The price range you quote is pretty reasonable, especially for a hospital setting. Hospitals typically charge more for just about everything, since they are mandated by law to accept all patients who require emergency care, regardless of their ability to pay. Somebody must pay, and that somebody is you!And for this you get the privilege of being exposed to sick patients, nurses and doctors who may not wash their hands as carefully or as often as they should, and operating rooms that have seen dead bowel, ruptured appendixes, and manure-spreader injuries from the farm. Sure, the staff cleans the room after every case, but how do you feel about paying more for the opportunity to experience nasty bacteria that might still be lurking somewhere close to your implants?Sientra implants are sold only to board-certified or board-eligible plastic surgeons, who must operate at accredited facilities as a bylaw requirement for membership in the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Consider a plastic surgeon who is ABPS-certified, a member of ASAPS, and who operates in their own surgical facility, which must be accredited. My partner and I do, and our cost is around $6500--this covers everything but your pre-op physical and post-op medications, both usually covered by your health insurance. I would recommend smooth round implants, however, and the teardrop-textured implants DO cost more.For more information about differences in implants and how to choose your implants, you may want to click on the web reference link below for my Comprehensive Guide to Breast Augmentation, which dedicates sections to just those topics.Perhaps your surgeon is "worth it," but then you wouldn't be asking the question, would you? Highest cost does NOT necessarily equate with highest quality. Best wishes! Dr. Tholen
