Facelift and neck lift

The short version

The only option that reliably addresses significant sagging, at the cost of surgery, weeks of recovery, and a surgeon-dependent result. Non-surgical devices are compared against it, not equal to it.

What the cost figure means

$11,395 average surgeon fee for a facelift; $7,885 for a neck lift. ASPS average surgeon fees only; anesthesia, facility, implants, medication, and follow-up are extra and often add thousands. ASPS publishes this national average physician fee on its cost page as its latest statistic without stating the survey year, and its 2025 report no longer includes minimally invasive fees.

None of the published clinic menus in our survey listed a price for this procedure; quotes are given after consultation.

Total course = per-session fee × planned sessions + consultation + product, cartridge, or serum + anesthesia or facility + prescriptions and aftercare + expected maintenance. Ask for the plan price in writing.

Healing and results timeline

Appointment

About 2–5 hours under sedation or general anesthesia

Downtime

2–4 weeks before most people feel presentable; swelling for months

Healing

Bruising and swelling peak in the first week, sutures come out over 1–2 weeks, most bruising resolves by 3–4 weeks, and residual swelling, tightness, and numbness fade over 3–6 months. Scars mature for a year.

Results appear

Visible once swelling settles at 4–6 weeks; final at 6–12 months

Duration and maintenance

Often described as about a decade; aging continues from the new baseline

Benefits, limitations, and risks

Candidacy and pause signs

Usually considered for: Adults in good health with moderate to significant laxity, non-smokers or those who stop well before surgery, with realistic expectations.

Operator, setting, and regulation

Who performs it in the U.S.: Board-certified plastic surgeons or facial plastic surgeons in an accredited surgical facility with anesthesia support.

Regulatory status: Surgery is governed by medical licensing, facility accreditation, and anesthesia rules rather than device clearance. Ask about facility accreditation and hospital privileges.

Rules differ by state and by country. A product approved in one market may be unapproved in another, and the same device can be used within or outside its cleared indication.

Questions to ask before you pay a deposit

1. Which technique do you recommend for me, and why?
2. What is your hematoma and nerve injury rate, and how do you manage them?
3. What is the all-in cost including anesthesia, facility, and revisions?

Open the complete safety checklist →

Use and market context

Popularity measures use, not effectiveness or safety. Each figure carries its source and its main methodological limit.