If you’re tired of looking in the mirror and seeing a version of yourself that doesn’t quite line up with the youthful energy you still feel, it might be time for a facelift in Beverly Hills. Whether you’re seeing moderate or severe signs of aging, a facelift can help reverse them and restore a more youthful look.
But one of the biggest questions with facelift surgery is how to cover the costs. Will your insurance company cover it, or will you be forced to pay out of pocket? Keep reading to find out.
Understanding Facelift Surgery
A facelift (rhytidectomy) is a cosmetic surgery that addresses signs of aging like deep skin folds, sagging skin, and drooping jowls. Surgeons typically make incisions along the hairline or around the ears and reposition the skin to create a taut, youthful look.
Today, one of the most common techniques is the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) facelift. It focuses on the SMAS layer of tissue and pulls it back to tighten the skin on the lower part of the face.
Another approach is the deep-plane facelift, where the surgeon lifts the SMAS and separates it from the ligaments underneath. They then reposition the skin and the SMAS a more youthful look. Both the SMAS and deep-plane facelifts can address moderate to severe signs of aging.
Patients with moderate signs of aging can still get a facelift, but they might only need a mini facelift. This procedure is much less invasive and does not affect as much of the tissue. The result is less scarring and a quicker recovery time.
Since facelifts are surgical procedures, there is some risk involved. However, if the patients are healthy and present limited comorbidities, those risks are minimal. Possible complications include nerve injuries, hematomas, and infections, but those occur in less than 8% of cases.
The most important thing is for patients to discuss their complete health history with their plastic surgeon so they can develop a surgical plan together. The vast majority of patients—over 90%—have successful procedures. And 93% say that the procedure was well worth it.
The Cost of Facelift in Beverly Hills
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons estimates the average facelift to cost just over $8,000. However, that total only refers to the surgery itself. Each clinic charges additional fees that vary depending on location, procedure type, surgeon expertise, etc.
To understand the total facelift cost, patients must consider the following fees:
- Pre-op medical tests
- Anesthesia (general or IV sedation)
- Hospital or surgical facility costs
- Additional surgeon fees
- Post-op medication (painkillers and antibiotics)
- Post-op facial wraps and garments.
Once the clinic adds on those fees, the total could be much higher. Based on input from over 10,600 real patients, the final price for a facelift can range from $4,500-$30,000. These patients reported the average cost—including all the added fees—to be closer to $12,500.
Keep in mind, though, that each facelift is different, and a plastic surgeon will develop a personalized approach for each patient. For example, the price for a mini facelift will generally be much lower than a deep-plane facelift combined with a neck lift and eyelid surgery.
Health Insurance for Facelifts in Beverly Hills
Health insurance helps patients cover the cost of medical appointments, treatments, and procedures. To receive this benefit, patients usually need to pay a monthly premium. However, if people have health insurance through their job or as part of government benefits, they may only need to pay a portion of the monthly bill—or nothing at all.
Aside from the monthly premium, patients must also pay a portion of other healthcare expenses. These costs are described as follows:
- Copay: A copay is a small fee that patients pay when they have a doctor’s appointment or consultation. They may also need to pay a copay when picking up a prescription or visiting the emergency room.
- Deductible: Insurance companies usually set a yearly deductible, which is how much patients must pay before the insurance company starts covering costs. This could be anywhere from zero to thousands of dollars. Note that copays don’t count toward the deductible.
- Coinsurance: Even after patients pay the deductible, they may still be responsible for a portion of the medical expenses. For example, the patient may have to pay 20% of all expenses after meeting the deductible until they reach a maximum amount. This is called coinsurance.
Insurance companies combine copays, deductibles, and coinsurance to set a yearly out-of-pocket maximum. Anything beyond that falls completely on the insurance company—as long as it is a medical necessity.
Insurance Coverage for Facelift Surgery
Generally speaking, health insurance companies will cover any medical necessity. As the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) explains, this usually includes procedures that help specialists diagnose, treat, or cure a health condition, injury, or disease.
The NAIC specifically says that any services strictly for the patients’ convenience will not be covered. Since most facelifts are for convenience, not a necessity, insurance companies typically don’t cover any portion of the cost. The same goes for other cosmetic procedures, like breast augmentation or a neck lift.
However, not all plastic surgery is just for convenience. Plastic surgeons also specialize in reconstructive surgery that restores normal function or repairs trauma from injuries. Some examples might be a breast reconstruction after a mastectomy or a rhinoplasty for a deviated septum.
If patients need a partial or full facelift as part of facial reconstruction surgery, insurance companies may cover part of the cost. Most facelifts in Beverly Hills, though, are strictly cosmetic procedures and not covered by insurance.
How to Discuss Insurance Coverage with Your Provider and Surgeon
The first step is to talk with your plastic surgeon about your expectations and budget for a facelift during the initial consultation. They can help determine whether the procedure (or procedures in a more complex situation) are purely cosmetic or part of a reconstruction surgery.
If there’s a chance that the facelift could be considered a medical necessity, the next step is to talk with your insurance provider and explain the situation. They will then determine if it’s a medical necessity and explain how much they can cover based on your deductible and coinsurance policies.
Keep in mind, though, that most facelift procedures will not be covered since they’re usually not medically necessary. Patients should expect to cover most, if not all, of the costs involved with a facelift.
If the facelift is part of a facial reconstruction and the insurance company denies the claim, patients have the right to appeal that decision. They can either reach out to the insurance company directly or order an external review through an independent third party.
Financing Options for Facelift Surgery
Even if the insurance company doesn’t cover a facelift in Beverly Hills, there are other financing options.
The simplest—and interest-free—option is using personal savings to pay for the procedure. This might mean pulling money out of an IRA or a simple savings account to pay for the surgery. However, some people might not have enough in their savings account or not want to use that money for a medical procedure.
In those situations, patients might opt for a personal loan. They can apply for one at their bank, through their credit card company, or with an external lender. Patients with a significant retirement fund can also take out a 401k loan to cover the facelift costs. Since the average personal loan is just over $11,100, it might be enough to cover a facelift. Keep in mind, though, that personal loans come with an interest rate, so people end up repaying much more than they borrowed.
A newer payment option is a medical credit card. It works just like a regular credit card, but people can only use it for medical expenses—and with certain medical providers. This can be a good option for patients with excellent payment history. However, adding another credit card can lower people’s credit. It can also put them at risk for late fees and high interest rates if they do not pay the entire amount back on time.
Another option is talking about payment plans with the plastic surgeon. Considering the total facelift cost is quite high and typically not covered by insurance providers, surgeons might be willing to accommodate patients. These plans might include interest fees, but they usually won’t impose the same eligibility requirements of a personal loan from a bank.
Conclusion
A facelift in Beverly Hills can help restore your confidence and turn back the clock 10-15 years. But it can also cost well over $10,000.
Since insurance companies typically don’t cover cosmetic surgeries like a mini or full facelift, you should be prepared to consider other financing options. The good news is that there are other ways to finance the procedure.
First, talk to your plastic surgeon about what procedure would be best for you—and what that would cost. Then you can discuss payment plan options or look into other financing options like a loan.
