How To Find A Good 5-Figure Facelift

(Cause who the fck can afford these $125K ones?)*

Let’s be honest: when did facelifts get more expensive than college? Somewhere between Kris Jenner outing her surgeon and Park Avenue gatekeepers flexing their real estate, we went from a $25K “investment” to a $125K “mortgage.” Sorry, but unless your trust fund has a trust fund, who is casually dropping six figures just to hoist their jowls?

Here’s the thing: there are excellent surgeons who deliver natural, gorgeous results without the Hamptons price tag. The trick is separating hype-driven “celebrity doctors” from the quietly brilliant surgeons doing the work at mortal-friendly prices.

Why Did Prices Skyrocket?

A perfect storm: supply and demand, celebrity marketing, and surgeons realizing people will pay anything not to look like Real Housewives Season 3. Add in fewer people patching with filler-only band-aids, and surgery came roaring back. Surgeons know it. Prices ballooned.

The Sticker Shock Reality

In my facelift research this past year, I can tell you: fees are high. Like, “choke on your green juice” high. The fancy Park Ave surgeons? They’re starting at $125K - and that’s just the facelift. That doesn’t include the brow lift, the bleph, or the add-ons that magically appear on the menu. Those “little extras” can double your bill.

But here’s the good news: yes, you can absolutely get a facelift (with extras) under $100K. And no, you don’t have to hop a flight to Turkey, Guadalajara, or Korea. Though plenty of women do.

Michelle Wood’s viral video of her facelift in Guadalajara made her surgeon, Dr. Maribel Belmontes Castillo, so in-demand she now has a 10-month waitlist. My friend Emily Wagner of GroomedLA is even doing an IG Live with her next week. Make sure to tune in to her instagram live.

Turkey is another hot spot. I reached out to Dr. Soner Karaali after seeing some of his jaw-dropping transformations on Instagram, specifically this one. I sent in photos and the doctor recommended a deep plane facelift, necklift, eyebrow lift, upper bleph, lip lift and fat transfer. The total price was quoted at 12,000 euros. I asked if I could do an in person meeting either over zoom or even in person in Turkey before committing to surgery. I was told that this was very unusual. They would get back to me with time slots. I never heard back. I was told surgery with him is booking until March 2026. Language barriers, lack of follow-ups, and my general fears ruled it out for me personally.

The Transparency Gap

Here’s the thing: there are incredible surgeons all over the U.S. — they just might not have the PR machine behind them. Finding them, though? That’s the challenge.

Not everyone can book a meeting with Melinda the Beauty Broker — and honestly, what she does is amazing. She’s built a one-of-a-kind service connecting women to some of the most sought-after surgeons, and her clients rave about her. She’s the gold standard if you want highly curated introductions.

But the reality is, it’s pricey, the wait is long, and it underscores how non-transparent this whole industry is. Not everyone wants to pay $1,250 for a 45 minute consult to then be told what doctor to pay for a consult. Also - if you want to jump the line and now join a very long waitlist, the price is $2,500 for the consult. And again, this is all using zoom.

Even with a beauty broker, most of us are still left wondering: why isn’t there a clearer map of surgeons, specialties, and price ranges? That’s the gap I’m trying to explore - for women who want more accessible intel. It’s minefield out there.

The great thing is that more and more women are admitting to their surgeries. A great first step. But it’s still few and far between.

Why Listen to Me? Or Maybe Don’t Listen?

Quick disclaimer: I’m not a beauty editor. Never wrote for a glossy, never kissed PR ass, never cared about comps. I’m not a doctor. I never worked in a doctor’s office. I am not a nurse. I have no medical background whatsoever.

I started Charlotte’s Book a decade ago because I was sick of the same regurgitated, highbrow “tips” that told me - again - to check credentials or look at before-and-afters. No sh*t. And I was tired of reading about the same 15 surgeons and dermatologists editors name-drop over and over. Surely there are more?

I was also annoyed listening and reading articles from women who were so much younger than me. I wanted the real intel: what people are actually paying, who’s worth it, what sucked, what worked. And because I don’t rely on advertisers or magazine gigs (I could care less if Allure or Town & Country ever pay me), I can tell you when a consult sucked without worrying if it burns a bridge. This has always been a no-nonsense platform. I’m obsessive about tweakments, aesthetics, and transformation — which can be really powerful.

My 8 Tips for Landing a Great 5-Figure Facelift

1. Call the top doctor’s office — but ask who trains under them.
Can’t afford Dr. David Rosenberg? Maybe you can afford his protégé. Can’t swing Dr. Ben Talei? Maybe one of his associates is your ticket. Surgeons who train under the greats often deliver excellent work at a fraction of the price. But you need to ask. This won’t be offered up.

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