How Much do Breast Implants Cost?
Over time, the cost of breast augmentation surgery has gone down due to advancing surgical processes. However, it’s still a complicated process that costs about as much as any typical modestly serious surgery. To get specific, breast implants cost anywhere between about $3,000 and $15,000. That may seem like a very wide range, but that’s because there are lots of factors that go into the price.
Surgeon costs
Breast implants cost more when you work with a surgeon who is highly skilled or has years of experience. Of course, in order to work as a plastic surgeon, one must have extensive training and certification, but there are some doctors who are more qualified than others. For example, if you work with a doctor who specializes in breast augmentation exclusively, you’re likely to pay more.
On the other hand, if you work with a doctor who does a lot of different kinds of work, you may pay less, but the surgeon’s level of expertise will be lower.
Meanwhile, breast implant costs range according to the type of certification the doctor has. Although all surgeons have to be certified, there are many different certification boards. If you find a surgeon who purports to charge very low rates, this may be because he or she is certified by one of the less respected boards. So, be sure to do your research, and confirm that your doctor has a certificate from your country’s national medical organization.
Type of procedure
Breasts implants cost less when the procedure is relatively simple. In general, the larger, more involved augmentation processes cost more, while the simpler, less time consuming surgeries cost less.
Also, anesthesia is a factor. If you’re going to be given general anesthesia (i.e., you’re going to be completely put asleep), this costs more than having local anesthesia.
At the same time, when you talk to your doctor about the type of breast augmentation you want to have, he or she will go through various options that you have to choose from. For example, there are several different types of materials that go into breast implants, and the costs of these materials vary.
In the end, breast implants cost a lot for a reason. It’s because you want to have a good surgeon, the most effective surgery, and the best materials. That’s why when you see an ad offering discount implants, you might want to think twice before calling the number.
How Does the Breast Implant Procedure Work?
The specifics of a breast implant surgery depend upon the patient and her goals. As a result, breast implant prices range anywhere between a couple thousand dollars and $10,000. It really depends upon what type of implant you want, how you want your breasts to look, and what types of procedures your doctor deems to be safe for you.
In any case, no matter how much your breast implants cost, there is a set pattern that goes into most procedures, from the simple to the complex.
In general, you can expect the whole process to span multiple appointments, both before and after the surgery itself. Before the surgery, you’ll need to meet with your doctor for a consultation. The doctor will examine you. You’ll talk about your goals and your worries, and the doctor will answer any questions you have about side effects, breast implant prices, or any other concerns or questions you might have.
In some cases, your doctor may refer you to a different doctor to run tests. This is mainly to make sure that you’re healthy and don’t have any medical conditions that will interfere with your surgery or your post-surgery life. However, some doctors are able to perform these tests in their own offices, and you may even be able to get the consultation and the tests done in a single appointment.
During the procedure itself, the patient is often put under anesthesia, meaning that you won’t remember anything. For less invasive types of breast augmentation, a local anesthetic may be used. Then, the surgeon will cut a path to the area of the breast where the implant will go. The incision is usually done in a spot at the bottom of the breast where no scarring will show.
After this, the deflated breast implant is inserted, and then the doctor injects the internal solution, sealing up the sack when the injection is complete. After this, the patient gets stitched up, and the recovery process begins.
Breast implant prices are more when conducted in inpatient facilities where patients can be monitored for a day or two before being released. However, it’s not absolutely essential that you go this route.
Recovering from breast augmentation surgery is like recovering from any other moderately serious surgery. It’s a good idea if you have a week or two off of work, and it helps if you have a supportive family or partner who can help nurse you back to health.
The Basics of Silicone Breast Implants
All breast implants are composed of small to medium sized medical sacs made up of an elastomer shell that is filled with a soft solution. In the U.S. and Canada, the only solutions approved to go inside these sacs are silicone gel or a saline solution. The main difference between these two types of implants is manifested in the size and fullness of the sac. Silicone breast implants are typically rounder, fuller, and more akin to the feel and consistency of an unaugmented breast. Saline implants, on the other hand, are a little bit flatter and lighter.
Most implants do not come prefilled. In general, the doctor puts the sac in and then fills it with the material before sewing up the patient.
Silicone breast implants come in a very wide variety of sizes and shapes. They’re generally measured in cubic centimeters, with 200 cubic centimeters translating into approximately one bra cup size. Thus, if your goal is to get two cup sizes larger, you will need silicone breast implants that are approximately 400 cubic centimeters.
Most doctors work with three sizes—basically, small, medium, and large. Of course, the post-surgical result depends upon pre-surgery breast size.
As for shape, there are two categories of silicone breast implants—contoured and round. Contoured implants have a teardrop-like shape that’s designed to mimic the size of a real, natural breast. Round implants, on the other hand, are designed to give the breasts a look of fullness and lift. In other words, if you want to have maximum cleavage, round implants are probably the kind you want. If you want more natural-looking silicone breast implants, you probably want contoured.
Of course, in many cases, this choice is not up to the patient. You will have to talk to your doctor about which option is best for you, taking into consideration things like the breast implants cost, health risks, etc.
Finally, there is one more important factor to take into consideration. With standard breast implants, there is a common condition called capsular contracture, which is essentially a build-up of scar tissue around the implant. This is your body’s natural response to the presence of a foreign object. The result of this condition is hardening, which can lead to a decidedly un-breast-like texture.
To prevent this from happening, doctors invented textured silicone breast implants that are specially designed to absorb the scar tissue and decrease the amount of permanent hardening that occurs.