Are you thinking about getting your boobs done? If so, you are probably wondering how much the whole thing is going to cost you. After all, plastic surgery does have a reputation for being a bit on the pricey side. So, how much does a boob job cost?
This article has got the details below.
What’s a Boob job?
A surgical operation to change women’s breasts’ size, shape, or position is lovingly referred to as a boob job. Or if you want to sound more technical, breast surgery or breast augmentation.
Women can have various reasons to want to make their breasts bigger and fuller. However, out of 400,000 boob jobs done in the US each year, 75% are for cosmetic reasons, while the rest are for reconstructive purposes after breast cancer surgery.
Breast augmentation is also the most popular form of plastic surgery in the world, with 1,795,551 done in 2019 only.
If you are a candidate for a boob job, you should know that you have three options:
- Breast augmentation with implants
- Breast augmentation with fat transfer
- Hybrid breast augmentation
The first option involves placing synthetic implants into the breasts. There are two basic breast implants: filled with saline (sterile salt water) or filled with silicone.
Breast augmentation with fat transfer means that your own fat gets liposuctioned from one part of your body and placed into the breast tissue. Finally, the last option combines both synthetic implants and fat transfer.
What’s the Cost of a Boob Job?
There is no one standard price for boob surgery. But, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the average cost of breast augmentation in 2020 was $4,516.
However, that’s only a portion of the total price since it doesn’t include additional expenses (we will talk about those expenses later on). So, generally speaking, the prices can range between $3,000 and $12,000.
For comparison, here’s the average boob job cost in different countries:
- Canada: $8,000 – $10,000
- Mexico: $2,800 – $5,500
- Colombia: $2,000 – $4,000
- United Kingdom: $4,800 – $11,000
- Australia: $6,000 – $12,000
- Japan: $3,000 – $7,000
- United Arab Emirates: $5,000 – $10,000
And before you start googling — no, health insurance plans usually don’t cover cosmetic boob jobs. Also, if there are any complications related to your breast surgery or if you need to do it again, they probably won’t cover those expenses either.
In any case, it would be wise to check your health insurance policy before you decide to have a boob job done. Some carriers will exclude breast diseases you might have in the future because of it.
On the other hand, if you are undergoing breast reconstruction as a result of mastectomy, your insurance might cover the expenses.
What Does the Boob Job Cost Include?
When you decide on the surgical provider for your breast augmentation, it’s always good to ask the following question: “Are there any additional fees?”. Because, usually, there are.
Typically, a boob job cost can include:
- Anesthesia fees
- Breast implants
- Medical tests
- Hospital or surgical facility costs
- Overnight stay in a hospital
- Meals after surgery
- Post-surgery garments
- Prescriptions for medication
- Inclusive aftercare
- Surgeon’s fees
6 Factors That Affect the Cost of a Boob Job
Consultation with the plastic surgeon of your choice will get you the most accurate cost estimation. With that said, here are some factors that can affect the final price of your breast surgery to keep in mind. You can also use this list to get a feel for the questions to ask during a consultation.
1. The Type of Breast Augmentation
Breast surgery with implants is usually less costly than the other two options. Fat transfer and hybrid procedures tend to be on the higher end of the cost spectrum because they also involve liposuction.
The numbers may look like this:
- Breast augmentation with implants: $3,900 – $10,000
- Breast augmentation with fat transfer: $5,000 – $15,000
- Hybrid breast augmentation: $3,300 – $15,000
There’s also a difference in cost between saline and silicone breast implants. And as you probably already assumed, silicone-filled implants are more expensive than their salt water counterparts.
2. A Surgeon’s Fee
You will see this fee on your receipt under the name “average cost”. Basically, it is the time a surgeon spends doing the breast surgery — kind of like his hourly rate.
A surgeon’s fee will depend on their experience. Naturally, more experienced, board-certified plastic surgeons will charge more for consultations and procedures.
3. Additional Medical Personnel
During breast surgery, you need to undergo general anesthesia. General anesthesia requires both knowledge and expertise, which is why it costs more than local anesthesia.
Moreover, the anesthesiologist’s skills and experience level will also affect the price you will pay. In addition, there are nurses, surgical assistants, etc., that are necessary for the procedure to take place.
4. Geographical Location
Of course, where you decide to have your boob job done will also have a big impact on how much you will pay. Facilities in bigger cities or areas with high demand for plastic surgeries will have higher prices. Also, as you probably already know, the prices tend to be higher along the coast. And the boob job cost is no exception.
5. Recovery
Recovery costs will vary by procedure type. In general, they can include post-surgery garments, medications, follow-ups, and missed work.
6. Pandemic
The global pandemic has slowed down the manufacturing process, which is why some implants are harder to find. Also, there are additional costs related to COVID-19 pandemic measures, like sanitizing the consultation room before and after each visit.
Check the Financing Options
Plastic surgery has become very popular over the years. For this reason, there are a few options created to help patients manage the costs.
For example, clinics and facilities often accept major credit cards or offer payment plans. Also, the surgeons can extend financing to patients who qualify, like CareCredit.
Furthermore, it might be possible to get a personal bank loan. Such loans often have interest rates similar to credit cards. However, the rates and the repayment timetables are fixed.
