How Much Does It Cost to Add 50 CC of Saline to Your Implants?

Question

I had a breast augmentation done a year ago and I am not happy with the size. I would like to add approx. 50 cc's. How much does that typically cost and is it possible?

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

Yes it is possible to add more volume to saline implants but there are considerations that are important and need to be discussed with your plastic surgeon. For example, each implant has a recommended range for the fill volume. Going above that will increase the firmness, narrow the base and make it more likely to ripple. On the other hand if adding more within the recommended fill volume by the manufacturer you are safe. Check to make sure that refilling them does not void your warranty. The cost varies on type of anesthetic, location of the surgery, time required, experience of the surgeon and geographic location among other factors.

William J. Hedden, MD · Answer

I perform around 1500 breast augmentation surgeries per year and I have found that it typically takes at least 100cc more for patients to truly see a difference when they are trying to go larger. But we do add more for patients and this typically cost $2200.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

This depends on several factors. However, your most economical soluition is to return to the surgeon who performed the operation. Costs depend on whether you need new implants because it may not be recommended to fill your existing implants. Local or general anesthesia? Office or hospital operating room?

Gregory A. Buford, MD, FACS · Answer

As pointed out by the other surgeons, this is not as easy as it sounds.  To add volume to your implants, the implants actually need to be connected to a fill tube which requires an additional surgical procedure.

	I would speak with the surgeon who performed your original surgery and see what he/she can do to help you.

James F. Boynton, MD, FACS · Answer

I would not recommend reoperation for 50 ccs.  Your eye can barely tell the difference.  If someone were to try to put a fill tube back into the same implant and add more saline as it sounds like you may be considering, then there are increased risks of infection of the implants and another concern is that it probably will nullify the manufacturer's warranty on the implant since it was not designed to "add" saline at a later timepoint.  The best thing to do is to seek out a board certified plastic surgeon with experience in breast enhancement and revision breast enhancement and consider an "exchange of implants" where the old implants are removed and larger implants are replaced.  I usually don't recommend surgery unless we are going up at least 100 ccs so that the patient can really notice a difference. I hope this helps!

	Sincerely,

	James F. Boynton, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Richard Baxter, MD · Answer

Saline implants have a specified fill range, usually less than 50 cc so you shouldn't normally be able to add that much unless they are underfilled. If you did, the implants would be hard and unnaturally round. Size is a very subjective thing, but if you want to be visibly larger we usually go at least 100 cc anyway.

David Shafer, MD, FACS · Answer

Cost vary widely from city to city and surgeon to surgeon.  However, it is not as easy as you may think to just "add volume."  Implants are designed to be filled once.  It all likelihood if you want larger implants, you need to get new implants.  Implant exchange is a must less invasive procedure than the original operation, so your recovery should be much smoother this second time around.

	 

	Good luck.

Steven Turkeltaub, MD · Answer

Given that you are unhappy with the size of your breasts following placement of saline implants, it is highly unlikely that adding 50cc will make a substantial difference. Of course, this would also depend on your initial breast size, body shape and weight, and base implant size and amount of fill and whether the implants are behind or in front of the chest wall muscle. The ultimate answer may be new implants and possibly switching to silicone.

	If in the not too likely circumstance that adding 50cc would solve your size concerns, your best bet would be returning to your plastic surgeon who would probably give you the best price. The costs aside from the surgical fee would depend on the type of anesthesia that would be used as well as where the procedure would be performed (office, outpatient center, hospital) and these can vary widely - and may run several thousand dollars.

Bivik Shah, MD · Answer

One way to keep the cost down when adding more cc's to your current size is to have the operation under iv sedation (twilight sleep). This procedure involves opening the same incision you had before and accessing the implant and then simply adding more saline to the implant. It costs about $2500. If you have silicone implants, it will cost a bit more because you will have to perchase a new implant. Good luck!

Aaron Stone, MD · Answer

Each time you operate on the breasts you stimulate scar tissue and increase the risk of capsular contracture. Reoperations after breast augmentation should not be treated lightly. Reoperating just to increase the implant size by just 50cc whether you put in new implants or add saline is out of the question in my book. The extra 50cc you want will most likely not even be visible as a different size from the outside world.

How Much Does It Cost to Add 50 CC of Saline to Your Implants?

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