The cost of any plastic surgery procedure is of great interest to all prospective patients. As a result, costs are one of the most searched terms online in plastic surgery. Some plastic surgeons list costs of various procedures on their websites while others will only disclose cost after an actual consultation. Some procedures are highly amenable to disclosing costs without an examination because they have few variables in how they are done. (e.g., breast augmentation) Other procedures such as a facelift have great variability, however, and only a range of costs can be provided.
In reading a post from a recent plastic surgery website, they listed average costs for the various regions across the U.S. for common plastic surgery procedures. A review of some of these average costs merits further discussion.
The average cost of Botox for the forehead is $300. Botox is charged by the unit in many practices although some do it by region. When it comes to the forehead, the two common areas that are treated are the glabella (between the eyebrows) and then the rest of the true forehead. In some patients only the glabella is treated while in others it may be the entire forehead. That could be anywhere from 20 to 30 units which could make costs range from around $ 250 to $ 375. Therefore the stated average cost of Botox is around $300 makes sense but could swing $50 to $75 on either side of that number.
The average cost of getting breast implants is $ 6,400. The cost of breast augmentation is influenced by one important element…what type of implants is being used being either silicone gel or saline filled. This number sounds reasonably accurate but would be about $1,000 or more less for saline implants because their acquisition cost for the plastic surgeon is less than silicone implants.
The average cost of a tummy tuck is $ 7,500. Even though tummy tucks take a lot longer to perform than breast implants and are harder to do, their cost is only slightly higher in many cases. This is because about 1/3 of the cost of a breast augmentation is the price of the implant itself. Tummy tucks frequently involve the use of liposuction into and around the waistline and into the flanks and back. This is often very important so one is not left with a flat stomach but residual love handles. This takes extra time and will increase the costs somewhat.
The average cost of a rhinoplasty (nose job)is $ 6,000. Rhinoplasty or nose reshaping comes in a variety of types that encompass numerous and various technical maneuvers. Simplistically one can think of either limited (tip) or full rhinoplasties. Considering these differences the costs may then range from $ 4,500 to $ 7,500. This does not consider the frequent need for septal straightening (septoplasty) which is usually covered by insurance.
The average cost of a facelift is $ 8,500. One problem with looking at the cost of a facelift is that it always consists of a wide variety of procedures that involve differing amounts of operative time to do them. Then there is the frequent misinterpretation of what a facelift is. When facelift pricings are quoted it is usually referring only to a neck-jowl lift which may be just a jowl lift (limited facelift) or a neck-jowl lift. (full facelift) Other accompanying procedures such as eyelid lifts (blepharoplasty) and browlifts, which are often done with a facelift, add extra costs.
The average cost of thigh liposuction is $ 4,500. While liposuction can be done in over a dozen different face and body areas, the thighs is one of the more popular areas. When looking at the cost of thigh liposuction the question is whether this is the outer thigh, the inner thigh or both. And often the inner knees are needed as well for a more complete leg result. This could affect the costs anywhere from $ 3,000 (knees) to $5,500. (inner/outer thigh and knees)
Knowing the general range of costs for elective plastic surgery is important in patients doing their research and determining if even pursuing it is an option. But average costs of any procedure may or may not include the ‘complete’ approach needed for optimal correction of the cosmetic concern.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana