Breast augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries nationwide, with over 300,000 procedures performed each year. Many women choose this treatment to achieve a more flattering figure and boost their self-confidence. However, breast implants are highly customizable. They can also be helpful to create symmetry for asymmetrical breasts or restore volume after pregnancy or weight loss.

If you’re considering having breast augmentation surgery, the cost is likely a major consideration. The total price for surgery varies depending on various factors. Learning more about how these factors will affect your cost of treatment can help you better prepare and make the most informed decision.

What is Breast Augmentation?

Breast augmentation sometimes called a “boob job,” involves using breast implants to increase the size of the breasts and achieve a more flattering shape. During the procedure, your surgeon will make an incision and place the implant under your pectoral muscle. Once it’s properly positioned, the incision will be closed with stitches beneath the skin. Results are visible immediately after surgery, including noticeably firmer and fuller breasts.

Although the treatment is far from new, breast surgery has come a long way over the years. Today, there are several options for breast implants and incision techniques to suit many different body types. The most popular types of implants are saline and silicone.

We offer both implant types and employ two different breast augmentation incision techniques – periareolar and inframammary. For the Periareolar technique, your surgeon will make an incision around the areola. For the inframammary method, the incision is made under your breast.

Who is a Good Candidate for Breast Augmentation?

The decision to get breast implants is highly personal. However, not everyone will be a good candidate for treatment. Generally, patients in good health, whose breasts have fully developed and are at least 18 years old (22 years old for silicone implants), are good candidates for breast augmentation surgery. It is also preferred that you not smoke or consume significant amounts of alcohol, especially in the weeks leading up to surgery.

Ideal candidates for breast augmentation have breasts that are either saggy, flattened, elongated, asymmetrical or lacking adequate volume. That said, breast augmentation alone is not recommended for patients with severely drooping breasts. While implants are highly effective for restoring fullness, a breast lift is often required for sagging breasts to appear more lifted.

Average Cost of Breast Augmentation

It’s impossible to know precisely how much your breast augmentation will cost without scheduling a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. The price will vary significantly, depending on the surgeon, location, and type of implants you choose.

According to the 2020 statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost of breast augmentation surgery is $4,516. However, this is only part of the total price ‚Äì it does not include anesthesia, operating room facilities, and other related expenses. Accounting for these added fees is essential when you’re estimating how much your treatment will cost and preparing to pay for surgery.

Considerations Before Getting A Breast Augmentation Procedure

There are many considerations to keep in mind before you decide who will handle your treatment. Most importantly, you should schedule your breast augmentation with the surgeon you feel most comfortable with, rather than making a decision based solely on surgeons’ fees. Choosing a more experienced and esteemed surgeon is typically more expensive but offers the benefit of added peace of mind.

The safety record of your surgeon’s facility is also a crucial factor to consider before scheduling surgery. The provider you choose should have a blemish-free safety record and clean, modern surgery and post-op care facilities. If possible, inquire about scheduling a tour of your surgeon’s treatment center during your consultation and search online for recent patient reviews.

Breast Implant Surgery Post-Op Care

Most people understand that cosmetic surgery can require a substantial financial investment. However, you might be surprised to learn that there are also various post-op costs associated with treatment.

After breast augmentation surgery, your surgeon will prescribe medication to relieve any pain and discomfort during the recovery process. You will also be required to wear a medical compression garment or bra after treatment to boost results and minimize complications. These aftercare materials may or may not be included in your cost of treatment and should be accounted for before scheduling surgery.

Factors Affecting Breast Implant Surgery Costs

Breast augmentations are highly customizable, so several factors can determine the price of your treatment. Your surgeon’s experience, location, the type of implant you choose, and the quality of your surgeon’s facilities will all affect your overall surgery cost. Take your time, and research every aspect of your provider before scheduling treatment.

Type of Breast Implant Used

There are two major types of implants used for breast augmentations, saline and silicone. While both types have been deemed safe by the FDA and offer great results, they have substantial differences in design and price.

Both types of implants have an outer silicone shell. However, while silicone implants are pre-filled with a thick, flexible silicone, saline implants are placed empty and then filled with sterile salt water until the desired size is achieved. Saline implants feel similar to a water balloon and look rounder on the chest. In contrast, silicone implants tend to feel more natural and mimic the feel of a real breast.

Silicone implants cost more than saline but have become more popular due to their natural appearance. That said, saline implants can be ideal for women who already have sufficient breast tissue and prefer a smaller incision. The price difference comes from the higher costs required to manufacture and distribute medical-grade silicone. Saline implants only require sterile salt water and are much cheaper to produce.

Geography: Where You Get Your Breast Implant Surgery Done

Where you decide to have your surgery done can have a huge impact on how much you pay. The most expensive are large metropolitan areas and cities where the cost of living is much higher. The demand for cosmetic surgery is also high in these areas, often leading to higher prices.

Some high-traffic areas, like Beverly Hills, have much higher-than-average procedure costs for breast augmentation surgery. Other locations, like South Florida, are able to offer the affordable treatment without compromising quality. We keep costs down for our patients by employing a large, diverse staff of surgeons. Private practice surgeons have many costs they are responsible for and need to charge patients more to keep their business going. Our doctors share overhead costs and pass those savings on to our patients.

If there is a significant cost difference, it may be more practical for you to plan a trip to a different city or state to have surgery. Just keep in mind that having a surgeon you feel comfortable with is ultimately more important than cost.

Anesthesia Options

Local anesthesia is the cheapest option and may be administered by a general surgeon. However, local anesthesia is not a great choice to keep you comfortable and relaxed. General anesthesia allows you not to feel any pain nor remember any details of the surgery. Most often, general anesthetics are administered by an M.D. Anesthesiologist. Although this is the most expensive type of anesthesia, it is also the safest option. Our doctors perform all surgical procedures at The South Florida Center for Cosmetic Surgery alongside our in-house, professional M.D. Anesthesiologist.

Geography

Typically, you will find more experienced, highly skilled surgeons in large cities and on the coasts, where demand is high. Although some of these high-traffic areas, like Beverly Hills, have much higher procedure costs for BBL treatment, other locations, like South Florida, can offer affordable surgery without compromising quality. Our center employs many doctors who share overhead costs and pass those savings onto our patients. In contrast, a single doctor with their own practice has many costs they are responsible for and must charge patients more to keep their business going.

Reputation of the Surgeon

Your surgeon’s reputation is one of their most valuable qualities. More experienced and highly specialized surgeons will generally charge more for their time, leading to higher consultation fees (which may or may not be applied as a credit towards the cost of your procedure) and a higher procedure cost. Our doctors have been practicing for over 50 years collectively and were among the first to perform BBLs in America and South Florida.

Reputation of the Breast Augmentation Surgeon

Surgeons with the best reviews, significant credentials, and specialized training will cost more than those with less experience. That’s not to say the most expensive surgeon will be the best one for you, but it is common to see higher prices from surgeons with a higher level of expertise. Search for a board-certified plastic surgeon whose methods and aesthetic style match well with your goals. Breast augmentation surgery can be life-changing. It’s always better to choose a surgeon based on their experience and training, in addition to the cost.

Breast augmentation has been the most popular procedure performed at the South Florida Center for Cosmetic Surgery for over 15 years, giving us a superior level of experience and expertise in South Florida.

Breast Augmentation Anesthesia Options

The least expensive anesthesia option is local anesthesia, which a general surgeon may administer. However, patients are awake during surgery with local anesthesia and may experience pain or discomfort.

Patients are asleep during surgery with general anesthesia and don’t remember it when they wake up. Therefore, most surgeons perform breast augmentations under general anesthesia because it offers more comfort, safety, and surgical accuracy. In addition, general anesthesia is administered by highly trained anesthesiologists (MD), contributing to the higher cost.

Our staff includes a board-certified anesthesiologist who assists with each breast augmentation surgery to ensure patient safety.

Breast Augmentation Payment Options

Although it is not typically covered by insurance, most plastic surgeons provide several payment options to help make breast augmentation surgery more affordable.

Breast Augmentation Payment Plans

If you’d prefer not to pay for treatment in one large chunk, payment plans are the most flexible option. Payment plans don’t require a credit check and allow patients to gradually pay for the cost of treatment over time, leading up to their surgery date. As long as your account is paid in full at least two weeks before treatment, your surgery date will be secured.

Breast Augmentation Financing

Financing is another option that allows patients to pay for treatment over time. However, financing requires a credit check, so not everyone will be approved. If you are approved, you can spread out the cost of treatment over several months. We offer three financing options to fit many different budgets: Advance Care Card, Alphaeon Credit Card, and United Medical Credit.

Breast Augmentation Using Credit Cards

Many patients pay for their breast augmentation with a personal credit card. We accept most major credit cards, including Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and Discover Card.

Cost of Breast Augmentation Surgery Post-Op Care

After breast augmentation surgery, the recovery process varies depending on the patient but typically lasts a few weeks. You can expect recovery costs to include prescriptions for medication, compression garments, follow-up appointments, and any downtime from work. Prepare for these costs in advance to enjoy a stress-free recovery.

Traveling for Breast Augmentation

If your ideal surgeon isn’t located near you, it may be necessary to travel for treatment. While travel may take up a large portion of your budget, it makes sense to schedule your surgery with the provider you trust the most.

Many of our patients are local to the area, but we also have patients who visit us from out of state. Hotels in South Florida vary in price and will likely be more expensive if you book last minute. We are happy to provide patients with a list of nearby hotels where we offer discounts. Some hotels also provide free shuttle services to our surgical facility. Otherwise, plan to use a ride share service (Lyft, Uber, etc.), taxi, or bus to travel between your hotel and the medical center.

Pain & Other Medications For Breast Augmentation

After surgery, your doctor will give you a prescription for pain medication and possibly other medicines to ensure your body heals properly. It is your responsibility to fill and pay for any medication your doctor prescribes. These medications are not included in the cost of treatment and may not be covered by insurance. Before surgery, get an estimate from your insurance company for out-of-pocket prescription costs so you can plan accordingly.

Supplies Compression Garments After Breast Augmentation

During your recovery, your breasts will be wrapped in gauze and an elastic bandage or compression bra to minimize swelling and support the breasts as they heal. You’ll need to wear the compression bra 24 hours a day for the first week or two after surgery. Purchasing a high-quality compression garment is essential to achieve the most successful recovery and the most attractive results.

Medical grade compression bras usually provide more support than non-medical garments, like Spanx, but they typically cost more. On average, you can expect to spend between $40-$75 for a good compression bra.

Breast Lymphatic Drainage Massage 

Surgeons recommend lymphatic drainage massages after many cosmetic surgeries to reduce bruising, swelling, and other uncomfortable side effects of treatment. While regular massages target the muscles to release tension, lymphatic drainage massages target the skin to improve the lymphatic system’s efficiency.

The lymphatic system rids the body of toxins and waste and transports lymph, a fluid containing white blood cells – throughout the body. After surgery, the lymphatic channels are disrupted and may take several months to make new connections. Adding a series of lymphatic massages to your post-op care can help benefit recovery tremendously and improve aesthetic results. Lymphatic massages cost about $100 per session on average.

Breast Augmentation Surgery Post-Op Care

Patients can return home the same day after breast augmentation surgery but should remain under the care of a responsible person for the first 24 hours. Although most patients have a family member or friend watch over them for 24 hours after surgery, some prefer to hire a professional caregiver instead. Hiring a professional can make for a more comfortable recovery, but you’ll need to budget for the additional cost.

Breast Augmentation Satisfaction Rates

Breast augmentations are popular for a reason. Studies have shown that satisfaction rates after breast augmentation surgery range from 85% to 95% for self-confidence and body image. However, it is crucial to understand that breast implants do not last forever. Eventually, every breast implant will either rupture or need to be replaced.

We recommend that patients replace their breast implants after 10-15 years. Some implant manufacturers replace implants for free and help cover operating fees if they rupture within 10 years. However, after a certain amount of time passes, the patient is responsible for the costs of having them replaced.

Breast Augmentation Surgery Cost at the South Florida Center for Cosmetic Surgery

We offer breast augmentation surgery at the South Florida Center for Cosmetic Surgery starting at $1,999 for saline implants and $2,999 for silicone, not including anesthesia or surgeon fees. Your total cost of treatment will depend on the type of implant you choose, as well as your BMI, overall health, previous surgeries, and allergies to medications.

We are committed to helping our patients find the most convenient payment method for their treatment. If you need more guidance on how to pay for surgery, contact our office.