How Much Do Breast Implants Cost?

The average cost of breast augmentation surgery is $4,516 in the U.S.

Breast implants are medical devices implanted under the breast tissue or chest muscle used for: 

• Breast augmentation
  • To increase breast size 
• Breast reconstruction
  • To replace breast tissue that has been removed due to cancer or trauma or that has failed to develop properly due to a breast abnormality 

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost of breast augmentation surgery is $4,516 in the U.S. 

This average cost may not include:

• Anesthesia
• Hospital or surgical facility costs
• Medical tests
• Post-surgery garments
• Prescribed medications 
• Surgeon’s fee
  • This is based on the surgeon’s experience, the type of procedure used, and the geographic office location
  • Many surgeons offer patient financing plans 

There are two types of breast implants used in the U.S.: 

• Saline-filled implants 
  • Have a silicone outer shell
  • Filled with sterile saltwater (saline) solution
  • Some are pre-filled and others are filled by a doctor during surgery
  • Approved for breast augmentation for women aged 18 and older
  • Approved for breast reconstruction for women of any age
• Silicone gel-filled implants
  • Have a silicone outer shell
  • Filled with a sterile saltwater silicone gel
  • Approved for breast augmentation in women age 22 or older 
  • Approved for breast reconstruction in women of any age

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons states breast implants are not meant to last a lifetime. Implants are generally safe and are designed to last more than a decade, though the chance of rupture increases one percent each year so older implants have a greater risk of rupture or other complications.

For some people, breast implants may last for 20 years or more, depending on the individual’s body and how they care for their implants.

Risks and complications of breast implants include: 

• Complications
  • Breast pain 
  • Changes in nipple and breast sensation
  • Breast tissue atrophy
  • Infection
  • Rupture and deflation
  • Improper positioning
  • Displacement
  • Visible wrinkling of the implant
  • Scar tissue (capsule) formation around the implant that squeezes the implant
• May interfere with the ability to breastfeed
  • It is also unknown if a small amount of silicone may pass through from a breast implant silicone shell into breast milk 
• Need for additional surgeries 
  • Implant removal, with or without replacement
  • Capsule removal or release of scar tissue around the implant
  • Scar or wound revision
  • Drainage of a hematoma 
  • Repositioning of the implant 
• Breast implant associated-anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Connective tissue disease, breast cancer, and reproductive problems