Breast implants typically cost between $5,000 and $12,000 total, depending on the type of implant, your surgeon, and where you live. The average surgeon’s fee alone is $4,875, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, but that number doesn’t include anesthesia, the operating facility, or several other charges that add up fast.
What the Surgeon’s Fee Actually Covers
The $4,875 average is only the surgeon’s fee for implant-based augmentation. Fat grafting, which uses liposuction to transfer your own tissue instead of placing an implant, averages $5,719 for the surgeon’s portion. Neither figure reflects your total bill.
On top of the surgeon’s fee, you’ll pay separately for:
- Anesthesia fees, typically charged by the hour
- Operating room or surgical facility costs
- Medical tests required before surgery
- Post-surgery compression garments
- Prescription medications for pain and infection prevention
When you add all of these together, most people end up paying somewhere in the $6,000 to $12,000 range for the complete procedure. The wide spread comes down to your choice of implant, your surgeon’s experience, and the city you’re in.
Saline vs. Silicone: The Price Gap
Saline implants are the less expensive option. Silicone implants typically cost about $1,000 more than saline, which can push the total bill closer to the higher end of that range. Silicone tends to feel more natural, which is the main reason many people choose it despite the added cost. “Gummy bear” implants, a firmer type of silicone that holds its shape, generally fall into a similar price bracket as standard silicone, though individual surgeons may charge a premium for them.
Where You Live Changes the Price
Plastic surgery pricing varies significantly by region. Surgeons in major metro areas like New York, Los Angeles, and Miami typically charge more than those in smaller cities or rural areas. The cost of running an operating facility, local demand, and the surgeon’s reputation all factor in. Two board-certified surgeons performing the same procedure with the same implant can quote prices thousands of dollars apart simply because of location. Getting quotes from multiple surgeons in your area gives you a realistic picture of local pricing.
Long-Term Costs Most People Don’t Budget For
The upfront price is only part of what breast implants cost over your lifetime. Implants are not permanent devices. Most will need to be replaced or removed at some point, often within 10 to 20 years. That means a second surgery with its own surgeon’s fee, anesthesia, and facility charges.
There’s also ongoing monitoring. The FDA recommends an MRI screening 3 years after getting silicone implants, then every 2 years after that, to check for silent ruptures that you might not feel or notice. These scans are not cheap, and they add up over the years. One study published in the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery estimated that implant-related costs could exceed $15,000 over an average lifetime, and the recommended surveillance MRIs alone could add another $33,750. Those numbers will vary depending on your insurance and where you get screened, but they illustrate a cost that many people overlook when budgeting for the initial surgery.
What Revision Surgery Costs
If you need your implants replaced, adjusted, or removed down the road, that’s called revision surgery. Costs vary widely depending on what needs to happen. A straightforward implant removal is a shorter procedure and costs the least. A more complex revision, like removing the implant along with the scar tissue capsule that forms around it, then adding a breast lift and new implants, costs significantly more. Because revision is considered elective cosmetic surgery, insurance does not cover it in most cases.
When Insurance Covers Breast Implants
Cosmetic breast augmentation is not covered by insurance. However, implants placed as part of breast reconstruction after a mastectomy or lumpectomy are a different story. Federal law (the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act) requires most insurers to cover reconstruction after cancer surgery.
Insurance companies like Aetna consider breast reconstructive surgery medically necessary in specific situations: after a mastectomy or lumpectomy for breast cancer treatment or prevention, after surgery for severe fibrocystic breast disease that hasn’t responded to other treatment, to correct chest wall deformities like Poland syndrome, and to repair breast asymmetry caused by trauma. Coverage can also extend to procedures on the opposite breast to create a symmetrical appearance, including augmentation, reduction, or nipple reconstruction.
If your situation doesn’t fall into one of these categories, you’ll be paying out of pocket. Many plastic surgery practices offer financing plans that let you spread the cost over monthly payments, though interest rates vary and can add to the total you end up paying.