Cosmetic Surgery Costs: Weighing the Benefits of Self-confidence

Author: Adam Hefner

Today plastic surgeons offer a variety of procedures
to nip, tuck, or otherwise enhance aspects of their
clients' appearance. These procedures are often not covered by insurance. Costs vary as greatly as the
procedures offered.

"Cosmetic surgery" includes liposuction , rhinoplasty
(nose jobs), tummy tucks,breast reduction -- a huge
variety of procedures. Beyond the well-known surgeries are many similarly popular procedures such
as microdermabrasion, thigh lifts, and cellulite
massage treatments.

One of the factors determining the cost of a cosmetic
procedure is the location of your physician. For instance, on the East or West Coast, you would pay more for a tummy tuck than in the Midwest, where
cosmetic surgery is considerably less expensive than
in other parts of the country.

Even in the Midwest, cosmetic surgery is not
inexpensive. For example, a tummy tuck in the Midwest
would cost an average of $4,000, but in Pennsylvania would cost almost $5,000. In the Midwest, liposuction
would cost almost $2,300, but could be $2,750 in
Pennsylvania.

Costs also vary from surgeon to surgeon. While a lower
fee might stem from a professional's desire to offer
affordable procedures, the fee might also reflect lack of experience or lower qualifications. It is
important to choose a surgeon who is capable and
qualified, rather than looking for the most
inexpensive procedure.

The complexity and popularity of a procedure affect
its cost. A face-lift or rhinoplasty, for instance, usually costs more than a Botox injection or cellulite massage treatment. It takes a skilled hand to perform
a successful facelift , but a Botox injection is much
simpler and has fewer potential complications.

Before scheduling plastic surgery, be sure to have an
accurate estimate of cost. If you need to finance your
procedure, it is important to arrange financing before the surgery date.

Plastic surgery can be expensive, and the price can be
greater than the procedure alone. Cosmetic surgery is
not without risk. If you decide that benefits outweigh the risks for you, find a competent surgeon
and determine beforehand the cost of your enhancement.