How Much Does a Facelift Cost?

The average cost of a facelift is $12,625, but the price can range from just $5,000 to $32,000, according to 5,485 reviews from RealSelf members.

Read on to learn:

• what to look for in an all-in cost quote
• why prices can vary so much
• whether real patients think their results are worth the money
• average facelift costs by state and major metro

Related: Everything You Need to Know About a Facelift

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What does the cost include?

A cost quote you get over the phone (without actually being seen by a surgeon or discussing your goals) may be the surgeon’s fee, which is only a fraction of the total bill.

During an in-person consultation, your prospective surgeon should recommend a personalized treatment plan for your facelift surgery (rhytidectomy) and give you a cost estimate. 

Make sure you understand the scope of their recommended procedure, and request an all-in price quote that includes:

• the consultation fee (often applied to the cost of your procedure)
• the surgeon’s fee
• facility fees for the surgery center or operating room
• anesthesia fees
• surgical supply costs
• follow-up care

Also ask:

• whether you’ll need to budget for any prescription medications or recovery supplies
• how your surgeon handles the cost of a potential revision surgery, in case you have concerns about your results

Is the cost of a facelift worth it?

Facelift surgery has a 92% Worth It Rating on RealSelf (based on well over 2,000 recent reviews), so a majority of people who have undergone this cornerstone facial plastic surgery procedure thought their results were worthy of the hefty price tag.

Those who are happy with their results commonly cite natural-looking results with dramatic transformations that gave them a major confidence boost.

Among those who say their results were not worth it, some say they saw little change, while others were disappointed by more drooping, asymmetry, or even complications like facial nerve injury. 

Before you commit to a full facelift, keep in mind that people with minimal sagging may be a good candidate for a less-involved mini facelift, which addresses the jawline but generally not the midface or neck. Results aren’t as dramatic or long-lasting as from a traditional facelift, but the procedure can cost thousands of dollars less and have a shorter scar and recovery time.

To determine which procedure is right for you and to get an accurate estimate of your total cost, consult with at least one qualified facial plastic surgeon who can really examine your face and neck, ideally in person.

What affects the cost of facelift surgery?

These are the biggest factors that will affect your facelift price.

1) The complexity of your procedure.

Considered by most facial plastic surgeons to be the gold standard in facial rejuvenation, facelift surgery lifts sagging tissues, repositions the underlying muscles, and removes excess skin to smooth creases and restore more youthful contours. Both full facelifts and lower facelifts typically include a neck lift.

How much your rhytidectomy costs will depend heavily on your anatomy, your goals, the type of facelift you get, and your surgeon's reputation and technique.

The skin-only facelifts of the past have largely fallen out of favor, as results were found to be short-lived and unnatural-looking (think “wind-blown”).

Unless you’re opting for a mini lift, most modern facelift surgeries are SMAS lifts or deep plane facelifts, which tighten the underlying facial muscles while tailoring and redraping the skin. 

These procedures remove jowls, sharpen the jawline, tighten the neck, and smooth deep folds for a much more youthful appearance—with longer-lasting results.  

Doctors on RealSelf agree that no two facelift procedures are performed in the same way, which accounts for the wide cost range. Some require more time, which makes them more expensive. 

During an extended deep plane facelift, for instance, surgeons typically release various ligaments to achieve a more significant mid-face lift. 

Some versions of a SMAS facelift, on the other hand, may entail only some minor folding and tacking of the SMAS layer closer to the ears, which takes less time and expertise.

This is one reason it can be beneficial to consult with more than one facial plastic surgeon: they may recommend different treatment plans, with very different price tags and end results.

2) Whether you have complementary procedures in the same operation.

A facelift addresses just the cheeks, lower face, and the neck, so patients often pair a facelift with other cosmetic procedures to address other signs of aging and enhance their result. 

Your surgeon may recommend one or more of these popular add-ons:

• facial fat grafting
• chin liposuction
• a brow lift or forehead reduction (for hairline lowering)
• rhinoplasty
• eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty)
• a lip lift
• CO2 laser resurfacing
• Botox or injectable dermal fillers

Each additional procedure will add to your total face and neck lift cost, but you also save money on anesthesia and facility fees by combining multiple procedures, rather than having them individually.

3) Your surgeon’s reputation and level of experience.

The cheapest facelift surgery is often advertised by general surgeons who market themselves as cosmetic surgeons. It costs more to go to an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon or facial plastic surgeon, but their extensive training and deeper experience means you’ll have a much better chance of a safe procedure, with beautiful, natural results that can last for a decade or more.

There’s also a trend of Instagram-famous facelift surgeons charging outrageous prices—upwards of $100,000 or more—for deep-plane facelifts, which lift and sculpt the deeper layers of the face and neck. Bear in mind that there are plenty of talented, qualified plastic surgeons not on social media, who operate for more reasonable rates. 

It’s possible to get facelift revision surgery to correct a bad result, but there’s a risk of getting unnatural-looking results from repeated procedures. Beverly Hills, California, plastic surgeonDr. Brent Moelleken warns that you really get only one shot at good facelift results. “Patients cannot just get a bad facelift redone. Do not skimp on your facelift. See the best surgeon and do it right.”

4) Where your procedure is performed.

Facelift costs can vary by U.S. state, metro area, and even neighborhood. If your surgeon practices in a major city (particularly New York City or Los Angeles) or in a luxury practice in the heart of a high-rent neighborhood, you’ll probably pay more. 

Facelifts performed by surgeons who practice in smaller cities also typically cost less.

For example:

• A full facelift paired with either fat grafting or a neck lift in Austin, Texas at the Austin Plastic Surgeon MedSpa may cost just over $16,000. When pairing a traditional facelift with a neck lift and blepharoplasty, the procedure typically costs $18,185.
• Even within the same state, it's possible for prices to vary by zip code. For instance, Houston, Texas plastic surgeon Dr. Sanaz Harirchian reports that her face lift prices range from $11,000 to $15,000.
• In Tijuana, Mexico, Dr. Alejandro Quiroz says that the average price of a facelift in his practice is around $9,000. "Patients always ask why surgery is cheaper here in Mexico, and the answer is that the overhead fees are less," explains Dr. Quiroz. "We don't have the same expenses, wages are much lower, and all the overhead [costs] are a lot lower [than the United States]." If you go this route, be sure to thoroughly research your surgeon before booking the appointment, as there are serious risks involved with medical tourism.
• According to Boca Raton, Florida plastic surgeon Dr. Andrew Ress, “prices for most plastic surgery procedures are less expensive in South Florida than in New York or California, where prices are almost double.”

5) The type of surgical facility.

Another factor in the price you’ll pay is the surgical facility itself. Having your surgery in an outpatient surgery center rather than a hospital operating room could save you some money, but make sure your surgeon has privileges at a nearby hospital, in case something goes wrong.

Boston plastic surgeon Dr. Brooke Seckel prefers to perform all facelifts in a hospital operating room for safety reasons. “There, I have the backup if any problems arise,” she says.

6) The type of anesthesia you have and who administers it.

A mini facelift can be performed under local anesthesia, which carries lower facility, staff, and anesthesia costs.

Most full facelifts are performed under IV sedation or general anesthesia. Both options are more expensive, but some surgeons think it’s safer, and you may be more comfortable being fully unconscious for this surgical procedure.

You’ll pay a higher anesthesia fee for an anesthesiologist (an MD) than for a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). Both are qualified to administer anesthesia, but anesthesiologists have more training, so some doctors prefer them.

Can you finance facelift?

Yes, most practices offer payment plans or accept financing options.

The CareCredit credit card is widely accepted by providers across the U.S., for both plastic surgery and nonsurgical procedures.

Average facelift costs by state

Browse average facelift costs and ranges by state, according to the 598 most recent RealSelf reviews as of February 2023. (Note: In the map image, blank states don't have enough recent data to display.)

Facelift costs by major U.S. metro