How Much Does a Deep Plane Facelift Cost? 2026 Price Guide

A deep plane facelift in Australia costs between $30,000 and $70,000 AUD. In South Korea through Glamjet, the same procedure with neck lift from top-tier surgeons runs $19,000 to $45,000 AUD with aftercare included. This guide covers what sits behind both numbers, what is included at each price point, and what questions are worth asking before you compare quotes.

Dr Lee (Elite Plastic Surgery, Seoul): forehead lift, neck lift, upper blepharoplasty, SMILE lower blepharoplasty and upper cheek lift. 13 days post-op.

Why Does a Deep Plane Facelift Cost More Than Other Techniques?

The surgery takes 3 to 6 hours under general anaesthesia. Rather than tightening the skin and SMAS layer, a deep plane facelift releases the retaining ligaments that have caused the face to descend, then lifts the skin, muscle, and fat pads together as a single unit. Because it addresses the underlying structures rather than the surface, results last 12 to 15 years and the face moves naturally rather than looking stretched.

Traditional facelifts work above the SMAS layer and do not release those deeper ligaments. Results tend to look tighter rather than lifted and do not hold as long. For a full comparison of all facelift techniques, see our guide to facelift types explained.

The other factor is that fewer than 5% of plastic surgeons worldwide perform true deep plane facelifts, according to Sydney specialist Dr Scott J Turner. It is a highly specialised technique and is only done consistently well by surgeons who perform it regularly at high volume. Before booking with any surgeon, it is worth asking specifically how many deep plane procedures they do each year.

How Much Does a Deep Plane Facelift Cost?

Here is how the main options compare. The prices below reflect what patients actually pay, not minimum starting figures.

Deep plane facelift cost in Australia

Based on publicly available pricing from well-regarded Australian practices:

• Dr Scott J Turner (Sydney): deep plane facelift with neck lift from $35,000 all-inclusive, covering surgeon, hospital, anaesthesia, and all post-operative appointments
• Dr Kevin Ho (Sydney): advanced deep plane and combined procedures $32,000 to $70,000+
• Dr Mark Kohout (Sydney): deep plane facelift $30,000 to $40,000
• Dr Michael Kernohan (Sydney): $25,000 to $45,000 depending on complexity

The range is wide because the variables are real: surgeon experience, whether a neck lift is included, which hospital is used, and whether aftercare sits inside the quote or gets billed separately. In Sydney and Melbourne, the facility fee alone adds $3,500 to $10,500. Always ask for an itemised breakdown before comparing numbers.

Deep plane facelift cost in South Korea

Through Glamjet, a deep plane facelift with neck lift in South Korea from top-tier surgeons runs $19,000 to $45,000 AUD, with aftercare, translation service, recovery therapies, airport transfers, and follow-up included. Surgery costs are paid directly to the clinic. Scheduling through Glamjet typically means a 3-month wait; approaching clinics independently usually takes 6 to 9 months.

The lower price reflects lower operating overheads in Seoul, not lower surgical quality. The clinics Glamjet works with have surgeons performing 200 to 500 facelifts per year. Dr Lee Youngjin at Elite Plastic Surgery has performed over 6,000 deep plane procedures. Dr Kim Sung-Sik does 2 to 3 deep plane facelifts every week. A surgeon in Australia who has performed 40 to 100 facelifts across their entire career would typically charge from $70,000 for a combined procedure. Volume matters specifically for this technique.

Deep plane facelift cost in Thailand

Glamjet offers packages in Thailand from $12,000 AUD. One important distinction: very few surgeons in Thailand perform a true deep plane facelift. The technique most commonly performed there is the SMAS facelift, which is a sound procedure but works at a different anatomical level and produces different results. If you are specifically seeking a deep plane technique, Thailand may not be the right destination. If you are open to a SMAS facelift, Thailand is a well-regarded option with JCI-accredited facilities and scheduling through Glamjet typically takes 3 to 6 months.

Deep plane facelift cost in Vietnam

Glamjet works with the head aesthetic surgeon at Vinmec International Hospital in Hanoi, one of Vietnam's most respected private hospital groups. Packages start from $14,500 AUD and include hotel, hospitalisation, and anaesthesia fees — making it one of the most transparent all-inclusive packages available. For patients who want a credible deep plane option at a lower price point than South Korea, Vietnam is worth considering. Scheduling through Glamjet is approximately 3 months.

Does Medicare cover a deep plane facelift?

No. A cosmetic facelift does not qualify for a Medicare rebate and is not covered by private health insurance, regardless of where the surgery takes place. The one partial exception: if blepharoplasty is also performed to correct eyelid drooping that is affecting your vision, that element may attract a partial Medicare rebate. The facelift itself does not qualify.

What Does the Deep Plane Facelift Cost Include?

This is where most people get caught out. Two quotes at similar prices can represent very different levels of care and support. Before you compare numbers, find out what each one actually covers.

What Australian quotes typically include

Most quotes cover the surgeon's fee, anaesthesia, the hospital facility fee, and basic follow-up for 6 weeks. Some practices offer all-inclusive pricing; others itemise, so facility and anaesthesia appear separately on the invoice. Recovery support, lymphatic massage, LED therapy, and any revision work are almost always billed on top. It is worth asking upfront what happens if you need additional care after the standard follow-up period ends.

What Glamjet packages include

Glamjet packages include pre-surgical consultation with 3D imaging, surgery with a board-certified specialist, recovery therapies (lymphatic massage, LED light treatment, hyperbaric oxygen sessions, laser deswelling), translation service throughout your stay, airport transfers, accommodation assistance, and follow-up consultations once you are home. During recovery, a patient advocate can visit you at your hotel. You also receive a post-surgery pillow system, nutritious recovery meals, and a supplements package.

You pay the same as booking the clinic directly, with no markup. Everything else is what Glamjet handles: the planning, the logistics, the coordination, and the person available when something comes up.

Why Patients Choose South Korea for a Deep Plane Facelift

Cost is usually what starts the conversation, but it is rarely the whole reason by the time someone actually books.

The surgeons Glamjet works with perform between 200 and 500 facelifts per year. Dr Lee Youngjin has performed over 6,000 deep plane facelifts. Dr Kim Sung-Sik does 2 to 3 every week. For most Australian specialists, the deep plane facelift is one procedure among many. For these surgeons, it is the primary focus of their practice. That difference is worth understanding for a technique this specific.

Top facelift surgeons in Australia typically have 6 to 12 month waiting lists for a consultation, with surgery scheduled further beyond that. Glamjet clients wait 2 to 3 months from enquiry to procedure. If the timing matters to you, that gap is significant.

In Australia, most patients are home within 1 to 2 days of surgery and manage their own recovery from there. Glamjet clients stay in Seoul for 10 to 14 days with daily access to clinical recovery therapies, a patient advocate checking in at their hotel, and a client manager available whenever they need one. Most clients tell us this saves 50 to 100 hours of planning. Most also say they healed faster and felt better supported than they expected.

Dr Lee (Elite Plastic Surgery, Seoul): deep plane facelift, neck lift, endotine forehead lift, brow lift, SMILE lower blepharoplasty and upper cheek lift. 14 days post-op.

How to Finance Your Deep Plane Facelift

The cost is significant. Most patients who go ahead do not pay it all upfront.

Glamjet works with TLC (Total Life Credit), Plenti, and Latitude Financial, with payment plans starting from approximately $30 per week. Australian residents may also be eligible for early superannuation access through the Access My Super partnership. A number of Glamjet clients have funded their procedure this way without drawing on savings.

New Zealand, US, and UK clients have tailored options available. Full details are on the payment solutions page.

The Glamjet Patient Advocacy Service

Surgery abroad is not just a logistical exercise. Things come up: a drain that needs checking, a flight that needs rescheduling, a night where you just want someone nearby. Glamjet's patient advocacy service exists for exactly that. There are four tiers, and you choose what level of support makes sense for your situation.

Most clients do not fully appreciate what this service means until they need it. When a wound looks different than expected, when a flight needs to change, when post-operative swelling feels alarming at 11pm — having someone who knows your case, speaks the language, and can call the clinic on your behalf is a different experience to navigating it alone.

Beyond the basics, Glamjet has helped clients obtain medical certificates for insurance claims, arranged specialist second opinions on healing, negotiated additional post-operative appointments at no extra charge, sourced elevating pillows for hotel recovery, organised private city tours for clients well enough to venture out, and arranged nutritious meals delivered to hotel rooms. One client had delayed healing and, through Glamjet's advocacy with the hospital, received an extra week of recovery accommodation at no additional cost — no guarantees, every case is different, but having someone making those calls matters.

Many of our clients stay in touch long after they return home. Several have referred close friends. That is the clearest indication of whether this kind of support makes a difference.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a deep plane facelift cost in Australia?

In Australia, expect $30,000 to $70,000 AUD depending on the surgeon, city, and what is included. All-inclusive quotes from experienced Sydney specialists start from $35,000. Aftercare beyond the first 6 weeks is usually billed separately. Always ask for an itemised breakdown before comparing quotes.

How much does a deep plane facelift cost in South Korea?

Through Glamjet, $19,000 to $45,000 AUD with neck lift for top-tier surgeons, with aftercare, translation service, and recovery therapies included. Surgery is paid directly to the clinic. Glamjet's patient advocacy fee is charged separately and covers coordination, planning, and support — see the Patient Advocacy Service section for tier details.

Deep plane facelift cost in Vietnam

Glamjet works with the head aesthetic surgeon at Vinmec International Hospital in Hanoi, one of Vietnam's most respected private hospital groups. Packages start from $14,500 AUD and include hotel, hospitalisation, and anaesthesia fees — making it one of the most transparent all-inclusive packages available. For patients who want a credible deep plane option at a lower price point than South Korea, Vietnam is worth considering. Scheduling through Glamjet is approximately 3 months.

Does Medicare cover a deep plane facelift?

No. A cosmetic facelift does not qualify for a Medicare rebate and is not covered by private health insurance. If blepharoplasty is also performed for a clinically necessary reason, that element may attract a partial rebate. The facelift itself does not qualify.

Why is a deep plane facelift cheaper in South Korea?

Lower facility costs, anaesthesia fees, and staffing costs compared with Australian private hospitals. It has nothing to do with surgical quality. Glamjet's partner surgeons are board-certified specialists performing 200 to 500 facelifts per year, at volumes most Australian practitioners do not reach in a career.

Is the lower cost in South Korea a risk?

The risk is not the price, it is poor clinic selection. At KAHF-accredited hospitals in Seoul, safety standards meet or exceed what you would expect in Australia. The risk comes from choosing a clinic on price alone without checking accreditation, whether a full-time anaesthesiologist is on staff, and what support exists if something goes wrong. Glamjet vets specifically against those criteria before recommending any clinic.

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