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Why Does a Face Lift Have to Cost So Much Money?

asked 10 months ago by aquarius 125 in Pottsville, PA
Latest answer by Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS
Question viewed 528 times
Tags: price

So many people would love to have this procedure done but they just don't have these kinds of funds. Is there a real reason why it has to be so so very expensive??? I guess you could say it is only for the rich people, and again the heck with the low income and poor people.

22 answers to Why Does a Face Lift Have to Cost So Much Money?

Facelifts are not expensive

People have their priorities when it comes to spending their money. I know people who spend $10 a day on cigarettes which is about $3650 a year. Others may spend $100 a week trying to win the lottery. It all comes down to your own vices. Most of my facelift patients are not rich. They either have saved for years or found a way to finance it. Quality care is not cheap. Operating room fees, anesthesia and surgery is not without cost. It's up to you as to wether it is important enough... more

Albert Dabbah, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

Low cost facelift!

You can always find a bargain, but what you get is often what you pay for! No where is this more true than in elective cosmetic surgery. Too many doctors take weekend courses in facelifting techniques and think they are then qualified to "practice" on your face. All you need is a severed branch of your facial nerve causing permanent stroke-like paralysis (loss of the ability to smile or close your eyelids, for example) to make you understand that cosmetic surgery is REAL surgery,... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.mpsmn.com

Affordable face lift

I happen to agree with you Aquarius. Just because it takes us Board Certified Plastic surgeons many years of training to become the highly skilled professionals that we are does not give us a license to overcharge for our services. I happen to believe that plastic surgery should be affordable to anyone and everyone regardless of social or economic status. That does not imply that you will receive sub-standard care in any way shape or form. I take all my patients to fully accredited... more

Gary M. Horndeski, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Cost of facelifts, please get three opinions

Facelifts are not too expensive when compared with cosmetic procedures that require significant time in the operating room. The total cost of a procedure includes the experience level of the surgeon, estimated operating time, and requirements for post-operative care. The gold standard facelift with platysma work, some fat grafting, and liposuction can usually take around four hours. There are several regularly scheduled visits for several years after your surgery. I... more

Todd Christopher Hobgood, MD
Phoenix Facial Plastic Surgeon

Facelift Expense

One of the main reasons that this procedure is so expensive is the time it takes to perform. Cost of surgery is usually predicated on time. The O.R. cost and the cost of an Anesthesiologist are charged per hour. Because this operation takes a while ,(longer than say a breast augmentation), the costs for time will be higher. The cost of going to a certified surgery center and having a board certified Anesthesiologist will be more than someone who performs their... more

Jeffrey Roth, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

Do facelifts need to be expensive?

The marketplace punishes surgeons who charge too little. Many people believe that they must pay top dollar to get "the best", and are only satisfied by what they perceive to be the best possible result. If you can avoid this mentality, you can save some money AND find a surgeon who provides real value. Consider contacting University plastic surgery departments, as many training programs offer discount surgery performed by Surgical trainees (residents) under... more

Michael Kreidstein, MD
Toronto Plastic Surgeon

Why Does a Face Lift Have to Cost So Much Money?

If you obtain at least 3 boarded opinions from PSs in your area and the fees are within 20% of each other. Than these are the standard fees for your area.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

High Cost of Facelifts

Surgical Fees vary greatly across the country and even in the same city. Some surgeons will structure fees to promote themselves to a certain class of people; however, most surgeons try to price it so that it will appeal to the most number of people while covering high costs related to anesthesia and the facility. If you search well, you may be surprised to find that there are surgeons who may fit your budget as well as deliver the results that you seek.

Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS
West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

A good face lift does cost more

One of the main factors is that you have to make sure you are comparing apples with apples. For example if a 60 year old woman goes to an experienced face lift surgeon she may receive a shocking face lift estimate of $25-30k but this will include: Brow lift Eyelid lift Facial fat grafting to multiple regions Deep plane face lift Neck lift with platysmaplasty The same woman may go to one of the face lift Mills that advertise on TV and may get a price quote for $5k for a... more

Sam Naficy, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Facelift - Why Does a Face Lift Have to Cost So Much Money?

Everything is relative, and however accurate this statement may appear to be if you look at what people often spend on vacations, kitchens, cars, entertainment - it may not be as much as it sounds. Plus, you have to consider the training and experience of the surgeon and anesthesiologist, the costs of the surgical facility, the consultation, the overhead of the surgeon's office. I'm afraid that this may be the wrong crowd to discuss this with and to expect sympathy!..... more

Alan Engler, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Facelift Cost

The cost of a Facelift is at a certain level for a variety of reasons, starting with the training and expertise of the Surgeon performing the procedure. As previously mentioned, one also has to factor in the cost of the facility, supplies, anesthesia, and after care involved. Consider that it is "your face", and you are free to see a Surgeon simply because cost is lower. However, I will caution you from examples on this website and from my own anecdotal experience... more

Stephen Prendiville, MD
Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drprendiville.com

Cost of a facelift

Consider that a facelift is a complex lengthy procedure performed by someone who has trained for over ten years after university, and many years in practice, to be able to perform well on you. It is a procedure which lasts many years and gives the patient innumerable moments of pleasure and satisfaction. I have many patients who tell me it was the best money ever spent. Everyone has priorities in life, and if maintaining a youthful healthu appearance is important to you. A facelift is a... more

Johan E. Brahme, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Not just for "the rich"

Most of my patients are not "the rich" they are hard working individuals who feel strongly about investing in their appearance. Many of my patients have saved for years to be able to afford the operation. Think of it in terms of an investment that is spaced out over many years. We all make choices in terms of clothing, hair, jewelry, makeup, cars, etc. based on our priorities. If this is a priority for you, develop a plan to make it happen. For those... more

Paul K. Holden, MD
Phoenix Facial Plastic Surgeon

Why does a Face Lift cost so much?

Why do Ferrari's, Steinway's and Large Yellow diamonds have to cost so much? Things of quality, those that take years of hard work, study and training to perfect..are expensive. In fact, Face Lifts are like everything is life. "You get what you pay for."

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Facelift cost

In reality, your facelift, if the result is good, is quite inexpensive when you consider what is involved. What is the value of looking more youthful in every single professional, social, and personal situation you encounter during the next 20-30 years. What is the value of not becoming "irrelevant" in the workplace? What is the value of feeling attractive, vibrant, and self confident with peers, family, and friends, and what are the... more

Steve Laverson, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

feelbeautiful.com

Very complicated procedure - you get what you pay for

A facelift is a very complication procedure requiring a lot of time, skill and efforts in behalf of the surgeon, his/her staff, surgery center, and much more. Keep in mind you get what you pay for, so beware of a 'budget facelift' see video

Babak Azizzadeh, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Facelift are expensive because they require intensive personal care from a surgeon.

There are now many low end cookie cutter facelifts out there that exactly attempt to lower the cost of a facelift. The problem is that you need to live with the results of these procedures. This low cost facelifts look not so good. There is a little truth to "you get what you pay for." A procedure that requires hours of time by a highly skilled surgeon to perform will always be expensive. No big surprise there.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Cost of a facelift

I see there are a couple of excellent answers posted already. These are from well-trained experienced plastic surgeons who either use a first-class surgicenter or have their own. The bottom line is it does not have to cost that much. You can go to a non-plastic surgeon who might be doing the operation in a "treatment room"as opposed to a full operating room with the patient awake under local anesthesia and their training will probably have consisted of one or more training... more

Sherwood Baxt, MD
New Jersey Plastic Surgeon

Facelift expense

All good things of value do cost money. This is not a haircut. Safe facelift surgery requires several hours in a certified OR with skilled nurses and anesthesia personnel involved. This costs. Sterile supplies are used (drapes, cauteries, sutures) which all have costs. Then you need skilled people to recover you. Then there is the time and work of your surgeon who spent many years getting the training and skill to help you. You are paying for his time before, during and after the procedure.... more

Michael L. Schwartz, MD
West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

www.palmbeachface.com

Put your money where your face is....

Good day Aquarius! Without sounding too much like a car salesman, how much is your face worth to you? The anatomy and complexities of the facial anatomy are quite significant, and it takes many years to understand the relationships of the tissues, the architecture of the anatomy, and how to arrive a good result safely. The time, energy, and experience do NOT come easily for the plastic surgeon, so consequently, the expense of using his or her services in this area is usually... more

Brian K. Brzowski, MD
Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon

Cost of face lift

A good face lift done by a qualified plastic surgeon will cost upwards of $10,000. It is because it requires lot of skill to do it well. You are paying for the expertize and skill of a highly qualified professional who has dedicated more than six years after finishing his medical school to learn and master the skills required to do it well.