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.

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. 

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.

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.