2026 Guide to Facial Cosmetic Surgery: Types, Costs, Alternatives

What Is Facial Cosmetic Surgery?

Most people who start researching facial cosmetic surgery aren't looking for a dramatic transformation. They want to look like themselves again, or finally address something that's bothered them for years. These procedures are elective by nature, but that doesn't make the decision a small one. It's usually the result of a lot of thought, and it deserves a surgeon who takes it seriously.

Facial cosmetic surgery covers the face and neck, and it's distinct from reconstructive surgery, which restores function lost to injury or disease. The procedures we offer at NJ Oral & Facial Surgery span both surgical and non-surgical options:

• Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)
• Brow and forehead lifts
• Chin and jaw augmentation
• Facelift surgery
• Soft tissue fillers and facial injectables
• Lip lift
• Neck liposuction

Why the Surgeon's Training Matters

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons train in both the hard structures of the face, the bone, the jaw, the underlying scaffold, and the soft tissue above it. That dual foundation is what produces results that look balanced and natural. Dr. Nick Levintov holds both an MD and a DDS with board certification in oral and maxillofacial surgery, a genuinely uncommon combination. He completed his residency at Cleveland Medical Center and teaches oral surgery residents at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

That experience shapes every consultation here: the conversation isn't just about which procedure you want, but how your bone structure, tissue, and proportions interact, and what a realistic result looks like for your face specifically.

Quick Takeaways

• Ask about credentials specifically. Board certification in oral and maxillofacial surgery requires both medical and dental training. That's meaningfully different from general plastic surgery training.
• Expect the consultation to cover more than the procedure. A good surgeon evaluates your facial balance as a whole, not just the feature you came in about.
• Clarify insurance early. Most cosmetic procedures aren't covered, but if a functional issue is also being addressed, part of the cost may qualify. Ask before assuming everything is out of pocket.
• The consultation is where the real picture forms. It's about what's realistic for your specific anatomy, not just the procedure in general.

Common Types of Facial Cosmetic Procedures

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Most patients who come in have already done their research. What they want is a surgeon who can help them make sense of their options and who knows the face well enough to say when a different approach might serve them better. Here is what we offer and what each procedure is designed to accomplish.

• Facelift: Addresses sagging skin and soft tissue in the mid to lower face and neck. The goal is to restore a version of yourself that reflects how you actually feel, not to look like a different person.
• Blepharoplasty: Corrects drooping or puffy eyelids by removing excess skin and fat. Most patients say they look more rested and alert without appearing altered.
• Brow lift and forehead lift: Lifts a heavy or drooping brow line and smooths forehead tissue. Often combined with blepharoplasty when the upper face is the primary concern.
• Chin and jaw contouring: Refines facial balance and profile through implants, reduction, or repositioning. Working at the level of bone is central to Dr. Levintov's training, and these procedures are often combined with others for a more cohesive result.
• Lip lift: Shortens the distance between the nose and upper lip for a more defined border and naturally fuller appearance. The results are permanent, unlike injectable fillers.
• Neck liposuction: Removes excess fat beneath the chin and along the jawline. Works well as a standalone procedure or paired with a facelift when both the neck and lower face are concerns.
• Facial fillers and Botox: Not every concern calls for surgery. We offer facial fillers and neuromodulators for patients whose goals are better suited to a non-surgical approach. Dr. Alyssa Levintov, DDS, focuses exclusively on facial aesthetic treatments including dermal fillers, Botox, and microneedling.

How Facial Surgery Differs from Non-Surgical Treatments

A question we hear often: "Do I actually need surgery, or can I get the same result without it?" The answer depends entirely on what you're trying to accomplish.

Non-surgical options like dermal fillers, Botox, and skin resurfacing are genuinely effective for the right goals. We offer all of these and recommend them when they fit: softening lines, restoring volume, improving texture, or giving patients a lower-commitment starting point before deciding on anything permanent.

Surgery becomes the right conversation when the goal is structural. Injectables and resurfacing can't reposition bone or cartilage, remove excess tissue in a lasting way, or correct functional issues like jaw misalignment that also affect appearance. And unlike non-surgical treatments, which require ongoing maintenance to hold their effect, surgical results reflect a change to the underlying structure. For patients who have been budgeting for filler appointments year after year, that longer-term math is worth thinking through.

The goal is never to steer someone toward surgery when it isn't the right fit. When it is, we'll tell you clearly why, and what that actually means for your specific anatomy.

Choosing the Right Surgeon: Credentials and Training

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When a procedure involves your face, credentials matter. They're the clearest signal that a surgeon has done the work to earn the right to operate in that space and understands the face as a system, not just a surface.

Two board certifications come up most often in facial surgery, and they reflect meaningfully different paths:

• Oral and maxillofacial surgery: Requires both medical school and dental school, followed by a hospital-based residency focused on the face, jaws, and surrounding structures. Procedures like facial implants and jaw contouring sit at the core of this training. Residencies are completed at high-volume trauma centers, where complex facial anatomy is the daily reality.
• Plastic surgery: Covers a broader range of body procedures with training that includes facial work, but without the same concentrated focus on facial skeletal anatomy and the relationship between bone and overlying tissue.

Questions Worth Asking Before You Commit

• Are you board certified in oral and maxillofacial surgery, and where did you complete your residency?
• Do you hold hospital privileges? An independent institution has to review and credential you for that. It's not automatic.
• How many times have you performed this specific procedure, and how does your training apply to my case?
• Will you be performing the procedure, or will a resident or fellow be involved?

Dr. Nick Levintov, MD, DDS completed his residency at Cleveland Medical Center, where facial trauma cases are the norm, not the exception. He now teaches oral surgery residents at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, keeping his clinical knowledge both deep and current.

What Facial Cosmetic Surgery Costs in New Jersey

Cost is one of the first questions patients bring to a consultation, and it deserves a straight answer. Facial cosmetic surgery is a real financial commitment, and we would rather you walk in with a clear picture than get caught off guard later.

Most procedures involve four cost components: the surgeon's fee, anesthesia, facility fees, and post-operative care. The total varies depending on the procedure and how complex your surgical plan is. We provide a complete, itemized estimate before anything is scheduled.

Insurance and what it typically covers

Most cosmetic procedures are elective and not covered by insurance. That said, if your procedure also addresses a functional issue, such as eyelid tissue impairing vision, part of the cost may qualify for partial coverage. Clarify your situation during the consultation, not after you have committed to a plan, and ask for a full cost breakdown in writing so you are comparing total cost of care, not just the surgeon's fee.

We take the time to walk through the numbers with you directly. Our resources page has additional guidance on what to ask and how to prepare.

The Consultation and Planning Process

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When you sit down with Dr. Levintov, you're not getting a quick once-over and a brochure. The consultation looks at your face as a structural system: your proportions, your bone, your tissue, and what a realistic result looks like for you specifically.

What Happens at That First Appointment

• A review of your medical and dental history to identify anything that could affect your care
• 3D imaging and facial analysis using cone beam CT technology, so recommendations are grounded in your actual anatomy
• An honest conversation about your goals and what realistic outcomes look like
• A walk-through of your pre-operative timeline, including what to do, stop, or arrange before your procedure date

Facial balance is a system, not a checklist. Changing one feature in isolation rarely produces the result someone had in mind, and if your plan involves staged procedures, the timeline is part of the surgical plan from the start. Most patients leave feeling more settled than they expected. Dr. Levintov makes sure you understand what a procedure like a facelift or chin contouring actually involves for your anatomy before anything moves forward.

Recovery: What the Healing Timeline Actually Looks Like

Recovery catches a lot of patients off guard, not because the procedure was harder than expected, but because no one walked them through what the days after actually look like. We cover that before you leave the office. Most patients experience some version of the following in the first few days:

• Swelling that peaks around day two or three, then gradually subsides
• Bruising that may deepen before it fades. This is normal.
• Activity restrictions to protect healing tissue
• Dietary adjustments in the early days when chewing can interfere with healing

Social Downtime vs. Full Healing

These are two different timelines, and mixing them up leads to unnecessary worry or a return to work too soon.

• Social downtime is when visible signs of surgery are most present: swelling, bruising, bandaging. This typically lasts a few days to a couple of weeks depending on the procedure.
• Full healing takes considerably longer. What you see at two weeks is not your final result. Judging your outcome that early is one of the most common sources of unnecessary worry we see.

Before anything is scheduled, we walk you through what recovery looks like for your specific procedure. For questions about sedation and procedure day, or for post-operative guidance, our patient resources page has detailed instructions you can review ahead of time.

Risks and How to Evaluate Them Honestly

Every surgical procedure carries risk. That's not a reason to avoid the care you need. It's a reason to ask direct questions and expect straight answers. A surgeon who gets uncomfortable with that conversation is telling you something important.

The risks most commonly associated with facial cosmetic surgery include:

• Anesthesia reactions, which is why our sedation options are reviewed against your full health history before anything is scheduled.
• Infection, most often when post-operative care instructions aren't followed closely.
• Scarring, which depends on the procedure, incision placement, and how your skin heals.
• Asymmetry, which can occur even with skilled technique and is worth discussing before surgery.
• The possibility of revision, and what that process would look like if needed.

What Actually Reduces Risk

Risk can't be eliminated, but it can be meaningfully reduced by the choices you make before you get to the operating room.

• Surgeon training: A residency at a high-volume trauma center builds the kind of experience that matters when precision is non-negotiable. Dr. Levintov also teaches oral surgery residents at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, which keeps clinical thinking current.
• Facility accreditation: Ask where your procedure will be performed and whether that facility has passed an independent accreditation review. We're glad to answer that directly.
• Pre-operative screening: Share your full health history, including medications and supplements. A thorough workup catches factors that could affect anesthesia response or healing before they become problems.
• Advanced planning tools: We use 3D imaging and guided surgical planning so the procedure reflects a precise, pre-visualized plan. We also use biologics like PRF and PRP where appropriate to support healing.

We cover all of this before anything moves forward. Our patient resources include guidance on what those pre-surgical conversations cover and what questions are worth asking any surgeon you're considering.

How NJ Oral & Facial Surgery Approaches Facial Cosmetic Care

We're a boutique, privately-owned specialist practice. When you come in, you're talking directly with Dr. Levintov. The plan is built around your specific anatomy and goals, and we use 3D imaging to make sure nothing is left to guesswork. Whether you're exploring something surgical like a facelift or a non-surgical option like facial fillers, the goal is the same: an honest picture of what's realistic for your face.

We see patients at two locations in central New Jersey:

• Monroe Township: 18 Centre Drive, Suite 202, Monroe Township, NJ 08831. (609) 395-8300
• Howell Township: 100 Candlewood Commons, Howell Township, NJ 07731. (732) 364-0400

When you're ready, reach out to whichever office is most convenient.