Costs of Plastic Surgery

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Curious about the price tags for popular plastic surgery procedures? Expect some hefty costs, depending on the procedure you choose.

From hosting group Botox parties to scheduling collagen injections on your lunch hour, never before has it been so easy and so socially acceptable to be a little nipped and tucked. Plastic surgery, it seems, has finally broken the boundaries of a subject once considered publicly “taboo.”

What was once quietly whispered about and hidden under sunglasses and wraps has become an industry that now exposes its wares on television. With the latest season of reality shows jumping on the bandwagon, entire series are exploring the physical, mental and emotional “before and after’s” of plastic surgery.

Even though plastic surgery has exploded in its exposure, access, and acceptance, it is still just that – surgery. And it can definitely carry a hefty price tag in matters of the mind, body, and wallet. No doubt about it, the decision to pursue plastic surgery is a choice that is made with a full recognition of all possible side effects, consequences and financial responsibilities.

The cost of any plastic surgery depends on the procedure itself, the region of the country where the surgery is performed, the medical facilities chosen and the surgeon who does the work. When additional or more involved surgery is required, the price tag will often skyrocket. A good rule of thumb when looking into plastic surgery options is, the more intensive the procedure, the more expensive.

Having your work done in a hospital means that your charges will be divided into five parts – the surgeon’s fee, the anesthesiologist’s fee, any hospital charges such as nursing care and the cost of the operating room, any medication such as dressings and antibiotics, and then any additional charges, depending on state and federal requirements. Non-private surgery centers, on the other hand, and in-office operating rooms may just lump the fees all together into one all-inclusive price. And remember, if you choose to stay in the hospital for your recovery period or have home healthcare, you’re signing up for additional expense.

When dealing with the face, one of the more popular areas for plastic surgery because it receives such immediate scrutiny and attention, prices range according to the procedure done. Eyelid surgery, known as blepharoplasty, can cost from $2,739 – $5,500 for both the upper and lower eyelids. The upper lids only range from $1,545 – $4,850, while the lower are comparable, costing from $1.594 - $4,000. Brow lifts run around $2,130. - $4,500. Cheek augmentation, $3,800 - $5,800. FYI, cheek implants cost $115 each. A chin augmentation using implants will cost $1,216 - $4,500. Lip implants, on the other hand, using collagen, costs $150 - $600 depending on the amount of cc’s used. A good average to work with is about $300 per 1.0 cc.

One of the more popular procedures for women and men trying to combat signs of aging is a face lift. A minor lift costs $4,293 - $7,000. A major lift, $5,000 - $8,500. With neck work involved, prices can jump up to $7,000 - $9,500. Facial liposuction, used to diminish the effect of jowls and under-eye bags, can cost $1,500 - $3,800 per area. Some less expensive measures involve chemical peels - $1,488 - $2,000 for full face, or $100 - $700 regional, or dermabrasion, $1,478 - $3,500. When fighting wrinkles, Botox has risen to the forefront as the newest weapon against aging. One area can cost between $175 - $500, two areas $275 - $600, and three or more areas from $375 - $800. FYI, one vial of Botox costs $375.00, with enough in one vial to treat five areas.

From liposuction to skin grafts, the abdomen is another area many people alter with plastic surgery. The popular “tummy tuck,” also known as abdominoplasty, costs between $4,000 - $8,000. Abdomen etching, which sculpts the muscle and fat into a curvaceous “six-pack,” costs $2,400 - $3,600. Liposuction costs $2,000 - $3,400 for one site, with $2,000 for additional sites.

Many use plastic surgery as a way to permanently change their breasts, whether their goal is to increase or decrease size, have some aesthetic work done, or reconstruct a missing breast. Breast augmentation can cost anywhere from $2,697 - $8,000, depending if custom implants are ordered. FYI, breast implants themselves costs about $400 each for smooth, round implants and about $600 each for anatomical shaped implants. A breat reconstruction, on the other hand, can cost $2,417 - $6,500 for implant-only, to $2,951 - $7,000 for a tissue expander. Breast reduction costs $4,741 - $7,500. An areola reduction costs $2,800 - $4,000.

Some people just want to change a feature they’ve always abhorred. Buttock implants are available for $4,000 - $7,000. Calf implants are the same. An arm lift, or brachioplasty, will run you $2,471 - $4,000. Hate your ears? Pin them back with $2,225 - $4,000. Is your nose always giving you grief? Rhinoplasty with an implant will cost $3,500 - $16,500. Open rhinoplasty, on the other hand, is around $3,152 - $7,500, and closed rhinoplasty is $2,879 - $6,800. A thigh lift will require $3,177 - $5,500.

Just remember, the decision to pursue plastic surgery is not just about a monetary figure. Many procedures often require a long, arduous recovery period that can be quite painful. And with any surgical procedure performed for cosmetic reasons, what you end up with may not be exactly what you were hoping to get. Be aware of all risks and factors before choosing any plastic surgery procedure, and be sure that the surgeon and medical center you choose is both accredited and experienced.