Breast augmentation can help you achieve larger, fuller breasts for a more attractive figure. It is also a common surgery for women who’ve had breast cancer and subsequent mastectomies, as breast implants can replace the removed breast tissue.
Regardless of the reason you are interested in breast augmentation, you doubtless want to know about breast augmentation surgery cost. In this article, we’ll dissect the various factors that will influence the cost of breast augmentation and present some financing options for those who are unable to pay their bill in-full and out-of-pocket.
Breast Augmentation Cost
It can be difficult to provide a ballpark estimate for your breast augmentation cost because there are so many factors to consider. However, the average breast augmentation cost is between $6,000 and $12,000. This is a baseline price range.
Let’s go over the major factors that will affect how much your breast augmentation costs.
Factors Influencing Breast Augmentation Cost
Surgeon Choice (Surgeon’s Fee)
Top plastic surgeons who specializes in breast implant surgery will charge a higher surgeon’s fee for their services. This is often simply because their skill and expertise is in higher demand.
As with any cosmetic surgery, it’s important to choose an experienced, board-certified surgeon. This ensures they’ve had the proper training and education to protect your safety throughout the procedure and optimize your results. In some cases, it may mean a higher surgeon’s fee.
Geographic Location
Believe it or not, where you choose to get breast enhancement surgery will also influence how much you pay for breast augmentation. Typically, plastic surgeons in more rural areas will charge lower breast augmentation prices. This is because the cost of living in these areas is lower than in large cities.
Surgical Facility Fees and Anesthesia Fees
Where you undergo your breast augmentation procedure and what type of anesthesia is used will also influence the cost of your procedure. Surgical facilities need to cover the use of their physical location, equipment, and materials (gauze, sutures, etc.). They also need to pay their staff (nurses, nurses aides, administrative staff, etc.).
Naturally, these costs trickle down to you. If a given surgical facility charges more for the use of their location, this will increase your overall cost of surgery.
Likewise, it matters who administers the anesthesia for your breast augmentation procedure. A nurse anesthetist, for example, will not charge as much as an anesthesiologist who is a medical doctor. Some plastic surgeons will work with nurse anesthetists, and some board certified plastic surgeon will not.
Type of Breast Implants
Breast implants come in a range of sizes, breast implant shapes, materials (saline implants vs. silicone implants), etc. Breast implants cost different amounts based on these factors. You can work one-on-one with your plastic surgeon to determine the absolute best types breast implants for your body shape and desired results.
In some cases, you may end up choosing a set of implants that is far more expensive than what you want to pay (silicone implants tend to be more expensive than saline implants, for example). This is why it’s important to consider cost just as you consider the other various aspects of your desired implants.
Extent of Surgery
How much breast augmentation cost is influenced by this will usually depend on whether you’ve had surgery on your breasts before or not. For example, someone who already has implants and has either had complications or needs them replaced may end up with a higher bill because their surgery will be more complex than a simple first-time implant surgery.
Financing Options for Breast Augmentation Costs
We understand that not all patients can pay for breast augmentation out-of-pocket. Breast implant cost thousands, so it makes sense that a payment plan might be more feasible in many cases.
Here are a few payment options that our New Jersey plastic surgery practice accepts — as well as a note on how breast augmentation may be paid for by health insurance in certain cases.
Payment by Credit Card
Our practice accepts major credit cards as a form of payment for all breast augmentation surgeries.
CareCredit
We also accept payments with CareCredit. CareCredit credit cards are specifically designed to help patients pay for things like plastic surgery or other elective medical procedures. Cardholders can get the treatment they need or want and make flexible monthly payments to pay off their balance.
Health Insurance
Breast augmentation is one of the unique cosmetic surgery procedures that may be covered by health insurance in some cases. Most of the time, covered breast augmentation occurs when a patient has had a mastectomy after breast cancer and wants to reconstruct their breast(s) with breast implants.
In this case, insurance companies usually consider breast augmentation a medically necessary procedure (as opposed to an elective cosmetic procedure).
Questions and Answers
How long do breast implants last?
What happens to breast implants when you get old?
As you age, typically starting around age 25, your skin experiences a reduction in collagen and elastin production, leading to a gradual loss of elasticity. This natural process can result in your breast implants showing signs of drooping or sagging, the extent of which is influenced by your skin health and genetic factors.
Book Your Breast Augmentation Consultation With Dr. Smita
We understand the cost of breast augmentation can be a limiting factor when seeking plastic surgery. If you’ve been considering breast augmentation but are concerned about cost, your next step should be to book a consultation with Dr. Smita to discuss your options.
At your consultation, you’ll get a more accurate estimate for the cost of your surgery. You’ll also get a chance to discuss other aspects of the procedure, including your overall candidacy, implant options, breast augmentation recovery, preparation, and more. We look forward to hearing from you!
References
https://www.webmd.com/beauty/cosmetic-procedures-breast-augmentation