Costs of plastic surgery | NOVA Plastic Surgery

Posted April 06, 2011 in News

Key Takeaways

The cost of cosmetic procedures varies widely based on procedure complexity, whether surgery or injection is involved, implant use, geographic location, and surgeon experience.
Minimally invasive treatments are the least expensive, with mild chemical peels starting around $150 and BOTOX injections typically ranging from $400 to $500.
Surgical procedures range from several thousand dollars to $10,000 or more for complex operations like an extended facelift, neck lift, and forehead lift combined.
Anesthesia and facility fees typically add $1,000 to $2,000 to the total cost and are separate from the surgeon's quoted fee, so patients should ask for a fully itemized estimate.
Financing options are available through medical financing companies like CareCredit, making procedures more accessible by spreading payments over time.

There were more than 10 million cosmetic procedures performed in the USA in 2010. The cost of these surgeries and procedures vary widely depending on several factors:

The complexity of the procedure
Whether it involved surgery versus a simple injection
If implants were being used (patients usually pay for their implants)
The geographical location (large metropolitan areas are more expensive, as cities in the Northeastern US)
The experience of the surgeon
Whether the procedure is performed with or without general anesthesia.

The least expensive cosmetic procedures are mild chemical peels at about $150. Botox injections are usually around $400-500, with surgical procedures like extended face, neck and forehead lift reaching $10,000 to $15,000. Most surgeons report their fees but without other fees like anesthesia and hospital fees over which they usually have no control. Anesthesia and facility fees usually add $1000-2000 to the total bill. Therefore, it is very important to ask your plastic surgeons office for an exact quote for any procedure before you sign up, no matter how simple it is. Patients can become very upset if they realize after having something done, that the bill is much more than they have expected. Surgeons fees usually include your preoperative consultations (usually if you pay a consultation fee, it is discounted from the surgeons fee), all your postoperative visits up to 3 months. To schedule a consultation at our practice in Northern Virginia, call us at (703) 574-2588. Or, click here to set up a consultation. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

Frequently Asked Questions

What factors affect the cost of plastic surgery?

Several factors influence cost: the complexity and duration of the procedure, whether it is surgical or injectable, whether implants are needed, geographic location, surgeon experience and reputation, and whether general anesthesia and an accredited surgical facility are required. All of these variables contribute to the total investment.

What are the least expensive cosmetic procedures?

The least expensive cosmetic procedures are minimally invasive treatments requiring no surgery or facility fees. Mild chemical peels can start at approximately $150, and BOTOX injections are typically around $400 to $500 depending on the number of areas treated and the amount of product used.

What do the most expensive cosmetic surgeries cost?

Complex surgical procedures like an extended facelift combined with a neck lift and forehead lift can range from $10,000 to $15,000 or more in surgeon fees alone. Anesthesia and facility fees bring the total higher. Individual procedures like a standard facelift, breast augmentation, or tummy tuck fall within a wide range depending on the specifics of each case.

Are anesthesia and facility fees included in the quoted surgeon fee?

Not always. Many surgeons quote their own fee separately from anesthesia and facility costs. These typically add $1,000 to $2,000 or more to the total. Always ask for a fully itemized estimate that includes all expected costs before committing to a procedure.

Can plastic surgery be financed?

Yes. Medical financing companies like CareCredit offer plans that allow patients to spread costs over monthly payments, often with promotional low or no-interest periods. Many plastic surgery practices including NOVA work with medical financing partners to help make procedures more financially accessible.