Skip to main content

Cosmetic surgery, by BAAPS or BAPRAS plastic surgeons only.

An honest, independent guide to the surgical and non-surgical cosmetic menu - face, breast, body - with the RCS cooling-off period, revision rates and red flags on the table before you commit.

A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What private cosmetic surgery costs in London.

Indicative ranges across our BAAPS and BAPRAS-registered network. No bidding-style discounts, no time-limited offers - just a firm figure after your surgical consultation.

In short

Non-surgical from £300; a facelift with a plastic surgeon £12,000–£20,000.

Procedure Indicative range
Non-surgical consultation £150–£300
Surgical consultation (plastic surgeon) £250–£500
Botulinum toxin (upper face, three areas) £300–£600
Dermal fillers (per syringe) £350–£750
Blepharoplasty (eyelid, upper or lower) £3,500–£6,500
Rhinoplasty £7,500–£12,000
Facelift (SMAS) £12,000–£20,000
Breast augmentation £6,500–£10,000
Breast reduction / mastopexy £7,500–£12,000
Abdominoplasty £8,500–£14,000
Liposuction (per area) £3,500–£7,500

Prices vary by surgeon, facility, implant choice and by whether combined procedures are staged together. Firm figures follow the consultation - never in an initial email.

The problem

The right surgeon, the right facility, the right conversation.

UK cosmetic surgery is famously poorly regulated on the front end. Discount packages, non-specialist surgeons and same-day sign-ups are the norm - but they should not be. We fix that upstream, before you commit.

  • A non-specialist surgeon?

    We only recommend plastic surgeons on the GMC Specialist Register - a BAAPS or BAPRAS member, never a GP or dentist retraining into cosmetic.

  • Same-day pressure to sign?

    RCS standards require a two-week cooling-off period. If a clinic pressures you to consent on the day, that is a red flag - and we will say so.

  • A "too good to be true" quote?

    The GMC prohibits bidding-style discounts and time-limited offers. Cosmetic surgery is a medical decision, not a Black Friday deal.

Areas covered

Face, body, breast - and when NOT to operate.

  • Face - facelift, browlift, blepharoplasty

    Age-related descent of the mid and lower face, heavy brows, or upper- and lower-lid excess skin and fat.

  • Nose - rhinoplasty

    Functional and aesthetic reshaping - dorsal hump, tip refinement, deviated septum. Often combined with septoplasty.

  • Chin and neck

    Chin augmentation with implant or filler, submental liposuction, and neck-lift procedures for jawline definition.

  • Breast - augmentation, reduction, lift

    Augmentation with implants or fat transfer, reduction for symptomatic macromastia, and mastopexy for ptosis after weight loss or pregnancy.

  • Body - abdominoplasty, lipo, arm and thigh

    Abdominoplasty after pregnancy or weight loss, liposuction for focal deposits, brachioplasty and thigh lift for skin excess.

  • Non-surgical - toxin, filler, threads

    Botulinum toxin, hyaluronic-acid fillers, PDO thread lifts, HIFU, RF microneedling, laser resurfacing and medical peels.

  • Mommy makeover

    A combined pathway - abdominoplasty with breast surgery - staged safely, not crammed into one long operation.

  • When NOT to operate

    Body dysmorphic disorder, unrealistic expectations, active infection, uncontrolled medical illness, or a smoker planning a high-risk flap. We say no in these cases.

Menu of options

The full surgical and non-surgical menu.

What each option actually involves - and which is right for which problem. Sometimes the honest answer is "nothing".

  • Face - surgical

    Facelift (SMAS), browlift, upper and lower blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty and chin augmentation - done by a plastic surgeon, not a dentist or GP.

  • Body - surgical

    Abdominoplasty, liposuction, brachioplasty (arm lift), thigh lift, and combined mommy-makeover pathways where safely staged.

  • Breast - surgical

    Augmentation with CE-marked implants (never PIP-era stock), reduction for symptomatic macromastia, and mastopexy for post-pregnancy or post-weight-loss ptosis.

  • Non-surgical - injectables

    Botulinum toxin and hyaluronic-acid dermal fillers, administered by a prescriber - never a beautician working on a standing prescription.

  • Non-surgical - energy

    HIFU (high-intensity focused ultrasound), radiofrequency microneedling and laser resurfacing for skin tightening, texture and pigment.

  • Non-surgical - resurfacing

    Medium and deep chemical peels and fractional lasers for pigment, fine lines and acne scarring.

  • Non-surgical - threads

    PDO and PLA thread lifts for mid-face lift and jawline definition - modest, temporary, and honestly described.

  • Consultation only

    An impartial second opinion on whether a surgical or non-surgical option is right for you - or whether nothing is the right answer.

Safety and honest expectations

Revision rates, red flags and when NOT to operate.

Cosmetic surgery is real surgery. It carries real complication rates and real revision rates - and there are patients where the correct answer is not to operate at all.

  • Cooling-off period is mandatory

    RCS standards require at least two weeks between consultation and consenting to surgery. Any clinic that pressures you to sign the same day is failing that standard.

  • Honest expectations, in writing

    The surgeon explains what surgery can and cannot achieve, with photos of typical results - not just the best-case gallery.

  • Revision rates are real

    Rhinoplasty revision runs at roughly 10–15%, breast augmentation reoperation at around 20% over ten years. We share the numbers before you commit.

  • Body dysmorphic disorder screening

    Any surgeon we work with will decline to operate - and refer for psychological support - where BDD is suspected. This is a red line.

  • Medical fitness matters

    Uncontrolled diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnoea and active smoking all raise complication rates. These are optimised before surgery, not ignored.

  • VTE risk is planned for

    Body-contouring procedures carry a real venous-thromboembolism risk. Risk assessment, mechanical prophylaxis and chemical prophylaxis where indicated.

  • Implants are traceable

    For breast augmentation the specific device, size, lot number and manufacturer are recorded and given to you in writing. No PIP-era stock, ever.

  • Complications - seroma, dehiscence, capsular contracture

    Persistent seroma, wound dehiscence and capsular contracture happen. The management pathway - including who pays - is agreed before surgery.

  • GMC cosmetic guidance

    No bidding-style discounts, no financial incentives to book, no combined package pressure. This is a medical decision, not a Black Friday sale.

Reading your operation note

Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever procedure you have, the note the plastic surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant plastic surgeon reviewing a patient’s operation notes

A quiet reminder

Surgical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Procedure, surgeon and facility

    What was done, by which named plastic surgeon, in which CQC-registered facility, with which anaesthetist.

  2. 02 Technique

    Technique, implants and volumes

    Approach used, incision pattern, and - for implants - device, size, lot number and manufacturer. For lipo, the volumes removed per area.

  3. 03 Findings

    Intra-operative findings

    Any incidental findings and any deviation from the surgical plan agreed in consent - with the reason.

  4. 04 Impression

    Recovery, review schedule, revision

    Read this first: recovery milestones, when you can return to work and exercise, and the revision terms in writing.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Purely cosmetic procedures are self-pay in almost every case. Reconstructive elements - post-mastectomy, post-trauma, symptomatic breast reduction - may be insurer-funded.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about cosmetic surgery.

Honest answers on surgeon credentials, cooling-off periods, revision rates and when we say no.

  • Are all cosmetic surgeons plastic surgeons?

    No - and this is the most important thing to check. In the UK, only surgeons on the GMC Specialist Register for Plastic Surgery have completed accredited plastic-surgery training. Others are permitted to perform cosmetic surgery but have not been formally certified in it.

  • What is the RCS cooling-off period?

    The Royal College of Surgeons Cosmetic Practice Standards require at least two weeks between the consultation with your operating surgeon and formally consenting to surgery. It exists so patients are not pressured into decisions on the day. Any clinic that skips it is not following the standard.

  • What are honest revision rates?

    They vary by procedure. Rhinoplasty revision sits around 10–15%. Breast augmentation has a reoperation rate near 20% over ten years for reasons including capsular contracture, implant rupture and patient choice. Facelift revision is lower. The surgeon should give you their own audited numbers, not a marketing figure.

  • When would you recommend NOT operating?

    When body dysmorphic disorder is suspected, when expectations are unrealistic, when there is active infection or an uncontrolled medical condition, or when a patient is a current heavy smoker planning a high-risk flap procedure. Every surgeon we work with is willing to decline surgery in these situations.

  • How much does private cosmetic surgery cost in London?

    Non-surgical treatments start around £300–£750. Blepharoplasty runs £3,500–£6,500. Rhinoplasty £7,500–£12,000. Facelift £12,000–£20,000. Breast augmentation £6,500–£10,000, reduction and mastopexy £7,500–£12,000, abdominoplasty £8,500–£14,000.

  • Should I be worried about discount packages or "book today" offers?

    Yes. The GMC's cosmetic guidance and the RCS standards both prohibit financial inducements - bidding-style discounts, time-limited offers, two-for-one deals or aggressive package pricing. Legitimate cosmetic surgery is not sold this way.

  • What about PIP implants and modern breast implant safety?

    PIP implants were withdrawn in 2010 after being found to contain non-medical-grade silicone. If you have PIP implants in situ, arrange a review.

  • Can I combine procedures - a "mommy makeover"?

    Sometimes yes, but safely staged. Combined abdominoplasty and breast surgery is possible for the right patient in a good facility, but total operating time and VTE risk both need careful assessment. We would rather stage two shorter operations than push a single very long one.

  • What is the difference between botox, fillers and threads?

    Botulinum toxin relaxes muscles that create dynamic lines (frown, crow's feet, forehead). Hyaluronic-acid fillers add volume to hollows, cheeks and lips. PDO thread lifts provide a modest, temporary lift for jawline and mid-face. Results, longevity and risk profile differ - the injector should explain all three honestly.

  • When should I seek urgent medical attention after cosmetic surgery?

    Fever, spreading redness, unilateral leg swelling or chest pain (possible DVT/PE), sudden increase in breast size after augmentation (haematoma), or wound dehiscence - call the surgeon or A&E the same day. A good clinic gives you a direct number.

Related treatments

Looking for something else?

In practice, in London

Booking cosmetic surgery privately in London - what actually happens

For cosmetic surgery, the private London route is mostly about consultant fit and hospital choice rather than raw waiting time. The wait for cosmetic surgery on the NHS depends heavily on where you live and how urgently the referral is graded. Central and West London private clinics can normally book within a week, with imaging or a procedure slot to follow shortly after. It’s worth being honest about the reason for going private: usually it’s time, not a fundamentally different test.

Once you’re in the private system for cosmetic surgery, the pace picks up noticeably. Consultant slots run to time, imaging is usually available in the same building or a short walk away, and the report comes back typed and detailed. It’s the coordination that tends to feel different - one person on the other end of the phone, not a switchboard. For cosmetic surgery in particular, we bias towards consultants who do this every week rather than every month.

The value is knowing which consultant reads this particular presentation best, which unit turns reports around fastest, and which pathway won’t hit a dead end if the findings point somewhere unexpected.