01Article · Liposuction cost
What the cost —
actually includes.
Liposuction quotes in Melbourne span an unusually wide range because liposuction itself spans a wide range — from a small flank touch-up under local anaesthesia to a circumferential trunk procedure under general anaesthesia. This article walks through the variables that move the figure, the line items a complete quote should include, and the questions worth asking the practice manager before you book.
02In short
The final figure is the sum of six itemised line items, moved by six clinical variables. The biggest movers are the number of treatment areas, the anaesthesia type, and whether fat transfer to a second area is combined with the procedure. A headline price that does not itemise these things is a starting position, not a quote.
03What this guide is not
A range —
not a quote.
This article is intended to help patients understand what a complete written quote should include, so the figures they see across different practices can be compared meaningfully. It is not a quote for any individual case. Liposuction costs in Australia vary considerably and any all-up figure depends on the variables below.
For the broader clinical context, see the liposuction pillar page, the three liposuction procedures we offer in Melbourne, and the lipo 360 article for circumferential cases.
04The clinical variables
What actually —
moves the cost.
Six variables, decided at consultation, generally account for the difference between a small-area quote and a full circumferential quote.
- 01Number of treatment areas — flanks alone, abdomen and flanks, or full circumferential ('lipo 360') trunk treatment. More areas means more theatre time.
- 02Volume of fat to be removed — there is a regulated upper limit per session for patient safety; larger volumes may require staging across two operations.
- 03Anaesthesia — local-only with tumescent technique for small areas, sedation for medium cases, or general anaesthesia for larger circumferential cases.
- 04Whether energy-assisted techniques are used — VASER, laser-assisted, or power-assisted devices have different consumables and theatre time profiles.
- 05Whether fat transfer is combined — fat removed in one area is sometimes transferred to another (for example, gluteal fat graft). This adds a separate procedure to the quote.
- 06Garment requirements — most patients need two compression garments to rotate during the recovery window; one is included as standard, the second is sometimes an add-on.
05The line items in a complete quote
Six things —
worth seeing in writing.
A complete written quote for liposuction in Australia generally itemises six things. If any of them are missing or only mentioned verbally, ask for them in writing before committing.
- 01Doctor's fee — operating time, planning, and the standard follow-up review window.
- 02Anaesthetist's fee — billed by the anaesthetist's practice; varies with anaesthetic type and duration.
- 03Theatre and facility fee — accredited day-surgery or hospital fee covering nursing, sterile equipment, and recovery.
- 04Compression garment — typically one stage-1 garment included; a stage-2 garment for weeks four onward may be additional.
- 05Consumables — tumescent fluid, cannulas, dressings, post-operative analgesia where relevant.
- 06Follow-up reviews — generally one week, six weeks, three months, and an additional review at six months for larger cases.
06Volume limits, regulation, and safety
Why some cases —
need to be staged.
There is a recognised upper limit on the volume of fat that can be safely removed in a single session under local-tumescent technique, and a separate set of considerations for larger-volume general-anaesthesia cases. These limits are not optional — they exist for patient safety and are reflected in the Medical Board of Australia's broader cosmetic surgery framework. Larger cases are sometimes recommended to be staged across two operations, which means two quotes.
The Medical Board of Australia's cosmetic surgery guidelines apply to every cosmetic procedure, including liposuction. The AHPRA register lets you verify the credentials of any operating doctor in Australia.
07The non-negotiable steps
Four steps —
regardless of price.
Liposuction is a cosmetic surgical procedure under the framework introduced by the Medical Board of Australia in July 2023. These steps apply to every cosmetic case, regardless of where the quote sits in the published range.
- 01A referral from your usual GP, independent of the operating practice.
- 02At least two consultations, with at least one face-to-face.
- 03A psychological screening using a validated tool to look for body dysmorphic disorder or other underlying concerns.
- 04A seven-day cooling-off period between the second consultation and the operation.
08Medicare and private health
Where rebates —
do not apply.
Dr Nara is a cosmetic doctor — Medicare rebates and private health insurance do not contribute to elective cosmetic liposuction. The Medicare Benefits Schedule does include items for clinically necessary fat removal in specific reconstruction scenarios; these are assessed by your GP, are not what we offer at RevAesthetic, and are searchable via the MBS Online portal. Australian consumer credit information for any patient considering third-party medical finance is on the ASIC MoneySmart website.
We do not receive a referral fee from any finance provider.
09Where consultations happen
Three states —
one operating location.
Dr Nara consults at Chadstone in Melbourne (Victoria), Cooee in Tasmania, and Stepney in South Australia. Liposuction surgery itself takes place at our accredited Melbourne theatre, regardless of where you have consulted. The quote is the same across all three locations because the surgical inputs do not change. Travel and accommodation are your own arrangement, and we will plan discharge and follow-up timing with interstate patients in mind.
More on each location is on the Melbourne, Tasmania and Adelaide pages.
10Risks & considerations
What price —
does not buy out.
The recognised risks of liposuction include bleeding, infection, asymmetry, contour irregularity, sensation changes (sometimes permanent), wound healing issues, fluid collection (seroma), the small recognised risk of fat embolism with large-volume cases, and the possibility of needing revision surgery for residual contour concerns. Results vary from patient to patient as each case is unique with its intrinsic risks and expectations.
The full list of cosmetic surgery risks is on our risks of surgery page, and we recommend reading it before the second consultation. A second opinion from a qualified health professional is encouraged for any cosmetic procedure.
11Frequently asked questions
Questions patients —
actually ask.
Why is there such a wide published range for liposuction in Melbourne?
Because liposuction is not one operation — it ranges from a small flank touch-up under local anaesthesia to a full circumferential trunk procedure under general anaesthesia, with very different theatre time, consumables, and follow-up demands. A single number out of context is usually meaningless. A formal written quote is only provided after your individual consultation, by Cate, the practice manager.
Does Medicare or private health insurance cover liposuction?
Dr Nara is a cosmetic doctor — private health insurance and Medicare rebates do not apply to elective cosmetic liposuction. Liposuction performed as part of a specific clinical reconstruction (for example, after major weight loss with substantial functional skin issues) is assessed under separate Medicare item numbers, independently by your GP, and is not the cosmetic pathway we offer at RevAesthetic.
What is included in the follow-up window?
A standard liposuction package at RevAesthetic includes reviews at one week, six weeks, and three months, with an additional review at six months for larger cases. Additional reviews — for example if a contour concern emerges at twelve months — are arranged on a per-visit basis. The clear inclusion list is part of your written quote.
Is the cheapest quote a saving?
It is rarely a saving in any meaningful sense. Liposuction has fixed cost inputs — an accredited theatre, qualified anaesthetist, sterile single-use cannulas and tubing, follow-up time. When a quote sits well below the prevailing range, something has usually been removed. The honest question to ask is not 'why is this cheaper' but 'what has been left out of the quote in front of me'.
Is liposuction a weight-loss procedure?
No. Liposuction reshapes localised fat deposits in patients who are already at or close to a stable, healthy weight. Patients who are still actively losing weight, or who have a body mass index outside the safe range for elective day surgery, are not suitable candidates and we will say so at consultation. The right answer is sometimes that this is not the right procedure right now.
Can a single number be quoted on the phone?
No. A phone enquiry can give you the range that liposuction typically falls within in Australia — to help with your initial research — but the figure that becomes a written quote requires the in-person consultation, the assessment, and the procedure plan. Anyone offering a same-day liposuction quote over the phone is offering a marketing figure, not a quote.
12How to begin
Next steps —
if you are researching.
The first step is a referral from your usual GP, followed by an in-person consultation with Dr Nara. The written, itemised quote is provided at the end of the second consultation by Cate, the practice manager. There is no same-day pressure. Take your time, ask questions, and seek a second opinion before you commit to anything.
You can begin a confidential enquiry at any time. RevAesthetic is located at Chadstone Shopping Centre, G 120A / 1341 Dandenong Rd, Chadstone VIC 3148, with alternate consultation locations in Cooee (Tasmania) and Stepney (South Australia).
13About the practitioner
Dr Kishen
Nara.
Dr Kishen Nara is a registered medical practitioner. He sees patients across Melbourne, Tasmania and Adelaide. The team at RevAesthetic includes practice manager Cate, Patient Liaison Jenny, and registered nurses, all involved in supporting your enquiry.
- MBBSBachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery — Monash University
- FACCSM(Surg)Surgical Fellow, Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery and Medicine
- AHPRARegistered medical practitioner — General Registration MED0001201549
14Continue reading
More from
the journal.
- 2026 Tummy tuck recovery — week by week through three months
An honest, week-by-week recovery timeline after abdominoplasty in Melbourne. Drain management, scar care, exercise return, and the difficult weeks 2 and 3 that nobody talks about. - 2026 Lipo 360 in Melbourne — what gets treated and what does not
The anatomy of a 360 liposuction — circumferential trunk reshaping, why it is not a weight-loss procedure, who is suited and who is not. - 2025 Three Liposuction Procedures in Melbourne
Liposuction of the thighs, abdomen and waist — three areas Dr Kishen Nara works on in Melbourne.
Disclaimer: All cosmetic procedures have inherent potential risks and complications. We encourage you to seek a second opinion from a qualified medical professional before any procedure. Material on this page is educational in nature and is not generalisable — outcomes vary significantly between patients depending on genetic composition, medical history and individual circumstances. Dr Kishen Nara — MBBS, FACCSM(Surg), AHPRA Registration MED0001201549. General Registration.