Often, the beginning of a new year leads people to renew their commitment to their health, self-confidence, and appearance. Whether you want to look refreshed or are already thinking about your appearance for the spring and summer, you may be considering plastic surgery and your budget.
How much does plastic surgery cost in the Washington, DC, area? We publish price ranges for a variety of plastic surgery procedures on our Financing & Fees page for your information, but those aren’t one-size-fits-all prices. That’s because many variables influence your procedure cost. We discuss those factors in this post and provide helpful information about other cost considerations.
What Goes Into the Cost of Plastic Surgery?
The cost of plastic surgery involves a variety of possible factors:
- Surgeon fee: Some plastic surgeons charge significantly more or less than their peers based on their expertise and specialization. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons publishes surgeon fee averages in their biannual report.
- Facility fee: Charges related to the office, hospital, operating room, etc. Procedures performed in an office are generally less expensive than those in a hospital operating room.
- Anesthesia fee: A physician or nurse may administer anesthesia such as IV sedation or general anesthesia. Plastic surgery requiring general anesthesia is often more expensive than procedures with local anesthesia.
- Material costs: This category includes implants, grafts, supplies, and other materials.
- Test costs: You may need to have some laboratory, radiology, or other tests before or after your procedure. Many procedures do not require additional testing, however.
Keep in mind that additional unforeseen costs may also occur (e.g., secondary or revision surgery, hospital stay, postoperative testing, specialists’ consultation, etc.).
What Other Factors Affect Your Plastic Surgery Price?
Plastic surgery costs vary greatly around the world. Cost is always one of the first questions patients ask about, especially for those first starting their plastic surgery journey. However, cost should be taken into consideration with many other factors when choosing your cosmetic surgeon, such as training, board certification, patient reviews, before and after photographs, and professional specialization.
While plastic surgery pricing depends on several factors, it is dependent on the following:
- Geographic region: Plastic surgery is typically more expensive in large metropolitan areas than in rural areas.
- Complexity: Extensive or revision procedures may require more time, materials, or anesthesia than simple procedures, so they tend to cost more.
- Revision surgery: Revision surgeries like revision rhinoplasty are typically more expensive than primary surgery such as rhinoplasty.
- Combination procedures: Efficiency generally reduces the costs of surgery. For example, combined eyelid surgery with a facelift in a single surgery is more cost-effective than performing each procedure separately.
Does Insurance Cover Plastic Surgery?
Portions of plastic surgery might be covered by your insurance provider. The majority of cosmetic surgery is elective, so insurance plans don’t usually cover it. However, there are exceptions and some plastic surgeons participate in insurance plans. Remember, plastic surgery covers a broad area of medicine that includes both reconstructive and cosmetic procedures. If your procedure is medically indicated, insurance may cover some portion of the cost. For example, patients with nasal allergy symptoms, congestion, or chronic sinus problems might have some insurance coverage if they combine their sinus surgery with rhinoplasty.
What Will a Plastic Surgery Consultation Cost?
Consultation fees also vary among plastic surgery offices. Some provide free consultations. However, the best cosmetic surgeons charge a nominal fee per consultation, ranging from approximately $50 to $500. These consultation fees are collected at the time of service and are typically non-refundable, regardless of whether the patient proceeds with plastic surgery.
What Else Do I Need To Know About Plastic Surgery Costs?
Price information is an estimation, and individual pricing will vary. All prices are subject to change. Lastly, plastic surgery costs are non-refundable.
Only after a complete evaluation, discussing the specific procedure or procedures that interest you, and determining the extent of the proposed surgery and surgery location can a plastic surgeon better determine how much your procedure may cost. Patients should have a reasonable idea before the consultation and a more informed idea after the consultation.
The plastic surgery cost information throughout this website is an estimation of anticipated fees, which may include anticipated surgeon, anesthesia, facility, and material fees. Actual cost will vary.
If you’re considering plastic surgery, we recommend reading our related blog post, 7 things to know before having plastic surgery? When you’re ready to discuss your options and potential facial plastic surgery cost, use our online form to request a consultation or call us at (202) 800-2085.
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