The type of anesthesia involved is very important. Some procedures are done with a CRNA, a certified registered nurse anesthetist, under the supervision of the operating surgeon. This option generally will cost less than when an anesthesiologist (a doctor) is involved. On the other hand, some surgery can be done entirely under local anesthesia with just a mild oral sedative like Valium, and this results in substantial cost savings for the patient.
The facility fee is what the hospital, office or surgery center charges for supplies, equipment, medications, staff (like surgical technicians and nurses), and other miscellaneous charges. Office based surgery is usually the most cost effective. Surgery centers and hospitals are fairly similar in their fees. Finally the geographic location will impact cost a lot. For instance, a facelift in New York City or Chicago will cost substantially more than less tourist-attracted cities.
Finally, the state of the economy/inflation/labor costs will affect procedure costs accordingly. Recent sharp increases in facility fees after COVID are related to supply chain issues and a shortage of qualified personnel to staff operating rooms.
For the Pittsburgh area, the following chart reflects ranges for 4 common procedures: a facelift (which sometimes will include a complex neck procedure), a breast augmentation, an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), and an earlobe repair.
| Procedure | Surgeon’s Fee | Facility Fee | Anesthesia Fee |
| Facelift | $7,000 – $15,000 | $2,000 – $5,000 | $1,050 – $1,550 |
| Breast Augmentation (Add approx. $2,000 for implants) | $4,000 – $5,000 | $1,500 – $3,000 | $775 – $1,155 |
| Abdominoplasty | $6,500 – $9,000 | $3,000 – $4,000 | $1,155 – $1,250 |
| Earlobe Repair | $1,000 – $2,000 | $0-300 | $0 (none needed) |
