Liposuction Costs and What Your Insurance Will Cover

Liposuction is a common surgical procedure to remove fat from parts of your body, yet it’s unlikely to be covered by health insurance and you’ll probably need to pay for this often expensive procedure out of pocket. However, in some cases, your health insurance may offer coverage if the procedure is deemed critical to your health.

Keep reading to learn more about when your health insurance will and won’t cover liposuction, how expensive this procedure can be and the options available to lower your costs.

On This Page

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  Does Insurance Cover Liposuction?

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  Will Medicare Cover Liposuction?

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  How Much Does Liposuction Typically Cost?

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  What Financing Options Are Available for Liposuction?

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  FAQs

Does Insurance Cover Liposuction?

Private health insurance and Medicaid typically won’t cover cosmetic surgery procedures like liposuction. Additionally, if the procedure was not covered, then your insurance is unlikely to cover costs due to complications caused by the surgery, such as an infection at an incision site.^[1]

The exception to this rule is if liposuction was considered to be medically necessary. For example, if liposuction could remove abnormal fatty growth or fat that is painful and impacts your mobility, like lipedema, then it may be eligible to be covered by your health insurance policy.^[2]

If you have a medical concern that liposuction could be used as a treatment, contact your primary care physician, prospective plastic surgeon or dermatologist and discuss if they believe it may be an option. If they agree, a case may be made with your insurance company to offer coverage. If your insurance provider doesn’t completely cover the plastic surgery, they may be able to offer partial coverage as an option.

Why Won’t Insurance Cover Liposuction?

In general, elective procedures that are commonly done for cosmetic purposes will not be covered by insurance. Like rhinoplasty, liposuction falls under cosmetic surgery and would be excluded from insurance coverage due to being almost always an elective procedure and not a medically necessary treatment.

Will Medicare Cover Liposuction?

Medicare typically doesn’t cover liposuction, as it’s usually deemed an elective cosmetic procedure and follows the same qualifiers set by private health insurance carriers. If your liposuction surgery were considered medically necessary — to treat lipedema, for instance — Medicare would require you to get authorization from your doctor for the service. If Medicare approves the liposuction procedure’s request, you should be covered after paying any remaining deductible and your coinsurance.^[3]

How Much Does Liposuction Typically Cost?

The average cost of a liposuction procedure is $4,449.^[4] However, this only covers the fee for the surgery itself and doesn’t include the varying costs for anesthesia, post-surgery care, medical tests or prescriptions. It also doesn’t include the costs associated with any complications that may arise due to the cosmetic procedure.

As liposuction is typically considered an elective cosmetic surgery, you will most likely be responsible for paying 100% of the surgery’s costs.

What Determines Liposuction Costs?

Liposuction costs are not standardized and you may find that different surgeons offer the equivalent service for different fees. Here’s a quick breakdown of the factors that help determine liposuction costs:

• Location: Areas with a higher cost of living may fetch higher prices for liposuction surgeries performed there. You may find that many of the most qualified plastic surgeons work in expensive cities but it may be possible to reduce your costs by searching for surgeons in cheaper locations. Additionally, the facility used can affect the liposuction cost, with a surgeon’s independently-owned surgical facility often being cheaper.
• Technology used: Liposuction surgeries can be advanced, often leveraging technology with ultrasound, lasers and radio frequencies to help perform the surgery. More elaborate technology can often lead to a higher bill but this varies between surgeons and their equipment.
• Treatment area: Liposuction isn’t just used to remove body fat on the stomach but can be performed on most body parts, such as on the hips or arms, for a body contouring procedure. The amount of fat that needs to be removed alongside the area of your body it’s on could increase the complexity of the surgery and may result in a higher cost.
• Surgeon expertise: The surgeon's experience can factor into the cost, as it is often a strong indicator of the surgeon’s skill and safety during cosmetic procedures. Those with a track record of successful medical procedures, high-profile clients or many years of practice often command higher prices than those with less acclaim.

An official quote will typically be offered after the consultation with the surgeon and some may charge additional for the consultation itself.

Keep in mind, while there are potential cost-saving measures when choosing your surgeon, you should always prioritize your health and safety over a reduced bill. Liposuction has a small risk of complications that occur in approximately 5% of patients and are typically minor but there is a risk of fatal complications in one in 5,000 surgeries.^[5] You might consider traveling abroad to reduce your liposuction cost and while many professionals of high caliber work in other countries and U.S. territories, but post-op complications could make returning to the U.S. difficult if you need additional treatment.^[6]

What Financing Options Are Available for Liposuction?

As liposuction isn’t often covered by an insurance provider, plastic and cosmetic surgeons frequently offer financing options to liposuction patients to help reduce the financial burden of the surgery. Sometimes, your surgeon may allow you to use a payment plan and contribute to your bill in monthly installments. You may also choose to use a credit card, take out a personal loan or seek a medical loan but ensure you’re financially responsible when taking on debt.

In addition, remember to shop around and don’t commit to the first facility you visit. Compare quotes, the benefits provided and the reputability of each facility before deciding.