How Much Do Butt Implants Cost?

The average cost of butt implants is $9,800, but the price can range from just $6,000 to as much as $23,000, according to hundreds of recent reviews on RealSelf.

Cosmetic procedures like this one aren’t covered by insurance.

Read on to find out how the price compares to a BBL, what to look for in a cost quote from a plastic surgeon, why butt implant prices vary, and whether real patients say the results are worth the money.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Butt Implants

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Why does butt implant surgery cost more than a Brazilian butt lift?

The average cost of a Brazilian butt lift procedure is several thousand dollars less than the average cost of butt implant surgery. This seems counterintuitive, given that a BBL involves two procedures: liposuction (to harvest excess fat from other areas of the body) and fat grafting.

Why is butt implant surgery so much more expensive? The biggest factor is that far fewer surgeons offer this procedure, and those who do can charge a premium for their time and expertise. 

As Brazilian butt lifts have grown in popularity, hundreds (if not thousands) of cosmetic surgeons and other physicians who don't have nearly the same level of training as board-certified plastic surgeons have also started performing the procedure. Some areas, like Miami, have so many BBL providers that they all compete for patients by offering the cheapest deals. Patients also travel to areas like the Dominican Republic and Mexico for cheaper Brazilian butt lifts. All of these factors bring down the average cost of buttocks augmentation via a BBL.

Price is always a consideration, but if you're tempted to choose a bargain BBL over butt implants, keep in mind that butt implants provide much more predictable results, with fewer serious risks.

RealSelf Tip: One cheap butt augmentation option to avoid completely is silicone injections, commonly called "butt shots" or “booty shots.” They may seem like a bargain, but liquid silicone can migrate, leading to serious (potentially life-threatening) complications over time. In fact, the FDA issued a safety warning against their use in 2017. The health problems they cause can only be resolved with silicone injection removal, a painful and unreliable process that RealSelf members say typically costs over $11,000.

What does the total cost of butt implant surgery include?

During your consultation with a plastic surgeon, ask for a personalized, all-in buttock implant surgery cost quote that includes:

• the consultation fee (often applied to the cost of your procedure)
• the surgeon’s fee
• anesthesia provider and supply fees
• pre-op medical tests and surgery clearance
• fees for surgical supplies, including the butt implants themselves
• surgical facility fees
• follow-up appointments
• prescription medications and any other recovery supplies

Your provider may or may not include post-op compression garments or medications in their total price quote. If not, you’ll still need to include them in your budget.

If you’re traveling out of state (or out of the country) for your surgery, you’ll also need to anticipate the cost of transportation and lodging (including a recovery house for the first few days after surgery). Some surgeons offer "fly-in" specials that can help cover some of these costs.

Is butt implant surgery worth the money?

Butt implant surgery has an 80% Worth It Rating from reviewers on RealSelf, so a majority of people who had the procedure think it was worth the expense (and recovery time).

Happy reviewers say that their results look natural and feel comfortable, though several also note that the healing process can be painful and long. 

Those who say their investment wasn’t worth it experienced a variety of undesirable results. Several say the implants feel too hard or look unnatural, including being visible under the skin. Others complain of complications or pain that lingered after the expected healing period.

A board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in both butt implant and BBL surgery can help you determine whether you’re a good candidate for either procedure and help you weigh the pros and cons.

Why do butt implant costs vary?

These are the primary factors that can make butt implant surgery more or less affordable.

1. The complexity of your surgical procedure

Dr. Ryan Hoffmann, a plastic surgeon in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, says that the biggest reason the price range is so wide is that “buttock augmentation with implants varies.” Some procedures only involve placing gluteal implants, while others involve a combination of implants and fat transfer (or fat grafting) over the implants, which can create a more natural result for some patients.

To create a more hourglass figure, you can combine their procedure withhip augmentation (with either fat grafting or hip implants) or body contouring with liposuction of the abdomen, flanks, and back. 

Each additional procedure will increase the total cost, but you'll spend less by combining them in a single operation than you would for separate procedures. Some providers offer discounted surgeon’s fees for each additional procedure, and you also save on anesthesia and facility fees.

2. Your surgeon's credentials and level of expertise 

Gluteal augmentation with implants is a very specialized procedure with a relatively high complication rate (the most common ones are wound separation during healing, a build-up of fluid called seroma, or infection). It's also possible to have asymmetrical results or implant migration. 

According to Dr. Ryan Stanton, a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills who specializes in butt implant surgery, the risk is comparable to breast implant surgery when it’s performed by an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon who knows how to skillfully place the implant in an intramuscular pocket. A surgeon who frequently performs this procedure should also be able to advise you on how to have the smoothest recovery.

The surgeon's fee will be higher if you go to a plastic surgeon with more experience and specialized training, you could save yourself the pain and additional expense of complications or butt implant removal.

Related: How to Choose the Best Plastic Surgeon for Your Procedure

3. Their practice location

Where you get your surgery can significantly impact your buttock augmentation cost. If you’re in a smaller city with a reasonable cost of living and opt for a local surgeon, you’ll likely pay less than you would with a top surgeon in Manhattan or LA.

If you’re willing to travel to see the best provider for your budget, it can be worth it to consult with qualified providers in a few different neighborhoods of the same city. Their treatment plans and cost quotes may differ.

Some people opt to travel internationally for a better deal on their butt implant surgery. If you go this route, make sure you have a virtual consultation in advance with your plastic surgeon and confirm that they will be the one performing your procedure. Read their reviews and study their photo gallery carefully. Also keep in mind that you’ll need to find a recovery house you can trust to take care of you in the crucial few days after your procedure.

Related: Six Key Things to Do If You’re Traveling Outside the U.S. for Plastic Surgery

4. The type of surgical facility they operate in 

This is an outpatient procedure that’s often performed in private surgical centers, which have lower facility fees than hospital operating rooms.

Having your procedure in a surgical center is a great way to potentially lower the cost of your buttocks implant procedure, without sacrificing quality. During your consultation, ask your plastic surgeon if their surgical center has been certified for safety by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF).

5. The cost of the implants themselves 

“There are different types, styles, and manufacturers of butt implants,” says Dr. Matthew Nykiel, a plastic surgeon in Newport Beach, California. “Similar to most things in life, the ‘nicer’ products typically cost more money.” 

During your consultation, you should have the opportunity to see and feel a few different silicone implant options, while your surgeon explains the different butt implant prices, pros, and cons.

6. Who administers your anesthesia

Butt implant surgery is performed under general anesthesia, so you’re fully unconscious during the procedure. 

You’ll have to pay your anesthesia provider fee and the facility anesthesia fee, which covers the cost of supplies, medications, and additional staff.

A certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) is qualified to administer anesthesia, and they may come at a lower cost than an anesthesiologist (an MD who administers anesthesia). However, going with a board-certified anesthesiologist could increase your safety, especially if you have an underlying health condition. In fact, some surgeons will only operate with a board-certified anesthesiologist for safety reasons.

Can you finance a butt implants procedure?

Most plastic surgeons accept plastic surgery financing options, which can make this procedure more affordable. For example, the CareCredit credit card is widely accepted by providers across the U.S.

Butt implants costs in U.S. states

Browse average butt implants costs in U.S. states, according to recent RealSelf member reviews (as of July 2023). States not currently listed did not have enough data to include.

Butt implants costs in major U.S. metros