Cork at a glance
- People in County Cork
- 584,156CSO Census 2022, up 7.6% since 2016
- Largest towns
- Cork city and suburbsCork city and suburbs (222,526), Carrigaline (18,239), Cobh (14,148)
- Aged 25 to 54
- 41%of the county, CSO 2022 (Ireland: 41%)
- To Dublin
- 3 hours254 km by road from Cork city, outside rush hour
- Consultations
- In Corkplastic surgeons see private patients there
- Typical cost
- €2,200 to €7,000the same range as Dublin
Cork city has plastic surgeons seeing private patients, so most people in the county consult without leaving Cork.
What it costs
One area costs €2,200 to €4,500, two areas €3,000 to €7,000, three or more €3,500 to €7,000. A men's chest operation is €3,300 to €6,500. Our price guide shows what's included and what moves the price.
Consultations and aftercare from Cork
Plan on about 4 trips: the consultation (some surgeons like a second one before you decide), the day of surgery, a wound check in the first week or two, and a later review. Because plastic surgeons see private patients in Cork, most of those trips stay inside the county. From the far side of County Cork they can still take an hour or more each way.
After a general anaesthetic, someone has to drive you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours. So book a lift home, not a bus.
Choosing a surgeon
By law every doctor practising in Ireland must be registered with the Medical Council, and a doctor can only practise independently as a specialist if they hold specialist registration. For liposuction, look for an entry in the Specialist Division under Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery. You can search the register yourself on the Medical Council's website.
Ask where the operation happens, who gives the anaesthetic, how many check-ups are in the price, and who you ring at night if something worries you.
Is it right for you?
Liposuction is not a weight-loss treatment. It removes pockets of fat that stay put despite a steady weight, diet and exercise. It does not remove cellulite or stretch marks, and it does not tighten loose skin.
Liposuction is probably not for you if:
- you are still losing or gaining weight, or your BMI is well above the healthy range
- the problem is loose, hanging skin rather than fat (that needs a skin-removal operation)
- you smoke and won't stop before surgery: smoking slows healing and raises the risk of blood clots
- you are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy soon
- you hope it will change how you feel about your whole body, not one area
Procedures
Questions from Cork
Is liposuction cheaper in Cork than in Dublin?
Not really. Prices around the country sit in the same range, €2,200 to €7,000. The surgeon and the setting move the price more than the county.
How far will I travel from Cork city?
Not far: Plastic surgeons see private patients in Cork itself, so most people in County Cork don't need to travel to Dublin. Dublin is about 3 hours by car.
Can the first consultation be by video?
Some clinics offer a video first consultation, which saves a trip. The surgeon still examines you in person before any surgery.
Who will contact me if I enquire from Cork?
One clinic, not five. We pass your enquiry to one Irish clinic and they contact you to arrange a consultation. Nothing is booked until you say yes.