How much does liposuction cost in Singapore, and what affects the cost?

As a ballpark figure, you can expect to pay about $15,000 - $25,000 for liposuction in Singapore in total.

Plastic surgeons in Singapore usually perform liposuction on a minimum of 5 body parts. Liposuction costs about $1,500 - $2,800 for each body part area.

It’s not uncommon for doctors to avoid mentioning the cost of liposuction on their websites in Singapore because of the variability in price, according to what you need. This is best determined by an in person consultation and physical examination.

However, if you just want a rough gauge according to your condition, you can get a free personalised estimate directly from trusted doctors at this link.

That being said, I'd be especially careful about choosing a plastic surgeon/doctor to perform your liposuction based on costs alone, because of two very important reasons:

1. You may end up paying more money

Liposuction, if done poorly, may produce results so bad that you'd have to pay for a second corrective liposuction procedure. Common undesirable outcomes of poorly done liposuction in Singapore include:

• Irregular results with unsightly depressions in your skin
• Large and obvious scarring
• Barely noticeable results after liposuction
• Excessive liposuction resulting in an unnatural/disfigured appearance

The 2nd liposuction procedure is also more difficult because there is often scar tissue left behind below the skin in any area that was previously treated with liposuction.

2. Risks of surgery

As with any other medical procedures, there are always risks involved, so you'd want to choose the most suitable doctor for the procedure, not the one who is the cheapest.

What are the main factors that determine the total cost of liposuction in Singapore?

1. The amount of time and effort required by your surgeon for liposuction

This is the single most important factor in determining the cost of liposuction.

Liposuction can literally be "back-breaking work", so it's really not the most popular procedure amongst plastic surgeons in Singapore. As you'd imagine, it can be tough to break down and remove up to 5 litres of fat in one sitting!

The main factors that increase the amount of time and effort for your liposuction procedure, and hence costs, include:

• Increased number of treated areas
• Increased size of treatment area
• Increased amount of fat to remove
• Increased size and weight of patient

Thus, the cost of liposuction on your stomach alone, will cost less than if you were to have liposuction on your stomach, thighs and buttocks.

Larger areas that require treatment also cost more. For example, the cost of liposuction to the lower abdomen costs around $2,000. On the other hand, liposuction of the upper abdomen may cost up to $3,000.

Similarly, the cost for abdominal liposuction on a 100 kg patient will usually cost more than that of a 60 kg patient.

2. Type of liposuction performed

There are a variety of different liposuction methods employed by different doctors, so it's important you check on which is being offered. Examples include:

• Tumescent liposuction (fluid injection) involves injecting a large amount of medicated solution into the areas before the fat is removed.
• Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL) (eg. Vaser liposuction) uses ultrasonic vibrations to turn fat cells into liquid. Afterward, the cells can be vacuumed out.
• Laser-assisted liposuction (LAL) uses laser energy to liquefy fat cells. After the cells are liquefied, they can be vacuumed out or allowed to drain out through small tubes.

The most common liposuction procedure in Singapore is Vaper liposuction. However, it is also more costly than other types of liposuction.

3. Your surgeon's experience

A more experienced liposuction surgeon will charge a lot more.

Some doctors in Singapore offer a "package liposuction price"; this includes all liposuction surgery-related expenses in one lump sum.

4. Other costs, eg. Operating Theatre and Anaesthesia costs

Some doctors prefer to itemize the costs of the liposuction procedure. These itemized costs typically can be broken down into:

• The surgeon's fee
• The anesthesiologist’s fee
• Anaesthetic fee (eg. IV sedation or General Anaesthesia?)
• Operating room fee
• Lab test fees
• Charges for post-operative elastic compression garments
• Medications, eg. painkillers and antibiotics

Do note that if more than 2 litresof fat is removed, you must stay in a hospital. This will significantly increase costs. If more than 100 mls of fat are to be removed, then the surgery must be done in an ambulatory surgery centre or a hospital.

Please also read: The Essential Guide to Liposuction in Singapore by a Plastic Surgeon (2020)

In summary, it's often helpful to send an enquiry to a few doctors to compare fee quotes for liposuction, and also for you to gauge your comfort level with how each doctor answers your questions.

Make sure that you are not talking apples and oranges and that you’re getting prices for comparable liposuction procedures.

Finally, do note that there is NO medical need for liposuction, nor does it confer any health benefits. The type of fat removed by liposuction is not linked to health problems such as heart disease and stroke.

It’s hard to give you the cost of liposuction in Singapore because different surgeons use different techniques and charge differently.

Most surgeons will charge you an all-in fee that covers surgeon fee, anaesthetic fee and OT fee. But I don’t believe this is best for the patient because if the operation is shorter than normal the patient should pay less.

On the other hand, if the operation is taking longer than usual the surgeon may feel the monetary pressure to finish the surgery without achieving the desired result because the excess OT and anaesthetic fees will be coming out of his/her pocket.

I prefer to charge a surgeon fee and the patient will settle the rest. We can give you an estimate of what the total bill will be, it could be lower or it could be higher, but you can rest assured that I will be achieving the result the patient desires.

The main factors that affect the cost are: surgeon fee, venue, and method used. The surgeon fee will depend on how many areas will be treated and what technique is used.

Some surgeons use more traditional techniques while others use more modern techniques that require special equipment. It’s good to check with your surgeon what technique they use.

If more than 100mls of fat are to be removed then the surgery must be done in an ambulatory surgery centre or a hospital, if more than 2L of fat is removed, then the patient must stay in hospital. This will affect the cost.