How Much Does Laser Liposuction Cost?

Laser liposuction costs $7,018 on average, according to 44 patient reviews. Prices range from $720 for one small area to $14,000 for a more extensive procedure.

Laser fat removal and body contouring techniques have two advantages over standard lipo:

• The laser’s heat melts excess fat, making it easier to remove
• It also stimulates collagen production in the dermis, for subtle skin tightening benefits

Good candidates for laser lipo are at or close to their ideal weight, with minimal skin laxity. This is body contouring procedure removes stubborn pockets of unwanted fat, but it’s not a weight loss treatment. 

In this guide, we cover:

• everything to look for in your price quote before you book your appointment
• whether patients say their fat removal results are worth the money
• why the cost of laser lipo varies
• when it may be covered by insurance

RealSelf Tip: Some providers use the term “laser lipo” to refer to noninvasive, energy-based procedures like​​ i-Lipo and Zerona, which shrink fat cells but don’t actually remove them. This guide focuses on laser lipolysis, an FDA-approved surgical procedure that uses laser energy to liquify fat cells before they’re completely suctioned out through a thin cannula. Smart Lipo is one popular brand of laser-assisted liposuction.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Laser Liposuction

What to look for in a price quote

At the end of your consultation with a potential plastic surgeon, they should give you a written treatment plan and a detailed breakdown of your all-in price estimate.

It should include:

• the consultation fee (often applied to the cost of your procedure)
• the surgeon’s fee
• anesthesia fees for the supplies and provider
• facility fees
• the cost of any pre-op lab work and office visits
• all aftercare and follow-up visits

Also ask them:

• if your surgeon recommends wearing a compression garment during recovery, and if you’ll need to purchase it yourself
• if you’ll need to budget for prescription pain medications, over-the-counter meds, or lymphatic drainage massages during your recovery

Is laser lipo worth the money?

Laser liposuction has an 90% Worth It Rating on RealSelf, so a solid majority of patients who reviewed it think their results were worth the investment.

Many reviewers who say laser lipo was “Worth It” saw significant body fat reduction and had increased confidence, with less than a week of downtime. One reviewer even calls it their “best decision ever.”

Those who say this cosmetic surgery was “Not Worth It” for them note side effects like contour irregularities in the treated area, underwhelming results, and a difficult recovery. (Some doctors claim their patients have a shorter recovery time with laser lipo, while others say the thermal energy can actually add to the downtime.)

VASER liposuction, which uses ultrasound energy to enhance fat removal and refine body shape (and has become synonymous with high-def lipo), has a slightly higher Worth It Rating than laser liposuction, but it also tends to cost more.  

Both VASER and conventional lipo (aka tumescent lipo) offer an edge over laser-assisted removal: the suctioned fat can be transferred to the face or other parts of the body—such as the butt, hips, and breasts—to add fullness or replace host volume. With laser lipo, the liquified fat cells aren’t viable for fat transfer.

RealSelf Tip: If you’re weighing laser lipo vs. CoolSculpting, it’s worth noting that while the average cost of CoolSculpting is dramatically less than laser liposuction, it has a much lower Worth It Rating from patients. Most people need multiple treatment sessions, and it takes months to see optimal results, because the body has to gradually metabolize and clear stubborn fat cells post-treatment. With any type of liposuction, unwanted fat is fully removed in a single procedure.

Why do laser lipo costs vary?

These are the biggest factors that impact the cost of laser lipo.

1. The number and size of treatment areas

Every liposuction treatment plan should be tailored to the patient’s unique anatomy and goals. In many cases, the desired treatment areas will have the biggest impact on the total cost.

The most popular areas of the body for laser liposuction include the abdomen, love handles, back, butt (especially the “banana roll” underneath), upper arms, thighs, and double chin. 

• Larger treatment areas are usually the most expensive because they take more time. For instance, the laser lipo cost for abdomens can range from $3,500 to $4,500, while smaller areas like a double chin can cost as little as $2,500. 
• Removing more fat in one area also takes more time, which can translate into a higher bill.
• Having multiple treatment areas will also cost more, though some doctors discount their fee on each additional area. It’s also cheaper to combine multiple areas into one procedure than to break them up into multiple sessions, because you’ll only have to pay the anesthesia and facility fees once. 
• Liposculpture (aka high-def lipo) work will also increase your total price, due to the time and level of skill it requires.  

2. Your surgeon’s credentials and level of expertise

Your provider’s qualifications—such as their certifications, how long they've been in practice, and types of liposuction they perform—all factor into their surgeon’s fee. 

An experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologic surgeon will usually charge a higher surgeon's fee than a general surgeon or another type of physician who offers procedures like this one. But they’ll also have more advanced training.

Plastic surgeons who specialize in advanced liposuction techniques will charge more, due to their greater expertise and patient demand. 

While this is considered a safe procedure, laser lipo comes with all the risks of traditional liposuction, plus potential burns from the heat of the laser treatment, especially in inexperienced hands.

Choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon will help increase your safety and chances of a great cosmetic result.

3. The type of anesthesia you have and who administers it

Another factor in the price you’ll pay is whether your surgery is performed under local anesthesia with oral sedation (which can be administered by your surgeon or one of their assistants), or a form that needs to be administered and monitored by another medical professional, such as general anesthesia or IV sedation, aka “twilight.”

If your plastic surgeon determines that your procedure should be carried out under general anesthesia or IV sedation (which may be the case if you’re having multiple areas treated over several hours), you can expect to pay thousands of dollars more than you would for a local anesthetic.

The qualifications of your anesthesia provider also come into play, price-wise. 

• You’ll pay more if it’s administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist (an MD), rather than a certified registered nurse anesthetist (a CRNA). 
• Some surgeons will only work with an anesthesiologist (especially if the patient has any underlying medical conditions) because their advanced training can increase patient safety. 

4. Where your procedure is performed

Your provider’s practice location—and how that impacts their overhead for costs such as rent and staff salaries—has a direct influence on their pricing.

Providers who practice in metros with a high cost of living, like New York City, generally have to charge more than those in more affordable locations. Costs can vary even by neighborhood, so it can be worthwhile to consult with (and get personalized quotes from) more than one provider, so you can compare. You may also find that they recommend slightly different treatment plans.

The type of surgical facility also matters when it comes to your bill: facility fees for private surgery centers are usually lower than in a hospital operating room.

If your provider has a private surgical center, confirm during your initial consultation that: 

• their facility is fully accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)
• they have hospital privileges nearby, in case you need to be admitted quickly due to a medical emergency 

Does insurance cover laser lipo costs?

Most laser liposuction procedures are not covered by health insurance because they’re elective cosmetic procedures, and not medically necessary. 

However, insurance may cover all or part of the price of laser liposuction if it’s required to remove subcutaneous lipomas (benign fatty growths) beneath the skin’s surface. If this is your primary concern, discuss your coverage with your surgeon and insurance company. You may still have to cover a deductible and copay, but you’ll still pay less out-of-pocket.

If you don’t qualify for coverage and the cost is a barrier, ask your provider if they offer monthly payment plans or accept plastic surgery financing options.

Laser liposuction costs in U.S. states

These were the average laser liposuction costs in U.S. states, according to recent patient reviews on RealSelf. As of July 2023, the cheapest state for laser lipo was Florida (where lipo clinics are ubiquitous), while Oregon was the most expensive. States not listed did not have enough data to include.

Laser lipo costs in major U.S. metros

Average costs according to patient-reported data. As of July 2023, the cheapest metro area in the U.S. to get laser liposuction is Tampa, FL, while people tend to pay the most in Portland, OR. Cities not listed did not have enough data to include.