A facelift can be affordable when all variables are considered.  Before assuming this procedure is strictly for the affluent, research the facts and consider the many other financial implications of not having one.

A facelift is a popular cosmetic surgery among middle-aged to senior adults to reverse the look of aging. The face is the most apparent part of the body that shows a persons age because of wrinkles. After topical lotions and creams fail to give a person a more youthful look, surgery becomes the a viable option.

Youthfulness is highly esteemed. Having a youthful appearance is not only desirable, it can be expected in certain career fields.  Many professionals in sales, management, and executive positions feel more confident if they can maintain a youthful appearance. Facelifts and other anti-aging techniques help them maintain their competitive edges against their younger colleagues.

Middle-aged and senior adults may be divorced or widowed and seek to look their best to the opposite sex. They may be physically fit and have their hair and nails done by experts, but if their faces show signs of wrinkles, crow’s feet, and sagging, they may have a harder time joining the dating scene.

Overall a facelift can increase self-esteem. It can make the patient look better and feel better.

Procedure Costs

Costs vary widely depending on the surgeon, the area where the surgery is performed, travel expenses, and how extensive the procedure will be. The price range is $6,000 to $25,000. The surgeon’s fee is only $5,000 – $6,000. The remaining amount includes fees for the facility, hospital, anesthesiologist, and other fees.

The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reports that where a surgery is performed largely determines the price for a facelift. The most expensive are performed in the New England States, then the mountain/Pacific states, followed by the north central states and the south central states.

If the surgeon has his own facility the patient may pay less than if he performs surgery in a surgical center or hospital.

Price ranges for specific procedures are:

Standard face lift – $6,000-$15,000, average price of $8,000
Mid face lift – $4,000-$10,000, average price of $7,000
Lower face lift – $4,000-$10,000, average price of $7,000
Mini face lift (weekend) – $3,500-$6,500, average price of $5,000
Thread lift face lift – $2,000-$6,000, average price of $4,000

If a patient has a neck lift at the same time as his or her face lift, the patient will pay an additional $4,000 to $7,500. Any procedure added on to the face lift such as brow lift surgery, facial liposuction, eyelid surgery, or microdermabrasion will increase the cost.
The surgeon may point out that a basic facelift alone will not give the look one desires and additional surgery will be necessary.

Recovery Time and Costs

Those working full time should consider they will need to miss 10 days to 2 weeks of work due to swelling and discoloration.

The recovery time for an endoscopic facelift, thread facelift or a mini facelift is about one or two days or a weekend.

While expenses can quickly accumulate, for many these expenses are a necessary evil if they are to stay competitive in the job market.  A few thousand dollars now could mean earning several more thousand dollars each year.

Plastic surgery has long been thought to be a luxury for people with means. Nose jobs, tummy tucks, face lifts, and breast augmentations have long been viewed as the fodder of Beverly Hills elite and the general fare for most plastic surgeons. But, should all plastic surgery be pigeon-holed as nothing more than extreme vanity?

In most cases, the overwhelming answer to this question is no. Plastic surgeons play a vital and critical role in legitimate medicine. Without the services that these surgeons provide, many children with cleft palates would not survive; victims of terrible and unfortunate accidents may suffer long term disabilities and preventable deformities.

While it is true that many of the services provided by a plastic surgeon are considered elective procedures, in reality, many cases are not. Rhinoplasty is generally viewed by most as a simple vanity procedure, but to a patient with severe sleep apnea due to a deviated septum, the corrective procedure can add years and quality to the patient’s life. A facelift at first may not appear to be a necessary procedure, but to a burn victim who only has 20% vision because the skin is covering a large portion of the field of vision, a corrective facelift can mean better vision and a better chance of resuming a normal life.

Children who suffer from many different types of birth defects benefit from the specialized skills of a plastic surgeon. Cleft palates and many other birth defects are corrected in such a manner that, except for a small scar, they look and function just like any other child.

Adults also benefit from such procedures, boosting both self esteem and societal productivity. Men and women alike perform better in both their personal and professional lives when they foster a healthy self esteem.

In some extreme cases, plastic surgery can actually be considered an alternate psychological therapy. There have been cases where plastic surgery has actually helped patients overcome severe and disabling anxiety stemming from a deep rooted embarrassment of specific physical features.

No matter the reason, plastic surgery has a legitimate place in modern medicine. The highly specialized skills that a practiced plastic surgeon brings to the table are unparalleled by any other surgical specialty. The impact that a plastic surgeon can have on a patient’s quality of life is often overlooked by the general public, who tend to categorize all plastic surgery as vanity surgery.