Overview of Current Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery Prices

It should be noted from the outset that plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery prices listed on this website are only to be used as a general indication of current surgery prices and will vary with location. Therefore you should treat these plastic surgery prices as a guide, albeit, a reasonably accurate guide, for the cost of elective cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures.

As the majority of plastic and cosmetic surgery is elective surgery, the patient generally will bear the full cost of the procedure and cannot claim cosmetic or plastic surgery costs or related hospital costs against a health fund.

Factors that will influence the cost of the surgical procedure are:

• Geographical location – in the United States plastic surgery prices are reasonably uniform across the board. But some areas are more expensive for surgery then others, such as New York, Palm Beach, Dallas and Beverly Hills.
• The reputation of the surgeon – this has a big bearing on the cost of cosmetic & plastic surgery procedures. A “celebrity” surgeon will generally charge more for the same procedure than a less well known surgeon.
• The type of surgical procedure – the most common cosmetic surgery procedures that people seek are:
  • Face Lift [Rhytidectomy] – prices ranging from $5000 to over $12,000, with high profile plastic surgeons charging in the upper range.
  • Liposuction [Lipoplasty] – a single area will cost from $2500 while multiple areas undertaken in the same operation can cost up to $10,000 (for treatment of 5 areas).
  • Tummy Tuck [Abdominoplasty] – ranges in price from $6000 to $9000 and the tummy tuck is often performed in conjunction with liposuction.
  • Breast Augmentation – a saline implant will cost from $4500 to $6500 while a silicone implant will be slightly more expensive at $5500 to $8000
  • Nose surgery [Rhinoplasty] – commonly know as a “nose job” can cost from $4500 to $6000. Re-shaping of the nose is the most requested form of plastic surgery today.
  • Eyelid Surgery [Blepharoplasty] -  (upper and lower) prices range from $3500 to $6000, with lower eyelid surgery usually costing more the upper eyelid surgery.
  • Breast Lift [Mastopexy] – a breast lift is often done at the same time as when breast augmentation [breast implants] is undertaken. Surgery costs are in the $6000 to $9000 range.

A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is that the surface area of the body where plastic or cosmetic surgery will be performed tends to dictate the price. So an operation on on a small area of the body, such as the chin will be cheaper than than liposuction performed on the abdomen. Of course, delicate surgery such as vaginal rejuvenation [Vaginoplasty] will tend to cost more, despite the smaller area being operated on.

It’s very important when seeking quotes for plastic or cosmetic surgery to get the total cost, not just the cost of the surgeon. These costs include, besides the plastic surgeons fee,  the O.R (Operating Room), anaesthetist, hospital fee while recuperating, medications and other ancillary post-operative medical fees. There is also the cost of time of work to take into consideration, as some operations require longer recuperative times then others.

As an example, the breakdown of the cost of a tummy tuck procedure (not including hospital fees while recuperating), could be:

• Surgeon’s fee – $4500
• Anaesthetist – $1800
• Operating Theatre – $1000
• Total Cost: $7300

So as can be  seen, a surgeon’s fee makes up only around 60% of the total cost of a cosmetic surgery procedure.

Always take the time to research all your options, and don’t base your decisions on price alone. As with all professions, there are good, bad and in-between surgeons. A reputable surgeon will not try to “push” a procedure upon you, and they would refuse to operate on you if they think that you are at any risk or that the operation isn’t suitable for you. The best way to avoid making a wrong decision or going with the wrong doctor is to seek consultations with several different plastic or cosmetic surgeons. Having  consultations with multiple doctors will give you a firm base from which to make a decision regarding your surgery and the cosmetic and plastic surgery prices involved.

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