Donegal at a glance
- People in County Donegal
- 167,084CSO Census 2022, up 5.0% since 2016
- Largest towns
- LetterkennyLetterkenny (22,549), Buncrana (6,971), Ballybofey-Stranorlar (5,406)
- Aged 25 to 54
- 38%of the county, CSO 2022 (Ireland: 41%)
- To Dublin
- 3 hours 20 minutes243 km by road from Letterkenny, outside rush hour
- Nearest consultations
- Dublinabout 3 hours 20 minutes by car
- Typical cost
- €2,200 to €7,000the same range as Dublin
From Letterkenny, Dublin is about 3 hours 20 minutes by road and Galway longer, so a video first consultation, where the clinic offers one, saves a long round trip.
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 Donegal
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. From Letterkenny to Dublin that's about 26.5 hours in the car altogether, there and back.
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.
That's a long drive the evening after an operation. Many people book a night near the clinic. On any trip of three hours or more, the HSE advises loose clothes, stopping to walk around, compression stockings and calf exercises, because sitting still after surgery raises the risk of a clot.
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 Donegal
Is liposuction cheaper in Donegal 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 Letterkenny?
From Letterkenny, the nearest towns where plastic surgeons see private patients are Dublin (about 3 hours 20 minutes by car) and Galway (3 hours 35 minutes). Dublin is about 3 hours 20 minutes 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 Donegal?
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.