Breast Augmentation

Breast implants are becoming increasingly common. In fact, it has been shown to be the most common type of cosmetic surgery performed today, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, although the reasons for having breast augmentation surgery varies. As you make your decision on whether you want to go undergo a breast augmentation procedure, you will want to know what the breast augmentation cost is.

Breast augmentation costs vary upon the type of implant used. They also vary between geographic locations and surgeons. Breast augmentation costs are not covered by most insurance. When estimating you cost, be sure to include the surgeons fee, the anesthesia fees, the cost of the implant chose, the cost of any prescription medications required after the surgery, the cost of any special garments you may require post surgery, the cost of any medical test and the cost of an implant warranty.

If you require assistance with breast augmentation costs, many physicians and surgeons offer financing plans. While the surgeon’s fees that contribute to the total breast augmentation cost are important, it is also vital that you look at the surgeon’s experience.  If your breast augmentation procedure is performed by a surgeon with little or no experience, you are more likely to have complications. More likely than not, the breast augmentation cost for a procedure performed by an experienced surgeon will be higher than one performed by a less experienced surgeon.

There are a number of breast augmentation implants in the market and the breast augmentation costs vary slightly. 

Saline Breast Implants

• Saline filled breast implants are made of silicone shells filled with saline (sterile salt water). These are safer than silicone implants but tend to be slightly firmer than silicone implants. The FDA recommends that saline breast implants are only used in women over 18 years old. A survey conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPC) showed that the breast augmentation cost of saline implants averages $3,308 in 2011.

Silicone Breast Implants

• Silicone breast implants are made of silicone shells filled with silicon, a cohesive gel that holds together. Silicone breast implants tend to have a more natural feel but pose a greater risk to health if they leak. Silicone breast implants are only approved for use in women over the age of 22 years by the FDA. In 2011, a survey on breast augmentation costs, conducted by the ASPC showed that silcone implants averaged at around $3,694.

The procedure is conducted under anesthesia and takes one to two hours. An incision is made under your breasts, arms, or around your nipples and the implant is placed within a pocket above or below the chest muscle and stitched using sutures or surgical tape.

It is advisable to consult with a number of surgeons before making your final decision. During the consultation, speak to the surgeon about the estimate for the surgery as well as other surgical related expenses that may contribute to the final breast augmentation cost.