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18
Feb
2016

How to Better Understand the Cost of Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic Surgeon Mr Alex Karidis is one of the UK's most well-known and respected Cosmetic Surgeons.

We all like a good deal, to feel that we are getting value for money when we buy things. We might compare and contrast what is available and then choose the item or service that we think gives us the most satisfying option.

Inevitably, the cost of any will also play a role in the decision-making process. Nobody likes to be duped and so people usually want to do their "market research" in order to that they will be paying the "going market rate" for any cosmetic surgery that they may want to undertake.

The question is how easy and accurate is it to work out what the going market rate is?

Firstly it’s best to make it clear from the outset that comparing any medical procedure or surgery, is simply not as straightforward as comparing e.g. kitchen appliances or holiday packages. When you go and try to compare prices with surgery, it is likely you will not be comparing like to like or "apples to apples".

Trying to establish the "going market rate" therefore becomes somewhat tricky.

This is because in any service sector, "services", even under the same name, can vary tremendously and be notoriously hard to compare.

How for example would you compare prices on an operation like a "" where it’s possible that a whole different combination of procedure s(such as and , , cheek lift, midface lift, etc) may be bundled up under the same name?

To complicate matters further, invariably there are also many different patient situations and conditions, as well as of course different surgeons' abilities.

Can you say therefore that you are in a position to and determine a surgeon's ability, by understanding all the small nuances that collectively make up the differences between an ok result and a great result? It’s likely most people are probably not in a position to be able to do so.

Why is this important? Well, I think most people want the absolute best possible result with any cosmetic surgery involving their body or face and therefore want the best surgeon, not the cheapest surgeon. And please remember there is no such thing as "cheap and cheerful " with respect to surgery.

After all, I don’t think it would be much of a consolation to say "at least I didn’t pay much for my surgery" when you’re left with a visibly unacceptable or substandard cosmetic result on your face or even your !

Moreover, you simply can’t get a badly or unsatisfactorily performed operation i.e. a facelift redone or reversed easily. or revising any failures of a first procedure will simply not be possible until enough loose Ageing Skin & Wrinkles has developed again- which usually takes years rather than months.

So what do you have to do to understand or make sense of the pricing?

First I think it’s essential to take into consideration the different elements with any surgical procedure and understand that all these factors that top surgeons masterfully and brilliantly manipulate, to get top-quality results.

Their prices, therefore, reflect this ability.

Let me be clearer. For the sake of illustrating and understanding how complicated this is I’ll use a Facelift procedure as an example from here on in. You thus need to be aware of the following key technical issues, and find out:

So as you can see it can get very complicated and there are a number of issues to take into consideration even though the above list is not at all exhaustive.

The same applies when comparing so-called "non-surgical" treatments. You may think treatments such as are the same anywhere you go.

After all, you may say, they are using the same product right? Wrong! It's how much and how you use this product that counts.

Remember you can give 3 chefs the exact same ingredients to make you a soufflé yet the result can vary enormously.

Similarly, just 2 practices have the exact same laser or energy device doesn’t mean they will get the same results. The use of different settings and applications on these devices makes all the difference in results.

Of course from a surgeon’s perspective, it’s making one’s way around all these aforementioned issues collectively in the best possible manner that makes the difference between a barely passable or unacceptable facelift and an exquisitely performed one. And this of course is why prices can vary. A very experienced top surgeon who guides his way around all those issues with great skill in order to consistently deliver(this is an important point) great overall results knows his worth and usually prices his surgery accordingly.

Younger more inexperienced plastic surgeons, who do not have long-established practices, or surgeons who are not even specialist plastic surgeons may subsequently offer a facelift at a lower cost. It takes many years of experience to become proficient in facelifting (nay, any operation!). Conversely, it’s also true to say that some surgeons may never become totally proficient in a particular type of surgery despite "many years of experience" in the same way not all footballers will become a Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo no matter how much they play.

That’s not to say of course that paying a big surgical fee will guarantee you a great result or eliminate the possibility of complications because in medicine there is no such thing as a guarantee no matter who performs the surgery. It’s just that the very best top surgeons they are probably in a better position, as a result of more experience knowledge and refined techniques, to offer you a more favourable result.

A facelift is a very complex operation that can give beautiful if done properly.

It relies largely, as do all operations, on great handiwork and knowledge on the part of the surgeon.

Imagine looking 10 years younger and no one could tell you had anything done?

What do you think that is worth?

Most people would probably agree that a fantastic facelift (or any cosmetic surgery) result is priceless

In the end, and as has probably become clear, the point I am making is that one should not use price as the sole or most important determinant when considering any cosmetic surgery; you have to think quality first and price second. But I hear you cry: I don’t have enough money for the surgeon I know is the best! What do I do? My suggestion would be to wait until you have saved up enough to go to them. Remember Cosmetic surgery is not an emergency.

You do not have to have it done right now if you don’t have the funds. You’ll only wind up regretting it if you go elsewhere and find yourself disappointed subsequently. When it comes to your face (or any part of your body for that matter) you want the best and deserve the best, so wait until you’re ready for the best!

I hope this has helped you understand the little points that make all the difference.

If you want to read more, the experts at Consulting Room really know what they're talking about and have put some , , , , , , and treatment FAQs just for you. 

If you have more questions, you can use the , , , , , and questions feature to talk to our panel of trained medical experts. 

If you're keen to get started with any of these treatments right away then you're in luck - those clever folks also have a list of trusted, accredited , , , , , , and in your area.

Many thanks to the author  who is the UK's leading cosmetic surgeon from the  which is the home of leading surgical and non-surgical aesthetic treatments in the heart of St John's Wood.

The flagship clinic offers the very best in treatments, and thorough patient care provided by a carefully hand-picked team.

As a highly respected surgeon, Mr Karidis is regularly called on by the UK and media to comment on Cosmetic Surgery.

He regularly features in the Daily Mail, Grazia, Celebs on Sunday, Sunday Mirror, The Evening Standard, Daily Mirror, The Independent and The Sun to name a few.

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