Dr Scott J Turner | Specialist Plastic Surgeon (FRACS) | Sydney
The cost of facelift surgery is one of the most common questions at an initial consultation, and one of the hardest to answer without understanding what the surgery actually involves. A facelift is not a single procedure with a single price. It ranges from a short scar approach for early lower face changes through to a comprehensive vertical restore facelift addressing the entire face and neck. Whether you are researching the cost of a short scar mini approach or deep plane facelift cost in Sydney, what you pay reflects the scope of your surgery, the technique required, and the surgical time involved.
As a Specialist Plastic Surgeon (FRACS) practising from Bondi Junction and Manly in Sydney, I have specific training in deep plane facelift surgery. Surgery is performed at Bondi Junction Private Hospital and Delmar Private Hospital, Dee Why.
Dr Turner’s All-Inclusive Facelift Pricing
| Procedure | All-inclusive cost |
|---|---|
| Short scar facelift | ~$25,000 |
| Deep plane facelift with neck lift | ~$35,000 |
| Vertical Restore Facelift | ~$45,000 |
| Ponytail facelift | ~$24,000 |
| Anterior neck lift (standalone) | $18,000–$26,000 |
| Consultation | $450 |
All figures are all-inclusive: surgeon, hospital, anaesthesia, and all post-operative appointments. A formal itemised quote is provided after consultation based on the specific surgical plan.
What Is Included in the All-Inclusive Fee
The total cost of facelift surgery comprises several components. Understanding each helps you compare quotes accurately.
Surgeon’s fee. The largest variable in the total cost. Reflects the surgeon’s training, subspecialty experience, and the complexity of the specific procedure. A short scar facelift and a vertical restore facelift involving brow repositioning, blepharoplasty, fat grafting, and comprehensive neck work are entirely different operations — the fee reflects that.
Anaesthesia fee. A facelift is always performed under general anaesthesia. A specialist anaesthetist’s fee is charged for their continuous patient monitoring throughout the procedure, which may take between 3.5 and 7 hours, depending on the technique and whether additional procedures are combined.
Hospital facility fee. Covers operating theatre use, nursing staff, surgical equipment, and overnight accommodation. Dr Turner recommends patients remain overnight following facelift procedures to allow for appropriate monitoring and pain management during initial recovery. All surgery is performed at fully accredited Sydney private hospitals.
Post-operative care. Follow-up appointments, prescribed medications, compression garments, and any supplementary treatments that may support healing. At Dr Turner’s practice, all follow-up visits are included in the all-inclusive fee.
Why Facelift Costs Have Increased
Facelift surgery has changed significantly over the past decade. What was once a relatively straightforward 3 to 4 hour operation addressing the lower face and neck has evolved into a comprehensive procedure that may extend to 6 to 7 hours when multiple techniques are combined.
Traditional facelift techniques centred on SMAS plication and platysmaplasty, targeting the lower face and upper neck. In Australia, costs for these conventional approaches have historically ranged from approximately $17,000 to $25,000. For patients with mild to moderate concerns, these techniques can deliver appropriate outcomes.
Modern facelift surgery has fundamentally changed what a complete facial procedure involves. The contemporary approach may integrate deep plane dissection, advanced neck work, fat grafting, brow repositioning, blepharoplasty, and lip shortening — all in a single session. Each additional component requires specific expertise, additional surgical time, and careful integration. This is why contemporary comprehensive facelifts require a greater investment than conventional approaches.
Why Advanced Techniques Cost More
Deep plane facelift. Involves dissection beneath the SMAS, releasing the retaining ligaments that anchor the deeper facial tissues. This allows the soft tissue composite to be repositioned as a structural unit rather than pulling on the skin surface. The technique requires detailed knowledge of facial anatomy, precise knowledge of retaining ligament release, and meticulous dissection around critical structures, including facial nerves. It is estimated that fewer than 5% of plastic surgeons perform true deep plane facelifts. At Dr Turner’s practice, a deep plane facelift with neck lift costs approximately $35,000 all-inclusive.
Vertical Restore Facelift. Dr Turner’s most comprehensive approach — incorporating deep plane techniques with brow repositioning, blepharoplasty where indicated, midface lifting, neck work, fat grafting, and in selected cases lip shortening — all in a single coordinated procedure. Operating time of 5 to 7 hours reflects the scope of structural work involved. Results from this approach typically last 10 to 15 years. Cost approximately $45,000 all-inclusive.
Longevity as a value consideration. Research suggests deep plane facelifts may last 12 to 15 years, compared to 6 to 8 years for traditional SMAS techniques. Patients considering the total investment over time — including the potential cost and recovery of a subsequent procedure earlier with a more limited technique — often find the longer-lasting approach represents better value despite a higher initial cost.
What Affects Your Individual Quote
Several variables push costs toward the lower or higher end of the range:
Surgical complexity. A deep plane facelift on a patient with moderate midface descent and neck laxity takes considerably longer than a short scar facelift on an earlier-presenting patient. The surgical plan is confirmed at consultation once Dr Turner has assessed the anatomy.
Combining procedures. Many patients address multiple concerns in a single operation — facelift with blepharoplasty, brow lift, fat grafting, or lip lift. Combining procedures increases the total cost but may represent better value than staging them separately, and requires only one anaesthetic and one recovery period.
Complexity of neck work. Where deeper neck structures require attention — subplatysmal fat, submandibular glands, or digastric muscles — a deep neck lift component is incorporated, which adds surgical time and complexity compared to standard platysmaplasty.
How Deep Plane Compares to Traditional Facelift
| Short Scar / SMAS Facelift | Deep Plane Facelift | Vertical Restore Facelift | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technique depth | Superficial SMAS | Beneath the SMAS | Deep plane + comprehensive |
| Neck treatment | Limited / standard | Comprehensive | Comprehensive + deep neck |
| Operating time | 2–3 hours | 3.5–5 hours | 5–7 hours |
| Typical longevity | 5–7 years | 10–12 years | 10–15 years |
| All-inclusive cost | ~$25,000 | ~$35,000 | ~$45,000 |
| Suited to | Early changes | Moderate to advanced | Multi-zone, comprehensive |
AHPRA Regulatory Requirements
Under AHPRA cosmetic surgery guidelines (effective 1 July 2023), the following apply before facelift surgery can proceed:
- A referral from your GP or a specialist physician
- A minimum of two consultations with Dr Turner before surgery is booked
- A psychological evaluation to confirm suitability
- A mandatory cooling-off period before formal consent is given
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a facelift cost in Sydney in 2026?
At Dr Turner’s practice, a short scar facelift costs approximately $25,000 all-inclusive. A deep plane facelift with neck lift costs approximately $35,000. A Vertical Restore Facelift costs approximately $45,000. All figures include surgeon, hospital, anaesthesia, and all follow-up visits. A consultation fee of $450 applies and a formal itemised quote is provided after consultation.
What is the difference in cost between deep plane and SMAS facelift?
At Dr Turner’s practice the difference is approximately $10,000 — $25,000 for a short scar/SMAS approach versus $35,000 for deep plane with neck lift. The price difference reflects the surgical complexity, longer operating time, greater depth of dissection, and typically longer longevity of the deep plane result. Patients considering the total cost over time, including potential repeat surgery earlier with a more limited technique, often find the deep plane approach represents better long-term value.
Does facelift cost include hospital and anaesthesia?
At Dr Turner’s practice all quoted figures are all-inclusive, covering surgeon fees, hospital, anaesthesia, and all post-operative appointments. Some practices quote surgeon fees only, with hospital and anaesthesia listed separately. Always confirm whether a quote is all-inclusive before comparing figures.
Can facelift be combined with other procedures?
Yes, and this is common. Facelift is frequently combined with blepharoplasty, brow lift, fat grafting, and lip lift in a single operation. Combining procedures increases the total cost but avoids multiple separate anaesthetics and recovery periods. The Vertical Restore Facelift incorporates many of these components by design.
Is facelift covered by Medicare?
No. Facelift is a cosmetic procedure and is not eligible for a Medicare rebate or private health insurance benefit. Where a neck lift component addresses clinically documented functional concerns, there may be limited exceptions — this is assessed at consultation.
Related Procedures and Resources
Related procedures:
- Facelift Surgery Sydney
- Deep Plane Facelift Sydney
- Vertical Restore Facelift
- Short Scar Facelift Sydney
- Neck Lift Sydney
Helpful guides:
- Recovery After Facelift Surgery
- Types of Facelift and Neck Lift Surgery
- Face and Neck Lift Sydney
- Facelift Risks and Complications
Consult with Dr Scott J Turner
Facelift pricing cannot be confirmed without a consultation. The surgical plan — and therefore the cost — depends on your specific anatomy, the degree of change present, and which techniques are appropriate. At the end of your consultation with Dr Turner, a formal itemised quote is provided covering all cost components.
Dr Turner consults in Sydney at Bondi Junction and Manly. He also sees patients in Brisbane, Canberra, and Newcastle. Surgery is performed in Sydney at Bondi Junction Private Hospital and Delmar Private Hospital, Dee Why.
Contact the practice to arrange a consultation, or read more about Dr Turner’s background and training.
