Prices for cosmetic plastic surgery in China are hard to pin down because they vary widely throughout the country. On average, China's plastic surgery costs are the lowest in East and Southeast Asia and are generally less than one-third of those in South Korea (which, in turn, are about one-third of those for comparable surgery in the United States).

While some clinics in Shanghai claim that prices can run 8-10 times higher in Korea, such past large disparities are less common as the quality of Chinese service has risen.

In any case, medical tourists from the United States can expect fees to range from 10-20% of those found locally.

One Chinese academic noted that regional prices vary according to local income, and a typical eyelid operation tends to cost about one month's local income.

In the city that amount can be much higher than in the country, where quality can be more "hit and miss."

Of course, other costs such as for travel, lodging, and varying rates of exchange need to be factored into the total price of having surgery abroad. Such expenditures are not taken into account in the cost comparisons noted above.