It's no secret that plastic surgery can be expensive.
Yet, people of all walks of life are posting photos of their new selves to Facebook and Instagram after undergoing cosmetic procedures such as breast augmentation and rhinoplasty. They are able to afford their procedures.
And, if the websites of plastic surgery practices throughout the country are to be believed, so can you.
Still, finding specific information about the cost of plastic surgery procedures online can be a real chore.
While most plastic surgeons are happy to discuss pricing during their initial face-to-face meeting with patients, you may prefer to have answers to some of
your basic questions before you schedule that first consultation, especially questions such as:
How much do the most popular plastic surgery procedures cost?
What factors can influence these costs?
How can you pay for your plastic surgery?
In answering the first of these questions, let's start by acknowledging once again that, yes, plastic surgery can be expensive. However, there are few
phrases that should be quicker to sound alarm bells in your mind than "cheap" or "discount plastic surgery."
Reputable, board-certified plastic surgeons will never cut corners or compromise the quality of their care in order to reduce their prices.
While high-priced plastic surgery does not necessarily equate good plastic surgery, you can bet that reputable, board-certified plastic surgeons will never cut corners or compromise the quality of their care in order to reduce their prices. They may do whatever they can to make their services as affordable as possible for you, but their fees for the procedures will most likely fall within
the ranges presented below.
The price range of certain procedures can be dramatic, but we break down the reasons for this on the individual cost pages associated with each treatment.
By visiting these pages, you can get a general idea of how much your procedure will cost and why.
Hurwitz Center for Plastic Surgery On Plastic Surgery Costs
Kathy Ottaviano, the office manager and surgical coordinator of Hurwitz Center for Plastic Surgery, discusses how the practice handles plastic surgery costs. She discusses what is included in the fee, and how these costs can be covered by medical insurance or financing. Video courtesy of Hurwitz Center for Plastic Surgery.
Body Contouring Costs
Body contouring costs vary depending on whether you undergo a single procedure that is limited to a relatively small area of your body, such as liposuction
of the thighs or mini tummy tuck surgery, or more extensive procedures, such as an extended abdominoplasty or full body lift. If you choose to combine
multiple surgeries into a more comprehensive treatment plan, your overall cost will obviously be higher, although your plastic surgeon may offer discounted
rates compared to the a la carte cost of each procedure.
Body Contouring Cost Ranges
Procedure
Low Range
High Range
Tummy Tuck
$3,000
$12,000
Liposuction - Per Treatment Area
$2,000
$3,500
Lower or Upper Body Lift
$6,000
$8,000
Full Body Lift
$10,000
$50,000
Arm Lift
$3,000
$4,500
Butt Lift
$2,000
$10,000
Thigh Lift
$2,000
$10,000
Read Dr. Dennis Hurwitz's Take: On Tummy Tuck Costs
Find out why the cost of tummy tuck surgery can vary so dramatically among patients.
Read Full Article
Procedure Specific Cost Information
Liposuction Costs
Body Lift Overview
Arm Lift Overview
Butt Lift Overview
Thigh Lift Overview
Breast Surgery Costs
Breast augmentation, lift, reduction, and reconstruction are among the most customizable procedures in plastic surgery. As a result, the price ranges below
should be considered extremely general guidelines until you have an opportunity to meet with a plastic surgeon and discuss your unique needs and aesthetic
goals.
Breast Surgery Cost Ranges
Procedure
Low Range
High Range
Breast Augmentation - Saline
$4,500
$5,500
Breast Augmentation - Silicone
$5,500
$6,500
Breast Augmentation - "Gummy Bear"
$6,500
$8,000
Breast Lift
$4,000
$6,000
Breast Reduction
$5,000
$10,000
Breast Reconstruction
$3,000
$9,000
Read Stephen T. Greenberg, MD's Take: The Factors that Affect the Cost of Breast Augmentation
The cost of breast augmentation varies from one patient to the next based on a number of factors.
Read Full Article
Procedure Specific Cost Information
Breast Lift Costs
Breast Reduction Costs
Breast Reconstruction Costs
Facial Plastic Surgery Costs
Facial procedures are among the most popular in plastic surgery for good reason. Not only is modern facial plastic surgery remarkably transformative and
rejuvenating, but it also provides outstanding long-term value for the dollar. Compared to expensive creams, serums, and concealing make-ups that produce
negligible results and require continual investment, facial plastic surgery procedures can be extremely cost-effective.
Facial Plastic Surgery Cost Ranges
Procedure
Low Range
High Range
Facelift
$3,000
$15,000
Rhinoplasty
$3,000
$15,000
Eyelid Surgery
$2,000
$7,000
Brow Lift
$2,000
$8,000
Neck Lift
$3,000
$8,000
Ear Reshaping Surgery
$4,000
$6,000
Read Constance M. Barone, MD's Take: Why the Cost of Facelift Varies Among Patients
Find out why facelift prices may be higher for certain patients.
Read Full Article
Procedure Specific Cost Information
Rhinoplasty Costs
Eyelid Surgery Costs
Brow Lift Costs
Neck Lift Costs
Ear Surgery Costs
So why is it so difficult to find specific information about the cost of plastic surgery online?
For one thing, most plastic surgeons prefer not to publish the prices of their procedures on their websites. This is not because they want to hide their
pricing from public view, but rather because they want to use their sites to provide general educational information and reasons that you should entrust them with your surgery.
It is also impossible for a reputable plastic surgeon to give you an exact price of a procedure without first meeting with you. There are many variables that can influence the cost of your procedure, and a plastic surgeon that truly customizes each procedure he or
she performs can only do so after a thorough consultation with a patient.
Factors That Influence the Cost of Plastic Surgery Procedures
The most significant factor that influences the cost of plastic surgery is whether patients undergo a single procedure or multiple procedures as part of a
more comprehensive treatment plan. While it is not unusual for a patient to undergo, say, breast augmentation or lower eyelid surgery on its own, many patients elect to combine procedures.
Procedures that are commonly combined include:
Breast lift and breast augmentation with implants, to improve the profile of drooping breasts while simultaneously increasing their size.
Eyelid surgery with brow lift, to more thoroughly rejuvenate the upper facial region.
Tummy tuck with liposuction, to further refine the body's contours and achieve a trimmer, more proportional overall figure.
Mini facelift and neck lift, to treat the early signs of aging on the face for patients who are not yet ready for full facelift surgery.
Some popular treatment plans - mommy makeover, post-bariatric body contouring, and full body lift being
among the most notable examples - can comprise five or more procedures, all customized to produce the most dramatically transformative results possible.
Other factors that can influence the cost of your plastic surgery procedure include:
Whether it is covered, at least in part, by your insurance policy (certain procedures, such as breast reduction or upper eyelid surgery, may be
considered "medically necessary" under certain circumstances)
The technologies used
The facility where the procedure is performed and whether a facility fee is charged
The type of anesthesia used and the associated fee
The location of the practice
The experience, training, and skill of your plastic surgeon
The last of these factors may be the most important in terms the quality of your plastic surgery and your satisfaction with your results. As with most
things in life, you usually get what you pay for when it comes to plastic surgery.
You could shop for a bargain.
Hundreds of thousands of patients have, with varying degrees of success. Some of these patients emerge with satisfactory results; others end up paying
even higher costs in the end for more reputable and skilled surgeons to perform revision surgeries.
You usually get what you pay for when it comes to plastic surgery
Or you could look for the most trusted, extensively trained, and highly esteemed plastic surgeon in your region.
Schedule a consultation
with that surgeon, discuss the procedure or procedures in which you are interested, and decide whether the surgeon is right for you.
Then you can consider how you will pay for your plastic surgery.
The Big Question: How Will You Pay for Your Plastic Surgery
Once you have found the plastic surgeon who is right for you, rest assured, you will find a way to afford the procedure you want without straining your wallet.
Preferably, you will be able to pay for your procedure up front, using one of the following methods:
Cash (some practices even offer discounts when you pay up front in cash)
Check
Credit card, such as MasterCard®, VISA®, or American Express®
If these methods are not feasible in your case, most practices will be willing to work with you to make their treatments accessible and affordable, whether by offering in-house financing or monthly payment plans, or by working with third-party medical financing companies such as Compassionate Finance® or CareCredit®.
Get financed for plastic surgery today with Compassionate Finance.
Alternatively, you may want to consider discussing the possibility of opening a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) with your employer. An FSA
will allow you to set aside a portion of your pre-tax income each pay period for later use on approved medical expenses that are not covered by
conventional health insurance plans, including many cosmetic plastic surgery procedures.
We're not suggesting that cost shouldn't be a concern. However, it should not be your primary concern, especially when your safety, health, and permanent appearance are also concerns. Ultimately, if your health is compromised, or if you achieve unsatisfactory or even cosmetically unappealing results, you will end up losing time and money in the long run.
The Bottom Line
Ultimately, here's how you should approach your search for a plastic surgeon:
First and foremost, find the plastic surgeon that's right for you.
Second, but just as important, decide on the procedure or procedures that will allow you to meet your aesthetic goals.
Then, work toward finding the best possible method of payment.
Our directory features some of the most highly regarded board-certified plastic surgeons in the nation. Don't settle for less than the best when it comes
to your plastic surgery.
If you're ready to take the next step, we invite you to find a plastic surgeon in your area.