Quality Breast Augmentation in the US for Under $4,000?

I don't know about your area...but at least in LA, $4K is getting pretty low in private practice. Remember, the implant is $1K, an anesthesiologist is about $600, a proper operating room is $2000 or so....meaning that the numbers just don't add up unless you don't have an anesthesiologist, a good OR, etc. And the only surgeons that I have been aware of operating at that price - and I'm not saying that I have surveyed them all - but of what I have been aware, many have either not been certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or were those who - in my opinion- didn't quite dazzle me with their judgment.
Again, I'm not making a blanket statement condemning all lower-priced surgery. I'm just saying that you have to be careful. (Though for that matter, I am aware of some exceedingly expensive plastic surgery that has also been awful.) So I guess no matter what you do, you have to be very careful.
So, here's my suggestion: all the major plastic surgery residencies have resident clinics. These are surgeons in their last months of training. But they don't operate on you alone - they have an "attending" surgeon, usually a respected member of the local community who donates their time for teaching.
I do this at UCLA with a handful of outstanding faculty, and the patients are amazingly well taken care of, certainly better than a lot of what I see going on in the private community at substnatially higher fees.
The University of Michigan has one of the best plastic surgery training programs in the world. Anyone at the end of their residency at U of M would be very knowledgeable and accomplished. And their attendings would be awesome. I don't know the details of their resident clinic, but that would be the place you should start. Go to their website and call the plastic surgery department. Go for a consultation...I bet you will be impressed.

Thanks for your question.
Not sure that you will find a surgeon that will do a breast augmentation for under $4000. You will have to call numerous offices for fees. Choosing a surgeon should not be based on the cost, but based on experience and results. . Schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options. Best wishes!

It's a great question and price is a very important consideration when exploring breast augmentation surgery. Make sure you do your research, so that you find a highly qualified board-certified plastic surgeon to perform your operation. Quality and safety are the most important factors when considering cosmetic surgery. A discounted price is not worth sacrificing your safety. Find a surgeon who will take the time to answer all of your questions and explain all of your options, so that you can decide if breast augmentation is right for you.

Thank you for your question. Costs vary across the country, but $4,000 is certainly below the average. Look for surgeons who are board-certified plastic surgeons to ensure quality care. Search for ASPS active members, who must be board-certified plastic surgeons, and ideally ASAPS active members, who must have performed 75 cases within 18 months to be admitted (only approximately 30% of board-certified plastic surgeons are able to become members of ASAPS). Be wary of:Going internationally for surgeryGoing to providers whose prices are "too low". They are most likely not board-certified plastic surgeons. (A good question to ask during your in-office consultation with the surgeon is: "Are you a board-certified Plastic Surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?". Any other "certification" given, even seemingly similarly worded, is not a board-certified plastic surgeon.)Disclaimer: I am an active member of ASAPS.

Thank you for your question. I would visit with a number of plastic surgeons in your area. I would narrow down to a few surgeons that you feel very comfortable with and discuss price/payment options. There are several costs that go into breast augmentation including the facility fees, anesthesia fees, surgeon's fee and the cost of the implants. Saline is the cheapest of the implants so it will save you some money compared to silicone implants. You may also want to consider a residency training program as they will discount fees for their senior residents to perform the surgery under the guidance of their more experienced faculty.

Breast augmentation is one of the most commonly performed
cosmetic surgical procedures. Prices
vary widely and depend on several variables. It’s important to make sure the fee quote includes the surgeon’s fee,
facility fee, anesthesia charges, implant costs and pre- and post-operative
care.Each of these components may vary
widely depending upon the surgeon’s practice. Although
the majority of plastic surgeons charge more than $4,000 for saline breast
augmentation, fees tend to vary widely.This is often due to regional differences and local levels of
competition. For these reasons, it might
be possible to find someone who would perform the procedure for under $4,000.It’s
important to remember that although price is an important component of your decision,
it’s not the only consideration.Make
sure that your surgeon is a board certified plastic surgeon with appropriate
qualifications and experience.

The best way to find the right surgeon for you is to do your research and be as thorough as possible. Set up consultations with highly experienced board certified plastic surgeons in your area. RealSelf can be a great resource in terms of reading patient reviews in order to get an idea if a doctor's surgical philosophy and patient care is in line with what you're hoping to achieve. Discuss all aspects of the procedure with them, including the price. If you find a surgeon who makes you feel completely comfortable, safe, and confident, who has a track record of delivering excellent, safe results with regular accreditation, that's a quality surgeon. If you are unable to find a doctor who meets these criteria at the price point you are interested in, you may need to reconsider your budget.

The
cost of breast augmentation can vary depending on whether you have saline or
silicone implants. There are some
important questions to ask as you should not base your decision about where to
have surgery only on price.



It is important to
ask the right questions during your consultation:



1.Is
your surgeon a board certified plastic surgeon?a.Be
sure he or she is a plastic surgeon, there are a lot surgeons that are cosmetic
surgeons or board certified in other fields other than plastic surgery. They do not do the same training as a plastic
surgeon. b.You
can check the American Board of Plastic Surgery website for a list of plastic
surgeons in your area.





2.Does your surgeon commonly
perform this procedure?a.Ask to see before and after
pictures or look online for reviews on the procedure.



3.Where is the surgery performeda.Is the procedure performed in an
accredited surgery center or hospital?



4.Who performs the anesthesia for
the procedure?a.Is an anesthesiologist performing
the anesthesia?





I hope this helps. 

You would have to discuss pricing with the surgeon you choose to perform the procedure. Although you may not "get what you pay for", there is a higher risk in selecting a bad surgeon by choosing them purely based on price. Please pick your surgeon based first on their experience and expertise, rather than how much they're charging.

Often it is not the best approach to find the cheapest plastic surgeon. Does the surgeon specialize in this procedure? What are their credentials? How long have they been in practice? What percentage of their practice is cosmetic surgery? How many of these surgeries have they performed? Do they use the latest techniques? What do their results look like? Do they have photos to show of their work? Do they provide follow-up themselves, or will you only see the nurses (or even just an assistant)? Are they available by phone for an emergency or does one of their staff answer after-hour calls? What is the impression you get from their office and staff? Are they professional and informative? Do they know what they are talking about? You need to ask yourself all of these questions.When comparing quotes from different doctors, check to make sure that the costs you are quoted are for the same thing! Check to see what type of anesthesia and facility you are going to be treated in. If the total price is lower but you are not going to receive proper anesthesia from a board certified anesthesiologist, then are you getting a better deal (or inferior treatment)? If the facility is not a certified outpatient surgery center but is an in-office procedure room, is the difference in safety worth the cost reduction? If the doctor is not a board certified plastic surgeon, is that worth the discount in the fees? I would say the answer to all three of these questions is no! Assuming you are talking about a board certified plastic surgeon with plenty of experience in breast augmentation, you need to find someone who you trust. This is your body, make sure you are making decisions based on the quality of care, the experience and training of the doctor, and proven results! Cost alone should not be the deciding factor.The prices can vary from state to state, and from city to city. Our costs, including the board certified plastic surgeon's fees, board certified anesthesiologist's fees, operating room, saline implants, labs, scar gel, vitamins, and follow-up at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and every year after that forever, are around $5000. If you need more follow-up appointments, those are free as well.

Breast Augmentation prices vary greatly because the surgery itself encompasses a wide range of techniques that can be performed to different extents. It might be possible to meet your price point but be careful that this does not mean a less experience surgeon and therefore less quality surgery.  My recommendation is to first find qualified surgeons that are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery you trust, then compare prices between them. Factors that influence the price include:1. Location - Will it be performed in a hospital with an overnight stay, an independent out- patient facility or a doctors office? Geographical location also has a significant influence.2. Type of Anesthesia -  IV sedation or General Anesthesia? Will a board certified anesthesiologist or a nurse anesthetist be used, or an RN? 3. Experience and training of your surgeon. The best trained (and longest) would be a surgeon board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery 4. Length and Complexity of Surgery - how difficult will your surgery be and how long, etc . Will other procedures also be done like a breast  lift, lipo on the sides of your breast/chest wall, etc be also performed?