How Much Does a Facelift Cost? The Importance of Quality and Long-Lasting Results

Understanding facelift cost is about more than a number — it’s about investing in results that last. At Wave Plastic Surgery, every facelift is customized to your anatomy, aging pattern, and goals for natural rejuvenation. If you’ve tried fillers, tightening treatments, or skincare and still notice sagging, deeper folds, or loss of definition, a facelift offers the most comprehensive and long-lasting solution.

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Quick Takeaways

  • Facelift procedures at Wave Plastic Surgery typically range from $15,000–$25,000, depending on the technique and complexity.
  • Prices include surgeon expertise, accredited facility, and anesthesia fees.
  • Results last 10–12 years, making it one of the most lasting anti-aging investments.
  • Personalized consultations provide an exact quote based on your goals, anatomy, and surgical plan.

Why Facelift Pricing Varies

The cost of a facelift depends on your facial structure, level of aging, and the type of correction required. Factors like surgical technique, recovery needs, and combination procedures all influence pricing. No two faces — or facelifts — are exactly alike, and a tailored plan ensures balanced, natural results.

Primary cost factors include:

  • Type of Facelift: Full, mini, deep-plane, or Wave Lift procedures vary in depth, technique, and longevity. A mini facelift can start around $5,000, while a comprehensive deep-plane lift may reach $25,000+.
  • Extent of Aging Correction: Addressing both midface and neck laxity, volume restoration, or skin quality concerns requires more operative time and surgical precision.
  • Surgeon Expertise: Board-certified surgeons like Dr. Peter Lee, MD, FACS bring advanced training, artistic skill, and decades of experience — key to safety and natural outcomes.
  • Facility & Anesthesia Fees: Accredited surgical facilities, specialized anesthesiologists, and advanced monitoring equipment ensure the highest safety standards.
  • Complementary Procedures: Patients often enhance results with Neck Lift, Chin Augmentation, or Fat Grafting.

In Orange County, facelift costs typically fall within the mid- to upper-range compared to national averages. This reflects the level of expertise, technology, and aesthetic quality available at leading practices like Wave. Transparency is key. At Wave, pricing reflects the surgical skill, artistry, and technology required to achieve long-lasting, natural rejuvenation — never inflated, always value-driven.

Facelift on female

Facelifts: Can cost between $7,500 and $25,000 or more, depending on the surgeon’s skill and the procedure’s complexity. Facelifts are often not covered by insurance.

Wavelift client, Jackie_Nguyen

Mini facelifts: Can cost between $5,000–$8,000, but the actual cost may vary depending on the patient’s needs. Additional procedures, like liposuction or skin resurfacing, may also increase the cost.

What’s Included in Facelift Pricing

Patients often ask what their quoted price covers. At Wave Plastic Surgery, your investment includes:

  • Surgeon and anesthesia fees
  • Accredited surgical facility costs
  • Pre- and post-operative visits
  • Compression garments and aftercare products
  • 24-hour support during the recovery period

We never use “base pricing” models that exclude essentials. Your quoted rate is transparent and comprehensive. Contact our team to discuss in more detail of how the procedure can be designed to fit your needs and results.

The Value of Long-Term Results

While fillers and non-surgical options like Ultherapy or Morpheus8 can refresh your appearance temporarily, only facelift surgery repositions the deeper layers of the face for structural rejuvenation.

For many patients, a facelift becomes more cost-effective over time than recurring non-surgical maintenance. Results typically last 10–12 years, and patients often notice they need fewer touch-ups afterward.

To extend results, our team may recommend:

  • Annual collagen-stimulating treatments like Morpheus8 or AccuTite
  • Medical-grade skincare and sun protection
  • Regular follow-ups to maintain lift and definition

Think of your facelift as a long-term investment in confidence and quality of life — one that allows you to look as vibrant as you feel.

Recovery & Aftercare Expectations

Facelift recovery is straightforward when you follow your post-surgical plan.

Most patients take 10–14 days of downtime, with visible swelling and tightness subsiding by week two.

By the 4–6 week mark, patients can return to social activities, feeling comfortable and confident.

Your Wave care team provides:

  • Personalized recovery timeline and milestones In-person follow-ups to monitor healing
  • Post-surgical care package and garment
  • Guidance on scar care and skin maintenance

Wave Plastic Surgery prioritizes patient safety and comfort, supporting you from the first consultation to the final reveal of your results.

Why Choose Wave Plastic Surgery

Each facelift at Wave Plastic Surgery is performed by board-certified surgeons specializing in advanced facial rejuvenation.

Led by Dr. Peter Lee, MD, FACS, the practice has helped thousands of patients achieve elegant, natural transformations.

Dr. Lee is internationally recognized for developing innovative techniques such as the CureLift™ and CureLift-S™, offering powerful lift with less downtime.

He and the Wave team blend precision, artistry, and science to create results that are both youthful and authentic — restoring balance without changing who you are.

Many patients describe their results as “refreshed” rather than “redone,” a reflection of the natural outcomes that define Wave’s surgical philosophy.

Explore the facelift before-and-after gallery to see examples of real patient transformations.

Before And After Patient Gallery

View our extensive gallery of before-and-after photos showcasing the remarkable transformations achieved by the skilled surgeons at Wave Plastic Surgery. These photos offer a visual testament to the natural-looking, youthful results you can expect with our cosmetic procedures.

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Financing & Consultation

Because every facelift is personalized, the most accurate way to receive a quote is through a consultation.

During your appointment, our surgeons will analyze your facial anatomy, review surgical options, and recommend a plan that aligns with your goals and timeline.

Wave offers flexible payment solutions through PatientFi partners, allowing patients to move forward with confidence.

Schedule your facelift consultation in Orange County today to learn more about pricing, recovery, and what results you can expect.

Get Your Consultation Today

Give us a call today to schedule your consultation with one of our plastic surgeons at Wave Plastic Surgery.

Facelift Surgery Cost FAQs

Typically, insurance does not cover cosmetic surgery since it is considered elective. However, some insurance policies may cover part of the cost if a facelift is performed as part of reconstructive surgery after an accident or due to medical reasons. Be sure to consult with your insurance provider.

The largest factors include the type of facelift performed, surgeon expertise, and whether complementary procedures such as a neck lift or fat grafting are added.

For patients seeking long-lasting rejuvenation, yes. A facelift can provide up to 12 years of results, restoring contours that fillers or skin-tightening treatments alone cannot achieve.

Yes. Wave Plastic Surgery accepts financing through PatientFi partners, providing flexible payment solutions that fit a wide range of budgets. Visit our current specials or contact our patient care team for financing guidance.

  1. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (n.d.). How much does a facelift cost? Plastic Surgery. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/facelift/cost
  2. Patel, P. D., Rodriguez, R. L., Sharma, S., & Chen, L. (2020). Trends in Facelift Surgery: A 10-Year Review. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 41(9), 987-994. https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjaa095
Picture of Peter Lee

Peter Lee

Dr. Peter Lee, MD, FACS, Founder, CEO and Chief Surgeon of WAVE Plastic Surgery Center and Advanced Endotine Bioskills surgeon educator and trainer, is a top Los Angeles board-certified Plastic, Reconstructive, and Cosmetic Surgeon. Dr. Peter Lee is a board-certified Diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Drawing patients from around the world, he is both an innovator and thought leader who has advanced the discipline of plastic surgery through his lifelong commitment to excellence and education. In addition to being bilingual in English and Korean, Dr. Lee has mentored and trained master surgeons in South Korea, China and other Asian countries in state-of-the-art techniques and scientific advancements in the field.

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With a wide range of breast, body, and face procedures, our goal at Wave Plastic Surgery is to allow for all of our patients to achieve their ideal appearance, no matter their age or ethnicity. Our doctors all have extensive experience working with patients of all different backgrounds and have developed expertise in Asian plastic surgery procedures such as eyelid and nose surgery. We work with all sorts of men and women—both local to the Los Angeles area and from far out of town—to help find the right procedure to help them reach their goals.

Wave Plastic Surgery offers an inclusive menu of non-surgical treatment options that will cover all types of anti-aging and skin concerns from wrinkles, sagging skin, hair loss, women’s health, poor skin texture, large pores, skin discoloration, Rosacea, acne, scars, volume loss, and aging hands, neck and chest.