with a tummy tuck, Renuvion (J-Plasma) skin tightening, breast lift, BBL, or other surgeries increases the overall price.

Pre-Operative Tests

Requirements like lab tests, EKGs, prescriptions, compression garments, and medical clearance also factor into the final liposuction costs.

Types of Liposuction

Your surgeon may perform one or more of these common liposuction techniques:

Tumescent Liposuction

This is the traditional and most common method. The surgeon injects a solution of local anesthetic and epinephrine into the treatment area. This minimizes blood loss and reduces swelling, bruising, and discomfort after surgery. It also allows the surgeon better control for sculpting.

After injecting the tumescent solution, the surgeon makes a small incision and uses a thin tube to suction out the fat. This smooths bulges and contours curves [3]. Costs start around $2,000 per area.

Laser-Assisted Liposuction

Although rarely used these days with surgeons who have mastered the field of liposuction, with this option, the surgeon uses a laser to liquefy the fat before suctioning it out. Besides melting stubborn fat cells, the laser beams coagulate small blood vessels. This means less bleeding — but at a higher cost averaging $2,500 to $4,500 per treatment area [4].

Ultrasonic Liposuction

This technique involves transmitting ultrasonic waves via a special cannula to break up the fat before getting suctioned out. It’s an option worth considering if your surgeon needs to treat stubborn fat in the ankles, chin, feet, knees, and neck [5]. It can cost an upward average of $10,000.

Power-Assisted Liposuction

Power-assisted liposuction uses a powered cannula with a vibrating tip to break up and remove fat cells. Compared to traditional liposuction, this method works faster.

The average cost of power-assisted liposuction is around $3,650. This makes it a more affordable option than some energy-based techniques. But it doesn’t stimulate collagen production like laser or ultrasonic lipo. If your goal is a high-definition contoured look, an energy-based method may be better for skin tightening, even if the investment is higher [6].

Additional Costs to Liposuction

When it comes to liposuction, the surgical procedure fee isn’t the only thing you’ll pay.

Non-surgical costs and expenses you may be responsible for include:

• Medical Tests: Lab work, EKGs, etc. maybe necessary before performing liposuction to ensure you’re a good candidate

• Anesthesia Fees: General anesthesia is more expensive than local anesthesia

• Hospital or Surgical Facility Costs: Hospital and surgical facility costs vary depending on the location

• Post-Surgery Garments: Compression garments are vital to control swelling

• Prescriptions for Medication: The cost of antibiotics and pain medications vary per patient

• Post-Operative Care: Costs for things like follow-up appointments depend on your recovery needs and the surgeon who operates on you. 

• Surgeon's Fee: Surgeons charge a separate fee based on their experience, procedure type, and location

• Travel and Accommodation: If traveling for surgery, hotels and flights add up. Depending on the complexity of your procedure, you may be required to stay at an aftercare facility for 1-2 days. 

• Potential Revision Surgeries: The cost of future touch-ups will differ depending on what you need

Common Areas of Liposuction and Their Costs

Liposuction price varies based on the body part you’re treating.

Here are some popular areas and what they cost, on average:

Chin

A smaller area like the chin costs less than if treating a larger area. You can expect to pay around $2,500 to $5,000 on average.

Stomach

The stomach is a classic zone for contouring. Stomach lipo costs around $2,500 to $7,500 on average. If you want to treat both your upper and lower abdomen, it can go up to around $3,800 to $8,000.

Arm

Shaping the arms with liposuction generally runs around $2,000 to $5,500 per arm.

Neck

Neck liposuction costs vary based on the results you’re after. According to a national survey by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, neck liposuction can cost anywhere between $1,200 to $12,700.

Face

Liposuction can refine the face and jawline for $2,000 to $4,500 on average.

Thigh

Reshaping thigh areas costs between $2,500 to $6,500 per leg. Your investment will vary depending on whether you’re treating the inner portion and knees, the outer portion, or the anterior and frontal portion.

Back

Removing back and bra fat runs $2,000 to $8,000 for this expansive area.

Love handles

Also referred to as flanks or muffin tops, love handles cost around $2,500 to $6,000 to treat.

Calves

Slimming down the calves with liposuction averages $6,250. This price can differ based on patient-specific factors.

Full body

Treating several zones like the stomach, flanks, back, arms, and thighs will cost more than if you’re only treating one. You can expect to pay the sum of the averages we’ve mentioned above. For example, if you want to get stomach lipo and arm lipo, you could be paying an upper average of $13,500.

How Long Will Liposuction Results Last?

When performed by an experienced, board-certified surgeon, the fat removal results from liposuction are considered permanent. However, liposuction doesn’t prevent future weight gain. For the best results, patients must maintain their ideal weight and a healthy lifestyle [7].

Risks of Liposuction

While liposuction is one of the safest and most popular cosmetic surgeries, it does carry some risks [8]:

• Infection: Can become serious, but is uncommon and treatable with antibiotics

• Bleeding: Temporary swelling and bruising are normal but excessive bleeding is rare

• Anesthesia Risks: Adverse reactions to general anesthesia can occur

• Irregular Contouring: If fat removal is uneven, the skin may appear bumpy

• Fluid Accumulation: Excess fluid may collect after surgery, requiring drainage

• Numbness: Some temporary or long-lasting numbness may occur

• Fat Embolism: The chance of fat particles getting trapped in a blood vessel is rare but dangerous

• Internal Organ Puncture: Major complications if the cannula penetrates the abdomen or chest

• Long-Term Swelling: Some patients see swelling for several months

• Skin Necrosis: The skin above the treated area very rarely dies

• Changes in Skin Sensation: Areas can become overly sensitive or numb

• Heart and Lung Complications: Fluid shifts can pose life-threatening complications to the heart and lungs if you’re performing a large-volume lipo

• Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism: Blood clotting is unusual but possible

• Unsatisfactory Results: You may need another procedure if you’re unhappy with results

• Need for Revision Surgery: Some patients want to get touch-up procedures after some time

Does Insurance Cover the Liposuction Cost?

In most cases, liposuction is an elective, cosmetic procedure. So, it’s not covered by health insurance. Exceptions include medically necessary situations like correcting a birth defect or treating an injury [9]. Overall, patients should expect to pay for liposuction out of pocket.

Are There Financing Options for a Liposuction?

Since insurance companies generally won’t cover the costs, many practices offer their own payment plans or financing options for liposuction like CareCredit. This allows you to pay the cost over months.

Some surgeon’s offices also offer incentives for paying in full upfront. An example of this could be discounted rates when paying the full liposuction cost ahead of time with cash, check, or credit card.

Is Liposuction a Permanent Solution?

Once your surgeon removes fat from your body, those same fat cells won’t grow back [10]. But liposuction isn’t a weight loss solution and won’t prevent future weight gain. Those who put on significant weight after their procedure are likely to see new fat return to treated areas. But as long as you maintain a healthy weight, the sculpting effects are long-lasting.

Is Liposuction Worth the Money?

Liposuction is one of the most popular procedures for good reason. When performed correctly, the results can be stunning and life-changing. Removing stubborn pockets of diet and exercise resistant fat can elevate your confidence and completely transform problem areas.

But for the high costs associated, it’s imperative to consider your desired treatment areas. Liposuction works best for small, localized areas with minimal loose skin and stretch marks [11].

The best liposuction candidate is already near their ideal body weight and has good skin elasticity.

Roham Plastic Surgery | Liposuction in California

Considering liposuction in Southern California? Roham Plastic Surgery provides exceptional results. Led by board-certified cosmetic surgeon Dr. Ali Roham, the practice offers customized body contouring tailored to enhance your body image.

With his extensive medical training, surgical skills, and artistic eye, Dr. Roham creates natural-looking outcomes many patients love. Learn more about your liposuction options today. Schedule a consultation with us by calling (714) 557-0777 (Santa Ana location) or (949) 248-1900 (San Clemente location).

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_{2. How much does liposuction cost?, American Society of Plastic Surgeons}

_{3. Tumescent liposuction, UCSF Health}

_{4. Does Laser Lipo Work?, Forbes Health}

_{5. Ultrasonic liposuction vs traditional liposuction, American Society of Plastic Surgeons}

_{6. Power-assisted liposuction (PAL): What you need to know, RealSelf}

_{7. Can fat return after liposuction?, American Society of Plastic Surgeons}

_{8. Liposuction, MayoClinic}

_{9. Does Medicare cover liposuction?, Healthline}

_{10. Liposuction, Cleveland Clinic}

_{11. Ten common misconceptions about liposuction, American Society of Plastic Surgeons}