Cost

As a woman considering breast augmentation, one thing you might be wondering about is how much the surgery will cost. Since it is a cosmetic procedure, breast augmentation is typically not covered by insurance providers, meaning the cost of the surgery is usually the responsibility of the patient. Read on to learn more about the cost of breast augmentation.

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The Cost of Your Augmentation Surgery

Breast augmentation costs can vary considerably based on the location of the surgical practice, the skill of the surgeon, and the type of implants used. During your consultations with prospective plastic surgeons, it’s a good idea to discuss all of the factors that influence the price of the surgery.

It’s also important to discuss payment options and other ways to make breast augmentation work within your budget. Keep in mind that there are several services you are ultimately paying for when you pay for breast augmentation.

When to Consider Changing Your Breast Implants

How Implants Can Impact Cost

Implants come in a range of shapes and sizes and can be filled with saline or silicone and they can have a smooth or textured shell. Each factor will affect the cost of the procedure. For example, saline implants usually have a lower price tag than silicone. Larger implants are often more expensive than smaller ones.

Although cost is a consideration, it shouldn’t be the only thing on your mind when you are deciding on the type of implants to get. For example, even though saline implants are the more budget-friendly option, silicone implants are more popular and are now used in the majority of breast augmentation surgeries.

There are a few reasons for this increased popularity. Silicone implants often feel and look more natural than saline. Additionally, saline implants can cause the skin to ripple while silicone implants typically do not. Although cost is something to consider, it shouldn’t be the deciding factor when considering breast augmentation.

Anesthesia Fees

Breast augmentation is typically performed with the patient under general anesthesia. The anesthesia needs to be given by a board-certified anesthesiologist. Anesthesia fees associated with the surgery usually include the cost of the anesthetic and the cost of the anesthesiologist’s services.

Surgeon and Facility Fees

Location matters when you’re having surgery. Most breast augmentation surgeries are not performed in a hospital, but instead in an outpatient surgical facility. For your safety, the facility should be accredited and licensed. If the surgical facility fee seems low, do some more research, as this is one cost on which you definitely do not want to cut corners.

Another important consideration is the surgeon’s fee. A less experienced plastic surgeon or a surgeon who doesn’t specialize in breast surgery might charge less than a plastic surgeon with decades of experience in breast augmentation. When considering any type of surgical procedure, it’s very important to remember that you very literally get what you pay for. Choosing a surgeon who charges less but offers you a lower degree of expertise and experience significantly increases the risk of complications or poor results. It’s better to pay more up front for the skill and talent of an experienced surgeon, as opposed to saving your money and eventually needing additional surgeries to fix any issues in the future.

Medications

After breast augmentation, your plastic surgeon will most likely write you a prescription for pain medications that will help you manage any discomfort.

The cost of these medications will constitute another expense to consider when determining the price of your surgery.

Taking Time Away from Work

Depending on your work situation, you might need to include the cost of the time you take off from work in your overall budget for breast augmentation. If you do not have paid time off from your job or if you don’t have enough paid time off to cover the time you would need to recover after surgery, include the salary or wages you’ll miss out on after surgery as part of the price tag.

Other Costs Associated With Breast Augmentation

Along with time off from work, there are some additional costs you might need to budget for before having breast augmentation. Those costs can include:

Additional Child or Pet Care

If you have pets or kids, you might want to hire someone to keep an eye on them while you recover from the surgery. If you don’t already pay a regular babysitter or pet sitter, the cost of hiring someone can be an additional expense.

New Clothes

While you can skip the bra during the first weeks of recovery after breast augmentation, you’ll most likely need to buy new bras at some point to fit your new breasts. You might also have to buy new tops and dresses, which can add up.

Food

You might not feel like prepping your own meals during your recovery and may need to rely on takeout or ready-made food. Depending on your usual habits and budget, you might find yourself spending more on food than usual.

At-Home Care

Depending on your living situation, you might want to hire someone to help you out around the house during the first few days or weeks after surgery. Your activities will be limited, and most patients benefit from an extra set of hands.

A Breakdown of Breast Surgery Costs by Implant Type

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost of breast augmentation was $3,947 in 2019. That figure doesn’t include surgical facility fees or anesthesia fees, so it only tells part of the story.

The type of implants you receive or the type of breast surgery you choose to have can affect the cost of the procedure. Although cost shouldn’t be the determining factor when you’re deciding which type of surgery or what type of implants are right for you, it is something to keep in mind and prepare for.

Breast Augmentation with Saline Implants

Saline implants have been around since 1965. They experienced a steep rise in popularity when silicone implants were taken off the market since they were the only option at the time, although silicone has since regained the top spot.

Even so, some women still prefer the look and feel of saline implants. The implants are inserted into the chest and are then filled with saline solution. Saline implants give the breast a rounder, firmer look, creating a lovely bust that sits perfectly on the body.

The cost of breast augmentation with saline implants ranges from $6,900 to $7,500.

Breast Augmentation with Silicone Implants

While silicone implants were off of the market for a short time in the 1990s, they have been proven to be safe and are even noted as coming with a lower incidence of leakage than their saline counterparts.

Silicone implants look very natural on the chest, moving well with position changes. They tend to look softer and feel more organic than saline implants, giving the new breasts an increasingly natural look and feel.

The cost of breast augmentation with silicone implants ranges from $6,900 to $7,500.

Breast Augmentation with a Breast Lift

A breast lift is often combined with a breast augmentation procedure when a patient’s breasts have started to sag or droop. A breast lift will reposition the breasts on the chest wall for a more youthful, “perky” appearance. The procedure can be performed on its own or in combination with an augmentation with breast implants.

The cost of breast augmentation and breast lift ranges from $11,000 to $13,500.

Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

Implants aren’t your only option if you want to enhance your breasts. Some people prefer to use fat transfer for breast augmentation. This procedure can involve fewer risks, with a more natural outcome thanks to the use of your own tissues. This procedure takes fat cells from one area of the body and injects them into the breasts to increase their volume. For the right patient, this option can be a win-win: An area with too much fat gets slimmed down while the breasts are enhanced.

The fat transfer procedure is somewhat different from the implant procedure. First, the surgeon harvests the fat. After cleaning and separating it using a special machine, they inject it into the breasts.

The cost of fat transfer is also different from the cost of breast augmentation with implants. The more fat that needs to be harvested, the higher the price tag. You’ll get a detailed cost estimate during your consultation.

The cost of fat transfer breast augmentation ranges from $12,500.00 to $15,000.

How to Pay for Breast Augmentation

You’ve crunched the numbers and have come up with a best-guess estimate for the cost of your breast augmentation. The question remains: How will you pay for the surgery and all the associated costs?

You have multiple options. Option one is to pay for everything upfront, in cash. That option might not work for your budget. Option two is to wait and save up until you have the money needed to pay in full. Doing that could delay your surgery, perhaps indefinitely.

A third option that is likely to work with most people’s budgets is to finance the surgery. Dr. Vitenas offers patients two financing options designed specifically for healthcare. Alphaeon and CareCredit work similarly to traditional credit cards but also offer interest-free financing options to qualified borrowers.

The Benefits of Financing Your Breast Augmentation

If you aren’t sure whether financing your breast augmentation is the best option, it can be helpful to review some of the benefits of getting financing.

There is no down payment: Many financing plans let you finance 100% of the cost of the surgery, so you don’t have to worry about putting money down upfront.
Monthly payments are available: Financing lets you spread out the cost of the surgery into affordable monthly payments.
Low-interest financing is available: Depending on your credit history and the type of financing you choose, you might get a lower interest rate than if you paid for your surgery with a credit card or personal loan.
You can get plastic surgery sooner, rather than later: Choosing to finance breast augmentation means that you can have your surgery now and enjoy the results right away, rather than at some point in the future.

Will Insurance Cover Breast Surgery?

When performed for cosmetic reasons, insurance will most likely not cover breast augmentation. That doesn’t mean insurance will never cover breast surgery, though.

If you are considering breast reconstruction with implants, there is a chance your insurance policy might pay for some or all of the procedure, according to WebMD. Your best bet is to check with your provider first, to find out what it covers and what you need to do to get coverage.

Breast Augmentation Cost FAQ

How much is a breast augmentation procedure?

How much does a breast lift cost?

What are the prices of breast implants?

How do I learn more about breast augmentation costs by state?

Where can I find the cheapest breast implants?

What if I can’t afford the full breast augmentation cost upfront?

How much is a breast augmentation procedure?

How much a breast augmentation costs depends on multiple factors, including the surgeon, the type of implants, and the facility where the surgery will be performed. You can expect to pay several thousand dollars for the surgery.

How much does a breast lift cost?

As with breast augmentation, the cost of a breast lift varies based on location, surgeon, and several other factors. You can ask for a quote when you schedule a consultation at a surgeon’s practice.

What are the prices of breast implants?

Breast implants vary in price based on material, shape, and size. Saline implants tend to run a bit cheaper than silicone.

How do I learn more about breast augmentation costs by state?

Breast augmentation in Texas is likely to have a different price than in California. The local economy, cost of living, and taxes all influence the price of the surgery. If you’re considering traveling to save money on breast augmentation, don’t forget to account for the cost of travel in your budget.

Where can I find the cheapest breast implants?

Ideally, you don’t want to look for the cheapest breast implants. Quality and expertise matter much more than cost when it comes to breast surgery. Going the cheap route can increase your risk of complications later, making the surgery more expensive in the long run.

What if I can’t afford the full breast augmentation cost upfront?

You have options if you can’t pay for breast augmentation in full right away. You can use your credit card to pay for the surgery or get financing from your surgeon’s practice.

Experience and Expertise, Working for You

Experience and expertise matter when you’re considering breast augmentation. Dr. Paul Vitenas is a Houston-based plastic surgeon with more than 30 years of experience performing breast surgeries. He’ll review your surgical and implant options with you to help you choose the one that works best with your goals and your budget. Call (972) 737-7477 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Vitenas today.

Cost

The Cost of Your Augmentation Surgery

When to Consider Changing Your Breast Implants

How Implants Can Impact Cost

Anesthesia Fees

Surgeon and Facility Fees

Medications

Taking Time Away from Work

Other Costs Associated With Breast Augmentation

Additional Child or Pet Care

New Clothes

Food

At-Home Care

A Breakdown of Breast Surgery Costs by Implant Type

Breast Augmentation with Saline Implants

Breast Augmentation with Silicone Implants

Breast Augmentation with a Breast Lift

Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

How to Pay for Breast Augmentation

The Benefits of Financing Your Breast Augmentation

Will Insurance Cover Breast Surgery?

Breast Augmentation Cost FAQ

How much is a breast augmentation procedure?

How much does a breast lift cost?

What are the prices of breast implants?

How do I learn more about breast augmentation costs by state?

Where can I find the cheapest breast implants?

What if I can’t afford the full breast augmentation cost upfront?

Experience and Expertise, Working for You

Schedule your free consultation