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Can You Buy Beauty? 9 Cosmetic Procedures Rich People Get and How Much They Cost

May 9, 2024

4 min Read

Written by Vance Cariaga

Edited by Nicholas Morine

Woman getting ready before surgery in hospital.

Enes Evren / Getty Images

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Humans have long obsessed over ways to improve their appearance, with the first instances of reconstructive work and skin grafts dating back at least to 800 B.C. in ancient India, per Plastic Surgery of Boston. Since then, cosmetic procedures have evolved in complexity, technology and price. Today, you can expect to pay close to $30,000 on certain cosmetic procedures, which is why they are mainly the domain of wealthy folks.

Technically, the term “cosmetic procedure” can be applied to many things, from a manicure to reconstructive surgery. Some of the most common (and priciest) include facelifts, tummy tucks, breast augmentation, liposuction and rhinoplasty.

What Is a ‘Luxury’ Cosmetic Procedure?

Not all procedures are created equal — even when you’re talking about the same one. For example, there’s a difference between a luxury cosmetic procedure and a standard one that might cost much less.

Luxury cosmetic procedures are “assumed to be at the higher end of the market regarding quality, expertise, and often price,” according to a blog from New York-based Park Plaza Plastic Surgery. These procedures use the most up-to-date techniques and cutting-edge technologies. They might also include unique equipment, innovative surgical methods or the use of premium materials.

Costs can vary widely depending on where you live and who you see. As a general rule, you can expect to pay a lot more in pricey urban centers like New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Miami and Atlanta than elsewhere. But no matter where you live, certain procedures will never be considered “cheap.”

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Does Health Insurance Cover Cosmetic Surgery?

In some cases you might get health insurance to cover some of the costs of cosmetic surgery. For example, this could apply to nose surgery that can also correct breathing problems, according to WebMD. You can also score discounts if you have several procedures done at once. In addition, certain banks provide financing if you can’t pay the full cost all at once.

Otherwise, you need a pretty deep reservoir of disposable capital to afford the work. Here’s a look at nine cosmetic procedures rich people get and how much they cost. Unless otherwise noted, national averages are from Statista and the highest prices in select markets are from Texas-based Westlake Dermatology.