How Much Does a Deep Plane Facelift Cost in Australia? Price Breakdown & Alternatives

The deep plane facelift cost in Australia typically ranges from $30,000 to $70,000 AUD for a facelift with neck lift, depending on the surgeon, city, and what is included in the quoted price. For a full facial rejuvenation combining facelift, neck lift, brow lift, and upper and lower blepharoplasty, quotes in Australia commonly exceed $100,000 and can reach $140,000 or more. This guide covers what Australian surgeons charge, what drives the variation, whether any of it is covered by Medicare, and where the alternatives sit.

What Is a Deep Plane Facelift?

A deep plane facelift is the most technically demanding facelift technique and the one that produces the most natural and longest-lasting results. Rather than tightening the skin and SMAS layer, it releases the retaining ligaments that have caused the face to descend and lifts the skin, muscle, and fat pads together as a single unit. Results typically last 12 to 15 years, compared with 5 to 7 years for traditional SMAS techniques.

How it works

The surgeon dissects below the SMAS layer, releases the retaining ligaments anchoring the descended tissues to the bone, then lifts everything as a composite unit. Because the underlying architecture is corrected rather than the surface tightened, the face moves naturally and the result holds significantly longer. For a full explanation of the technique, see our guide to what a deep plane facelift involves.

Who is a good candidate?

Generally patients in their 40s to mid-60s with visible jowling, deep nasolabial folds, descended cheek fat pads, and neck looseness. The procedure is performed together with a neck lift at Glamjet's partner clinics. For patients also concerned about the forehead, brows, and eyelids, those areas are typically addressed in the same surgical session.

Why the technique commands a higher price

Fewer than 5% of plastic surgeons worldwide perform true deep plane facelifts, according to Sydney specialist Dr Scott J Turner. The surgery takes 3 to 6 hours, requires detailed anatomical knowledge and precise ligament release, and is only done consistently well by surgeons who perform it at high volume. This is reflected in the fee structure regardless of where the surgery is performed.

Deep Plane Facelift Cost in Australia: City-by-City Breakdown

Price ranges by city

What Australian prices typically include

Most Australian deep plane facelift quotes cover the surgeon's fee, anaesthesia, the hospital or facility fee, and basic follow-up for 6 weeks. Some practices offer all-inclusive pricing; others itemise, meaning facility and anaesthesia appear separately on the invoice. Recovery therapies, LED treatment, lymphatic massage, and any revision work are almost always charged separately. Always ask specifically what is and is not included before comparing quotes.

Real prices from publicly available Australian surgeon websites:

• 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. Consultations across Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, and Newcastle.
• Dr Jack Zoumaras (Sydney): FRACS-certified, trained in New York under internationally recognised facelift surgeons. Deep plane facelift his primary technique.
• Dr Jason Roth (Sydney): deep plane as primary facelift technique. Background in head and neck surgery provides detailed anatomical familiarity.
• Dr Michael Kernohan (Sydney): FRACS specialist, $25,000 to $45,000 depending on complexity. Active public educational content on the technique.
• Dr George Marcells (Sydney): cited as the first surgeon in Australia to offer deep plane facelifts. Over 20 years of surgical experience.
• Dr Chris Moss (Melbourne): over 20 years of facial plastic surgery experience; facelifts and rhinoplasty the primary focus of his practice.
• Dr Howard Webster (Melbourne): senior plastic surgeon with the highest number of five-star reviews on RealSelf among Australian surgeons.

What drives the price variation

The range between a $35,000 and a $70,000 quote in Australia reflects real differences:

• Surgeon experience and demand: more experienced surgeons with longer waiting lists command higher fees.
• Hospital or facility costs: private hospital operating theatre fees, anaesthesia, and nursing care vary significantly by city and facility. In Sydney and Melbourne, facility fees alone typically add $3,500 to $10,500 to the total.
• Procedure scope: a standalone facelift with neck lift costs less than one combined with blepharoplasty, fat grafting, or an endotine forehead lift.
• All-inclusive vs itemised quotes: two quotes that appear similar may represent very different total costs once hospital, anaesthesia, and aftercare are added. Always ask for an itemised breakdown.

Is a deep plane facelift covered by Medicare or private health insurance?

No. A cosmetic facelift does not attract a Medicare rebate and is not covered by private health insurance, regardless of where the surgery is performed. The one partial exception: if blepharoplasty is also performed for a clinically necessary reason, such as eyelid drooping affecting vision, that specific element may attract a partial Medicare rebate. The facelift itself does not qualify under any current Medicare Benefits Schedule item number.

Why many Australians are choosing to go abroad

Three factors consistently come up when patients who have researched this carefully explain their decision to go to South Korea rather than an Australian specialist.

First, the cost. A full facial rejuvenation in Australia (facelift, neck lift, brow lift, upper and lower blepharoplasty) is typically quoted at $70,000 to $140,000 or more. In South Korea through Glamjet, the same scope of work including hotel and flights runs $35,000 to $70,000.

Second, the waiting time. The best Australian deep plane surgeons have 6 to 12 month waiting lists for consultations, with surgery scheduled beyond that. Glamjet clients in South Korea schedule within around 3 months.

Third, surgical volume. The surgeons Glamjet works with in Seoul have 8 to 15 years of dedicated deep plane experience and between 500 and 6,000 deep plane cases performed. That level of procedure-specific volume does not have a direct equivalent in Australia. This is not a criticism of Australian surgeons; it reflects the size of the market.

Why South Korea Leads for This Procedure

Surgical volume and experience

Seoul's Gangnam district has the highest concentration of surgeons performing deep plane facelifts at high volume in the world. Dr Lee Youngjin at Elite Plastic Surgery has performed over 20,000 facial lifting procedures including 6,000 deep plane facelifts. Dr Kim Sung-Sik at JK Plastic Surgery performs approximately 300 facial lifting procedures per year with 2 to 3 deep plane facelifts every week. Dr Ryu Min Hee at RNWood Plastic Surgery is double board-certified in South Korea and the United States, performing over 200 facelifts annually.

These are not comparable volumes to most Australian practitioners. For a technique where the precision of ligament release and the subtlety of tissue repositioning make the difference between a natural result and an operated one, that procedural experience matters.

The complete canvas approach

Korean surgeons at high-volume clinics approach the face and neck as a complete canvas: forehead, brow, upper and lower eyelids, cheeks, jawline, and neck addressed as a single cohesive surgical plan. They also work closely with in-house dermatologists to offer supporting treatments during the same visit: stem cell therapy, PDRN injections, fat grafting, and ultra-clear laser to improve skin quality alongside the surgical result. Some Glamjet patients have added Re20 skin boosters for the neck and fat grafting to the hands to complete the rejuvenation. This integrated approach, available through a single provider at this cost, is not standard in Australian practice.

Cost breakdown: Australia vs South Korea

What Glamjet includes and what is charged separately

You pay the same as booking the clinic directly, with no markup. Surgery costs are paid directly to the clinic. Glamjet's separate Patient Advocacy Service covers coordination, logistics, and in-person support, with four tiers:

• Standard ($500 AUD): surgery, hotel, flights, airport transfers, and insurance booked. No in-person support.
• Essential ($1,000 AUD): Standard plus 10 hours in-person translation and meal delivery for the first 3 days after surgery.
• Premium ($1,700 AUD): for patients travelling alone. Patient helper overnight in hospital (5pm to 7:30am). 15 hours translation.
• Ultimate ($2,500 AUD): 20 hours translation, patient helper hotel visits, overnight hospital support, attendance at all post-operative appointments.

Recovery inclusions available depending on the tier chosen: lymphatic massage, LED light therapy, hyperbaric oxygen sessions, laser deswelling, post-surgery pillow system, nutritious recovery meals, and supplements packages. Online consultations are available with Glamjet's partner hospitals in South Korea and Vietnam for Glamjet clients before travelling.

Common Questions About Getting a Facelift Abroad

Is it safe to have a deep plane facelift in South Korea?

Yes, when the right surgeon and facility are chosen. A meta-analysis of over 41,000 facelift patients found the risk of temporary facial nerve injury to be under 1.5%, with no cases of permanent nerve damage recorded (Swanson, 2019). This is a global figure that does not change based on geography. What changes is the quality of the surgeon and the facility. Glamjet's partner surgeons are board-certified plastic surgeons with fellowship training and high deep plane case volumes. The risk comes from choosing poorly: a clinic selected on price alone, without checking surgeon credentials, anaesthesia standards, or aftercare infrastructure.

What if something goes wrong after I return to Australia?

Your Glamjet client manager stays available after you return home. Post-operative concerns are coordinated directly with your surgical team in Seoul. Glamjet has helped returning patients obtain medical certificates for insurance claims, arrange specialist second opinions, and negotiate additional post-operative appointments. Patients who have experienced delayed healing have had Glamjet advocate with the hospital on their behalf for extended accommodation. You are not managing follow-up alone.

How does recovery work when travelling home?

Most patients stay 10 to 14 days in Seoul. Stitches are removed on days 5 and 9 after surgery. It is generally safe to fly once stitches are removed on day 10, though Glamjet recommends staying 14 days where possible. Most patients are comfortable returning to work 2 to 3 weeks after surgery and resume strenuous exercise at weeks 4 to 6.

Financing Options for Australians

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 used this pathway to fund their procedure without drawing on savings. For New Zealand, US, and UK clients, tailored options are available. Full details are on the payment solutions page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the deep plane facelift cost in Australia?

The deep plane facelift cost in Australia ranges from $40,000 to $70,000 AUD in Sydney, $38,000 to $65,000 in Melbourne, and $35,000 to $60,000 in Brisbane. A full facial rejuvenation combining facelift, neck lift, blepharoplasty, and brow lift is typically quoted at $70,000 to $140,000 or more. Always ask for an itemised breakdown before comparing quotes.

Why is a deep plane facelift cheaper in South Korea than in Australia?

Lower facility costs, anaesthesia fees, and staffing costs compared with Australian private hospitals. In Australia, all post-operative care is typically charged separately or not included. In South Korea through Glamjet, aftercare is included in the package. The cost difference does not reflect a difference in surgeon quality. Glamjet's partner surgeons have case volumes that are difficult to match anywhere.

Is Medicare rebate available for a deep plane facelift in Australia?

No. A cosmetic deep plane facelift does not attract a Medicare rebate, whether performed in Australia or overseas. If blepharoplasty is also performed for a clinically necessary reason, such as eyelid drooping affecting vision, that element alone may qualify for a partial rebate. The facelift does not qualify.

Can I use superannuation to pay for a facelift?

Australian residents may be eligible for early superannuation access for medical procedures through Glamjet's partnership with Access My Super. Eligibility depends on individual circumstances. This has helped a number of Glamjet clients fund their procedure without drawing on savings. Contact Glamjet to find out more.

What is the full cost of going to South Korea for a deep plane facelift?

Through Glamjet, $18,000 to $45,000 AUD for a deep plane facelift with neck lift from top-tier surgeons, with aftercare included. A full facial rejuvenation package including hotel and flights is $35,000 to $70,000 AUD. Glamjet's Patient Advocacy Service fee is charged separately depending on which tier of support you choose. Surgery costs go directly to the clinic.

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