Type of Surgery
Direct and Indirect Costs of Breast Implants
Last updated: 07/07/2009
Breast augmentation is the second most common cosmetic surgical procedure performed in the United States with about 400,000 breast implant surgeries performed each year. With the exception of breast reconstruction for women with cancer or who have sustained trauma, the cost of breast implants is not covered but health insurance and can be quite expensive. For anyone considering breast implants, cost has to be carefully considered. This article provides an overview of the cost of breast implants, both direct and indirect.
The cost of breast implants includes the cost of the surgeon, the anesthesia, and the facility in which the procedure is performed. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the average cost of breast implants is $3,679 (surgeon’s fee only). In terms of surgeon’s fees, saline-filled breast implants cost less than implantation of silicone breast implants. One reason for this is that saline breast implants can be inserted into the breast as empty shells and then filled with saline. Silicone breast implants must be filled by the manufacturer and fully sealed prior to implantation. Therefore silicone implants require that surgeon’s make a larger incision and be more precise in initial placement. These factors subsequently increase the overall cost of breast implants. Silicone implants themselves are usually slightly more expensive than saline breast implants as well.
Breast implant surgery can be performed under general or local anesthesia. General anesthesia, in which the patient is placed into an unconscious state by an anesthesiologist, increases the cost of breast implant surgery over local. General anesthesia can increase the cost of breast implant surgery by $1,000 to $1,500 or more. While local anesthesia may be a less expensive means of obtaining breast implants, many women prefer not to be aware of the procedure as it is occurring and are willing to pay more for that form of anesthesia. One approach that is less expensive than general anesthesia is to have local anesthesia along with intravenous sedation. The patient stays awake and breathes for themselves during local anesthesia but is relaxed with IV sedation. This eliminates the need for an anesthesiologist and any time that a procedure does not require the services of a physician, it is less expensive.
Facility fees can add several hundreds or even thousands of dollars to the cost of breast implants. These fees are not always discussed ahead of time but always billed, so the patient is responsible for asking about facility fees as they are comparing breast implant costs. Unfortunately the location of the surgery is decided by the surgeon. If you decide to retain the services of a particular surgeon, you must have the operation done where the surgeon has surgical privileges. Thus, when comparing the cost of breast implants, patients usually must add the facility fees to the surgeon’s fees for purposes of a cost comparison.
Finally, keep in mind that there may be a number of pain medicines, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed during the recovery period. These cannot be billed to your health insurance since they are related to an elective procedure. There will be dressings and support garments that may or may not be part of the facility fees. Also, make sure that the surgeon’s fees cover consultation and follow-up appointments that are important parts of the breast augmentation.
Last Updated: 07/07/2009
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