At a glance: how much does a facelift cost?
I don’t publish surgical prices: Brazilian medical rules don’t allow it, and the word “facelift” covers different operations. The quote depends on the plan we agree on at the consultation: the extent of surgery (face, neck, fat grafting), the facilities (hospital, anesthesia, hospital stay) and the follow-up included. If you are traveling, flights and your stay in Londrina add to the total cost.
- Consultation: R$ 900, in person in Londrina or online on Saturday mornings.
- The name: the ASPS distinguishes a traditional facelift, a limited incision facelift and a neck lift; the name alone isn’t enough to compare prices.
- Plan: the areas treated and any combined procedures change the operation, and with it the quote.
- Facilities: hospital, anesthesia team, materials and the hospital stay.
- Follow-up: in my practice, appointments for up to one year are included in the surgical fee.
- Separate: tests, medications, travel, accommodation, a driver, a caregiver and your time off work.
This article explains how to read a facelift price in general. What my own quote includes, item by item, and the questions to ask when comparing proposals are in how much a deep plane facelift costs in Brazil; the operation itself is explained in my deep plane facelift guide.
One name, different operations
Brazil’s Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) does not allow doctors to advertise surgical prices, but a price list wouldn’t help anyway: “facelift” doesn’t describe a single operation. The ASPS distinguishes a traditional facelift, a limited incision facelift (the so-called mini facelift) and a neck lift [1]. Even among full facelifts, the layer that is treated differs, as I explain in deep plane vs SMAS.
And two people with the same concern may need different plans: one only the face; another, the neck as well; a third has lost volume and would benefit from fat grafting. The ASPS describes the consultation as the time to evaluate your health, examine and measure your face and discuss your options [2]. The quote follows the plan, and the plan only exists after an examination; a photo sent by message cannot replace that step.
What drives the quote
How much surgery you need
This varies more than anything else from one person to the next. Treating the face and neck, adding fat grafting or including the eyelids changes the operating time and the work involved. In my practice, eyelid surgery, a brow lift and a lip lift, when indicated alongside a facelift, do not add to the cost of surgery, and a chin implant adds only the cost of the implant. Facelifts with and without fat grafting are quoted separately, and the one without grafting costs less.
Hospital, anesthesia and overnight stay
The operating room, anesthesia team, materials and nights in the hospital each have their own cost, and the type of anesthesia and length of stay vary with the operation. When comparing proposals, ask whether these items are included or billed separately.
Who operates and how long follow-up lasts
Training and experience are reflected in professional fees, but they only help you choose when you can check them: in Brazil, the CRM medical registration and the registered specialty (RQE). Also ask how long follow-up is included and how a complication would be handled. In my case, appointments for up to one year after surgery are part of the fee, and so are small touch-ups that can be done in the office; a major revision is discussed beforehand. My training is described on the Dr. Zamarian page.
Costs a quote doesn’t show
The surgical fee is not the total cost. If you are traveling, add flights, accommodation (arriving two days before surgery and staying 12 to 14 days afterward), meals, local transport, a driver and a caregiver, plus your time off work, which no quote includes. A high price doesn’t prove quality, and a low one doesn’t prove the opposite: what matters is knowing what each proposal covers.
Frequently asked questions
Why can’t you give me a price by message?
Because it depends on the plan, and the plan depends on an examination. Brazilian medical rules also don’t allow surgical prices to be advertised. The fee I can give you in advance is the consultation fee: R$ 900.
Does a mini facelift cost less?
The name defines neither the operation nor the price. I explain why in how much does a mini facelift cost; I don’t perform mini facelifts.
Does health insurance cover a facelift?
I only see private-pay patients; I don’t accept health insurance.
Bring your questions to the consultation
To find out what your plan would include, write to us on WhatsApp: Bruna, my AI assistant, handles the first contact and then puts you in touch with Isanna to arrange a consultation with me, including from abroad. I’ll explain what I propose and why; the quote follows from that plan.
References
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Facelift Procedure Steps.
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Facelift Consultation.