What is with Americans and plastic surgery?  Seriously, a nip here and a tuck there; the costs add up. I’m not going to delve into the psychology of plastic surgery; that is outside of my wheelhouse of expertise. “Are Americans actually trying to keep up with the Kardashians…,” as the Chicago Tribune quips?

Let’s look at the costs. In a report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), data showed “Americans spent more than ever before – $16 billion – on cosmetic plastic surgery and minimally-invasive procedures in 2016.”  The ASPS also estimated that there were more than 290,000 procedures conducted, costing almost $4,000 each. These procedures included other popular non-surgical alternatives like; Botox injections (7 million procedures), hyaluronic acid fillers (2 million procedures), chemical peels (1.3 million procedures), and microdermabrasion (approximately 800,000 procedures).

Let’s Stick With Facelifts

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons report also showed that “The average cost of a facelift is $7,048.” This fee does not include anesthesia, operating room facilities or other related expenses. They also note that this cost for surgery can vary.  I’m not going to give you facelift advice, but if you go to a place that offers pizza and facelifts, you may want to be more discerning with your choice of surgeons and facilities. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ site goes on to indicate that facelift costs may include:

  • Surgeon’s fees
  • Hospital or surgical facility cost
  • Anesthesia fees
  • Prescriptions for Medication
  • Transportation and Hotel costs if you have traveled to get to the doctor
  • Post-op nursing care if needed
  • Post-surgery garments (neck and face coverings that do not give the impression that you have just robbed a bank, not to mention sexy sunglasses)
  • Medical tests
  • Lost pay if you are working

With all of these cost factors, what drives someone to go for plastic surgery? Unfortunately, we continue to be swept up by celebrities who go under the knife (or laser, for that matter).

The Rich And Famous Facelifts

Frankly, celebrities and facelifts is like writing about a train wreck; the photos made me cringe.  Stars rely on their looks; in many cases, for their livelihood.  I would assume that because of the importance of their appearance (and the fact that we only get one face), celebrities would go to the absolute best surgeons.  I’ll go out on a limb for this one, and say you are taking a risk when you decide to get a facelift.  Some notable examples of stars who should have considered donating money to charity instead of springing for a facelift could be Donatella Versace, Priscilla Presley, Courtney Love, Carrot Top, Meg Ryan and Melanie Griffith. (In Melanie Griffith’s defense, she clearly has issues with planning, as witnessed by the “Antonio” tattoo she had put on her arm.)