Breast Augmentation Cost: Average Price, What Affects It & Financing

Breast augmentation is almost always paid for out of pocket, so the price you are quoted is the price you plan around. That makes it worth understanding what sits inside the number: the surgeon's fee, the facility, anesthesia, and the implants or other materials.

This guide covers the national cost range, how much surgeon's fees differ by method, how prices vary from state to state, and how people finance the cost. It does not cover who should have the operation, which type of implant to choose, or what to expect afterward. Those are questions for a board-certified plastic surgeon.

CareCredit reports a typical range of $4,667 – $11,186. The midpoint, $6,721, is a reasonable figure to use for early budgeting. Real quotes can fall well on either side, because practices package their services differently.

Searches for "boob job" cost, "fake boobs" cost, and "breast implants" cost all point to the same procedure and the same pricing structure. If a site shows a much lower figure, check whether it covers only the surgeon's fee.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) publishes average surgeon's fees for breast augmentation. These figures are the surgeon's fee only. ASPS states that they do not include anesthesia, the operating room or facility, medical tests, prescriptions, or garments. Treat them as one part of the total.

The average surgeon's fee for implant-based augmentation is $4,875. Fat grafting averages $5,719. Which method fits a given person is a question for a surgeon, not a price comparison.

Prices follow local costs. Surgeon fees, facility rates, and anesthesia charges are all higher in areas where rent and wages are higher. CareCredit gives these state averages:

California averages $8,186 and New York $7,647, while Texas averages $6,634 and Mississippi $5,813. Traveling to a lower-cost state can save money on paper, but it adds travel and lodging costs, and it makes follow-up visits harder. Ask a practice what its policy is when patients live far away.

A quote can mean very different things from one practice to the next. When comparing, ask whether each of these is included:

• Surgeon's fee: The charge for the operation itself.
• Facility fee: The operating room, whether at a surgery center or a hospital.
• Anesthesia: Often billed by a separate provider and by time.
• Implants: Some practices include them; others list them as a separate line.
• Pre-operative tests and prescriptions: Frequently left out of the headline figure.
• Garments and follow-up visits: Some practices bundle these; others bill them.
• Revision policy: What the practice charges if a second operation is needed.

An all-inclusive quote is easier to compare, but only if it states in writing what it includes.

Some people combine augmentation with other work on the breast. A breast lift, which is a different operation, averages $7,792 nationally according to CareCredit. If your surgeon recommends adding or substituting a lift, the practice should quote it separately so you can see what each part costs.

Elective cosmetic augmentation is generally not covered by health insurance. Coverage can differ for reconstruction after certain medical treatments, and plans vary on what they allow, so call your insurer and ask before assuming either way. If your plan does cover something, get the details in writing, including any prior authorization requirement.

Most people use savings or a financing plan. Many practices accept third-party medical financing such as CareCredit, a credit card for healthcare costs. Terms vary. Some promotional offers charge deferred interest, which means interest back to the start date if the balance is not paid off in time. Read the agreement and compare it with other options, such as a personal loan, before signing.

A health savings account or flexible spending account generally cannot be used for purely cosmetic operations. Check with your plan administrator if you are unsure.

• Is the quoted price all-inclusive? What is added on top?
• Where will the operation take place, and what does that facility charge?
• Are the implants part of the price?
• What does a revision cost, and what does the practice's policy say?
• What is the deposit, and what is the refund policy if I cancel?
• Does the quote expire?