If you are considering getting breast implants or using a fat transfer procedure to enhance the size and shape of your breasts, you are not alone. Every year, over 300,000 women undergo breast augmentation surgeries in the United States to give them the breasts they have always desired.
One of the questions you have probably wondered about is, “How much does breast augmentation surgery cost?” Breast surgeries are customized for each person, so the costs can vary greatly. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that the average fee for the surgeon alone to perform a breast augmentation is around $4,875, which does not include any of the other required fees.
Breast Augmentation Surgery Costs
When you are researching how much breast implant surgery will cost, most of the prices you will see listed are national averages. You may wonder, “What is the difference between the national average cost of a breast augmentation vs. the patient’s cost?
The published national average costs are sometimes only representative of what the surgeon charges for their time in performing the operation. They may not include other necessary fees, including anesthesia, the anesthesiologist, fees for the operating space, the cost of the implants, etc. It is critical to know what the price you are seeing includes so you understand your financial obligation.
Premier plastic surgery centers like Newvue Plastic Surgery in Seattle, WA, provide detailed breakdowns of all costs associated with your specific breast augmentation during your consultation.
What Is Included In Your Breast Augmentation Surgery Cost?
Quotes for the cost of a breast augmentation can be quite different and may include:
- The fee for the surgeon
- Breast implants
- Anesthesiologist and anesthesia medication.
- The fee for the operating room.
- Pre-surgery medical tests
You will also need to know if any of the costs associated with your recovery are included in your quote. This would include things such as:
- Mandatory compression garments.
- Prescriptions for pain or antibiotics.
- Post-surgical appointments.
- Any other supplies you need during recovery or costs associated with complications.
When you are reviewing breast augmentation cost quotes, make sure you are doing accurate comparisons and that you know exactly what each quote includes. Ask if the quote only includes the surgeon’s fee or if it is an “all-inclusive” price and exactly what is included. Sometimes, there are additional fees for using a certain operating room or for the anesthesia.
Below is a chart showing the national averages for breast augmentation procedures.
| Procedure | Average / Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Breast Augmentation Surgery | Around $7,000–$8,000 |
| Breast Augmentation with Saline Breast Implants | About $6,000–$7,500 |
| Breast Augmentation with Silicone Breast Implants | About $7,000–$9,000 |
| Breast Augmentation with A Breast Lift | About $11,000–$15,000 |
What Can Affect The Total Cost Of Your Breast Augmentation?
The Type Of Implant
- Saline.
- Silicone.
- Specialty Implants (cohesive gel).
Surgical Costs
- The experience of the surgeon.
- Your geographic location.
- The type of operating facility (Hospital vs. private)
- Anesthesiologist and anesthesia.
- Surgery duration.
Procedure Complexity
- Where the implant is placed (above or below the chest muscle)
- Patient anatomy.
- Complexity of correction needed (Asymmetry, revision, etc.)
- Whether combining with a breast lift.
Saline vs. Silicone Implant Costs
| Saline Breast Implants | Silicone Breast Implants | |
|---|---|---|
| Average cost | Around $6,000–$8,000. |
Around $7,000–$9,000. |
| What they are filled with | Sterile saltwater (saline). | Silicone gel. |
| Outer shell | Silicone. | Silicone. |
| Available sizes | Sizes are customized for each patient. | Wide range of sizes that range from 100cc to 1,445 cc (higher volumes normally used for breast reconstruction). |
| Shapes and profiles | Available in different profiles and sizes. | Available in different profiles, sizes, and gel consistencies. |
| If the implant ruptures | The implant usually deflates immediately, making the rupture noticeable. The saline that is released is harmless. | A rupture may not be noticeable right away or without imaging. Silicone gel can be harmful, and the implant will need to be removed if ruptured. |
| Monitoring | Routine imaging is not needed. | Ultrasound or MRI routine imaging checks should be done 5 to 6 years after the implants are placed and then every 2–3 years to ensure the implants are still intact. |
| FDA-approved for this age | 18 and older. | 22 and older. |
The cost of the implants can affect your total breast augmentation cost, but it only makes up a portion of it along with the surgeon’s fees, anesthesia, the cost for the operating room space, and both costs related to pre and post-operative care.
When choosing your implants, your decision should not be based solely on their cost. Your Newvue specialist will help you decide between saline vs. silicone and which implant type, size, profile, and shape will best fit your anatomy and give you the results you are looking for.
Are There Ongoing Costs I Should Be Prepared For After My Breast Augmentation?
Yes. Breast implants are regulated by the FDA, and they are not classified as lifetime devices. This means that the FDA has defined guidelines that outline how long different types of implants can remain in your body before they are removed or replaced, which requires additional surgery and more out of pocket costs for you.
Silicone Implants Require Ongoing Monitoring
If you have silicone implants, they must be monitored by MRI or ultrasound imaging periodically to check for ruptures. These imaging scans are not normally covered by medical insurance companies because they are related to elective cosmetic surgery. If your implants were placed for medical reasons, you may be an exception.
Additional Surgery
Silicone implants can last between 15 and 20 years, and saline implants between 10 and 15 years, before they need to be replaced. If you experience a rupture and wish to replace your damaged implant, you will need revision surgery.
If you have implants, you should be planning for the additional costs related to revision sometime in the future.
Will Adding A Breast Lift Change The Cost Of A Breast Augmentation?
Yes. A breast lift is an additional surgery that is done to restore the breasts to a higher, more youthful-looking position on the chest with a base cost of around $6,816 according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). This price does not include other required expenses, including fees for anesthesia, the operating room, etc.
An augmentation adds volume and enhances the shape of the breasts using implants. If a patient has an abundance of loose skin and breasts that are hanging down lower than the natural breast line, adding volume alone is normally not enough to provide the correction desired.
Adding a breast lift to your implant procedure changes the duration of the surgery, the complexity, and your anesthesia requirements. This will increase the total cost of your breast augmentation, but it may end up saving you money and recovery time in the long run because you are not doing two separate surgeries.
Will My Health Insurance Cover The Costs Of A Breast Augmentation?
fNo. Breast implant surgery is not covered by medical insurance because it falls under the category of elective cosmetic surgery and is not done for medical reasons. A cosmetic augmentation is not the same as a surgery that is done to reconstruct natural-looking breasts after a mastectomy, which is usually a covered procedure.
Most Plastic Surgeons Offer Financing Programs
Most plastic surgery centers offer patients who qualify the option to finance their surgery, which can help them break down their breast augmentation costs into lower, more affordable monthly payments rather than having to pay a lump sum all at once.
Newvue Plastic Surgery currently offers Cherry and CareCredit to their patients who qualify. The rates, promotional terms, and availability vary, so check with the financing company for more details.
What Is The Best Way To Get An Accurate Breast Augmentation Cost Quote?
Meet with prospective surgeons, ask questions, and take very accurate notes to make an apples to apples comparison. The most important thing is to find out what you will get for your money and what you may need to pay out of pocket beyond the things included.
Here is a checklist of costs to ask about during your consultation so you know what is included in your estimate:
- Implants
- Anesthesia
- Fees for operating space
- Tests needed before surgery
- Compression garments
- Prescriptions for pain killers or antibiotics
- Follow-up appointments
- Post-surgery tests
- Future imaging tests
- Revision costs
- Ask about financing options and terms
Where Can I Find Out How Much Breast Augmentation Surgery Will Cost Me?
You can find out the exact cost of your personalized breast augmentation during a consultation with board-certified Dr. George Min at Newvue Plastic Surgery in Bellevue, WA, and the surrounding areas of Seattle.
Dr. Min has over two decades of experience, and his expertise lies in aesthetic and reconstructive procedures, including breast augmentation.
Set up your consultation today to find out more about how you can get the breasts you have always wanted.
FAQs
Are there extra costs involved in a breast augmentation that I need to know about?
There may be. Pricing can work differently between practices, and there can be things like consultation fees, prescription medications, special garments that you need to wear after surgery, or the cost of medical clearances from other doctors that will not be included in the quote you receive. You want to ask questions and find out exactly what is included in a quote you receive.
Are the implants included in the price that is quoted?
Sometimes. Some practices include the implants in their base price, and some do not. Silicone implants are usually a little bit pricier than saline implants, but your total cost will depend on the type, size, profile, how the implants are placed, and more. Make sure to clarify with the doctor if the cost of the implants is included in the breast augmentation cost quote you received.
Does the size of the implant change the cost?
Not necessarily. The material the implant is filled with does affect the pricing more than the volume (saline vs. silicone), but the manufacturer and the implant model can affect the cost.
Can I pay for my breast augmentation over time?
Yes. If you qualify for Cherry or CareCredit’s financing programs that Newvue works with, you can pay over time using a monthly payment plan.
Why do silicone implants cost more than the ones filled with saline?
Silicone implants cost more to make because they are pre-filled with a special gel and carefully shaped at the factory. Saline implants are shipped to the doctor’s office empty and are filled during the implant surgery with sterile saline.
