How Much Does Smart Lipo Cost?

The average cost of Smart Lipo is $6,461, according to 106 patient reviews. The price of this type of laser lipo can range from just $2,900 to as much as $12,000.

How much you pay will depend on several factors, including:

• the size and number of treatment areas
• your provider’s credentials, level of experience, and reputation
• their practice location
• the type of surgical facility
• your anesthesia provider’s credentials

Read on for more details about why prices vary, everything to look for in an estimate, whether patients say it’s worth the money, and average costs across the U.S.

What does the cost of Smart Lipo include?

During an initial consultation, your prospective surgeon should give you a complete Smart Lipo cost quote that includes:

• the plastic surgeon’s fee
• anesthesia fees
• the facility fee
• any pre-op medical tests and appointments
• pain medications and post-op supplies
• compression garment (if your doctor recommends one)
• follow-up care

If any of these items aren’t listed in your doctor’s estimate, you’ll still need to factor them into your total budget. 

As with other body sculpting surgeries, many doctors recommend a series of lymphatic massages after liposuction procedures, to help reduce swelling. Each massage typically costs about $100. If your surgeon recommends it, be sure to budget for this expense.

Also make sure you understand whether their pricing is based on the treatment area or the estimated time in the operating room. (More on this below.)

Finally, ask about their policy on charging for revision surgery if you’re not happy with your results or experience a complication.

Is Smart Lipo worth the money?

Smart Lipo has a 86% Worth It Rating from patients who reviewed their procedure on RealSelf. So while a majority were happy with the results of their investment, not everyone thought it was money well spent.

Many of those who say this cosmetic procedure was “Worth It” reported natural-looking results and a boost in self-confidence. 

This cosmetic surgery has a few advantages over traditional liposuction.

• The laser fiber (inserted via a cannula through tiny incisions) liquifies the unwanted fat cells before they’re removed, which can reportedly reduce trauma to the surrounding tissue, swelling, and downtime.
• Along with melting and removing stubborn fat, laser lipo treatments like this one also offer mild skin tightening benefits. While the results won’t match surgical skin removal procedures like a tummy tuck, the laser’s heat triggers a healing response and new collagen production, which can make the skin in the treated area look firmer over time.

Among reviewers who say Smart Lipo is “Not Worth It,” some experienced side effects like discolored skin, lumps, and scarring. Others simply had underwhelming results, with less fat reduction or firming than they’d wanted.

The results from all types of lipo are very technique-dependent. To help ensure your investment will be worth it, find a board-certified plastic surgeon with rave reviews and a gallery of impressive before and after photos.

They should also be able to confirm whether you’re a good candidate for this procedure and set realistic expectations about your outcome.

Why the cost of Smart Lipo varies

These are the biggest factors that will impact the price you pay.

1. Your surgeon’s credentials and experience

A board-certified plastic surgeon with years of experience performing this laser lipolysis treatment and other body contouring procedures will be able to charge more for their time and talent than a physician who doesn’t have the same level of training, credentials, and skill. 

It can be tempting to go with the practice who gives the lowest cost quote for this minimally invasive procedure. Just keep in mind that all plastic surgery comes with potential risks and side effects, especially in unskilled hands. Potential Smart Lipo side effects include contour irregularities and even, in rare cases, burns from the laser energy.

A plastic surgeon with extensive experience performing laser liposuction will know best how to remove fat safely and create the results you’re looking for, assuming you’re a good candidate for the procedure. (Remember, lipo isn’t a weight loss method.)

2. Their practice location

Providers in major metros with higher costs of living typically charge more, but prices can vary by area and practice, influenced by the law of supply and demand. 

According to metro-area cost data from patient reviews, Smart Lipo in New York City costs $8,375 on average, while patients tend to pay just $4,500 in Miami, where the sheer volume of providers keeps prices competitive. See more prices by metro.

Many surgeons offer free consultations or apply the consultation fee to your procedure, so it can be worthwhile to meet with more than one qualified provider, so you can compare personalized cost quotes.

3. Where your surgical procedure is performed

Most plastic surgeons perform Smart Lipo in private surgical centers, which usually have lower facility fees than hospital operating rooms. 

When you’re discussing the surgical facility, be sure to ask if it’s certified for patient safety by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) or the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF). 

4.  The complexity of your procedure

Your surgeon’s fee will largely be determined by the scope of your Smart Lipo procedure—how long it takes, the specific areas involved, and how much skill it requires.

If your surgeon’s fee is based primarily on the time the procedure takes, someone with a greater amount of fat to remove can expect to pay more.

Fat removal on one small targeted area usually costs less than the treatment of larger areas of the body, but the size of the area isn’t the only consideration. Some smaller fat deposits, like a double chin, require a more nuanced approach due to their complex anatomy. That’s why chin Smart Lipo costs can be higher than those for more straightforward areas, like the bra roll.

The manufacturer of Smart Lipo lists ballpark costs for various body areas, including:

• Back: $2,750
• Flanks: $3,250
• Arms: $3,250
• Knees: $3,500
• Abdomen: $5,250

Naturally, the number of areas you have treated will also impact your price.

• Sculpting the entire torso (often called lipo 360) generally provides the most seamless outcome, but this contouring approach is much more expensive than targeting just the love handles or abdomen.
• Tacking on another separate area, like the upper arms, will further increase your total price. 
• However, some practices offer Smart Lipo discounts when treating multiple areas of the body at once, charging less for each additional region.

During your consultation, ask your surgeon to explain their pricing structure and how your personalized treatment plan will impact your final bill. This will be especially helpful if you’re comparing quotes from multiple providers.

5. The type of anesthesia you get and who administers it

The cost of anesthesia includes the anesthesia provider fee and the hospital or facility anesthesia fee, which covers supplies, medications, and any additional staff. 

Smart Lipo can be done under local anesthesia with IV sedation, general anesthesia, or using a local anesthetic alone depending on the complexity of your treatment and the preferences of you and your provider. 

General anesthesia and IV sedation need to be administered by a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) or an anesthesiologist (an MD). A board-certified anesthesiologist will charge more than a CRNA, but their advanced training could increase your safety, particularly if you have underlying health conditions.

Will insurance pay for Smart Lipo?

Smart Lipo is not covered by health insurance because it's an elective cosmetic treatment that’s not considered medically necessary.

Can you finance Smart Lipo procedure?

Yes, most practices offer payment plans or accept financing options to help make your liposuction cost more manageable.

The CareCredit credit card is widely accepted by providers across the U.S., for both plastic surgery and nonsurgical procedures.

Some providers offer a discount if you pay in cash, so if you can do that, it may be worth the savings.

Smart Lipo costs in U.S. states

Browse average Smart Lipo costs in U.S. states, according to recent RealSelf member reviews (as of July 2023). States not currently listed did not have enough data to include.

Smart Lipo costs in major U.S. metros