Facelift Costs - What Can You Expect

When you are considering any type of cosmetic surgery, one of the first questions you will find yourself asking is what the procedure will cost. After all, you do not want to sign up for a surgery that will break the bank, especially if your insurance does not choose to pay for cosmetic procedures. If a facelift is the procedure you have in mind, here is what you need to know about the potential costs.

First, you need to know that the cost is going to vary. While you can find out a ballpark estimate of what it should cost before visiting the surgeon, only your surgeon can give you an accurate price quote. So, once you decide that it is at least somewhat in your budget, schedule a consultation to learn exactly how much it will cost.

However, if you are just looking for an estimate, be prepared for three basic costs: the anesthesia cost, the hospital or facility cost, and the surgeon's fee. Most of this is going to be the surgeon's fee, and that will vary again.

The more popular and experienced the surgeon, the better your results will be, but the more the surgeon will charge. Also, this will vary depending on the extent of your surgery, the type of facelift you have chosen, and any complication that come up during or before surgery that could add to the time the doctor has you under the knife. In general the surgeons' fee will range from $6,000 to $15,000.

For the anesthesia, plan to pay between $1,000 and $1,300, but ask the hospital or surgery center first to determine a better estimate of this cost. If you have your surgery in a surgical center, the facility costs will be less, often around $500. For a hospital procedure, plan to shell out $2,000. So what is the bottom line? Depending on these varying costs, you will pay between $7,500 and $18,300 for your surgery.

Now, as you plan for your facelift, you may be looking for ways to make it more affordable. However, one place you will not want to cut corners is in quality. You are talking about having major surgery on your face, so do not go with the cheapest doctor or the lowest cost surgical center. Sacrificing quality could greatly impair your results. Always check a doctor's credentials and reputation before you choose them. While you do not have to have the most prestigious and expensive surgeon, you do not want the cheapest one either.

Instead, consider one of the less invasive facelift options. You do not have to go with the full procedure anymore. If your problem area is around your brow, then consider a brow lift. You can do a mini-lift that targets the cheekbones, or you can opt for a neck and jowl lift. These provide excellent results but cost far less than the full procedure, so they may be an option for you if money is a factor in your decision to pursue cosmetic surgery.