Surgeon's Fees: Experience, Reputation, and Technology

There is a basic principle that applies to most cash-pay health care procedures: the more reputable the surgeon, the more surgery will likely cost. A surgeon with considerable experience and recognition in the field of body sculpture can understandably command a higher fee. When you add advanced technology used for the benefit of the patients, this can also drive a price higher. Using lasers and radiofrequency in liposuction has been proven to provide even better results, but this equipment is expensive, and requires special training.

Traditional liposuction involves the use of a tube-like tool called a cannula. It is inserted below the surface of the skin through tiny incisions, and moved back and forth to loosen fat cells, which are then suctioned out through the cannula. In my case, I prefer to use VASERlipoTM, which incorporates ultrasound into this process. I invested in this expensive equipment so I could provide better results, and I've got to pay for it. I charge from $2,000 to $4,000 per area using VASERlipoTM, which is several hundred dollars more than surgeons typically charge for traditional liposuction.

In my experience, VASERlipoTM gives my patients better results, with less loose skin and quicker recovery. It's a three-step process of injecting a solution of saline and norepinephrine, applying ultrasound waves below the skin using a special probe, and evacuating the emulsified fat through a cannula. By using this advanced technology with knowledge and experience, you can remove the fat in a reasonable amount of time, in the most superficial layers so that the skin will reshape to a smaller size. Ultrasound allows for more selective damage to the fat, and minimizes trauma to neighboring connective tissue. By minimizing collateral trauma, more fat is removed, and the native elasticity of the connective tissue can shrink down to the smaller size.

Of course, a surgeon cannot build a reputation on technology alone. If you are interested in having liposuction, you should consider any advanced technology an extension of the surgeon's own abilities and expertise.