Why Do Silicone Breast Implants Cost More Than Saline?

Hi there-
There are many reasons why silicone implants cost more than saline implants, but the primary reason is that production of medical grade silicone (which is very pure and of course sterile) is expensive.
Saline is simply salt water- very cheap.

Thank you for your question. Silicone implants cost more than saline implants because they are more safe to use. I would advise you to schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon for a detailed examination to discuss all possible treatment options and what your expectations are.

It is not the surgeon who determines the cost of saline or silicone implants-it's the manufacturer. Higher costs are probably incurred when manufacturing silicone implants, and that's why they tend to cost more for the consumer.

A pair of silicone gel implants costs the surgeon APPROXIMATELY $1000 more than a pair of saline implants.  These costs are passed on to the patient.  The higher cost of silicone gel implants is due to:

1. higher manufacturing costs. 

2. greater perceived liability with silicone gel implants

3. higher research and development costs with silicone implants

 

It's simply because Silicone costs more than salt water. If you have a 300 cc implant made of silicone, you are getting 300 cc of silicone. If you have a 300 cc saline implant, you get the same silicone balloon as you get for silicone, but there is no silicone in them. An empty silicone balloon will cost less than one filled with silicone gel. In addition, Silicone did develop a premium price due to the class action law suits of the 1990s.

Ask the trial lawyers. Due to all the litigation following the silicone breast implant moratorium in 1991, most of the manufacturers of silicone implants stopped distributing in the United States. The largest manufacturer, Dow-Corning was dissolved in order to contain liability claims by the parent companies Dow and Corning. Over the subsequent 16 years multiple studies, performed at great expense, were requested by the FDA prior to their subsequent acceptance for widespread use in 2007. The limited supply, payouts, and research costs have resulted in an increased cost.

It is a good question. I assume that the manufacturers set the prices as much higher for silicone because they are filled with silicone which costs more to produce as opposed to saline which costs the manufacturer nothing but costs me a few pennies. 

The manufacturers charge more for gel implants than saline.  We have asked that very question and have been told that the costs related to development and manufacturing are higher.To ensure quality work at most cost effective prices, consult with board certified plastic surgeons that own their own nationally accredited facilities. These surgeons must maintain the highest standards to keep accreditation. Moreover, the surgeons are motivated to ensure quality and properly trained staff (to minimize time and frustration in surgery), private and comfortable facilities (to ensure continued referrals), and less waste (to ensure that they can remain competitive financially with other centers).

Silicone implants cost approximately $1,000 more than saline implants.  The manufacturer sets the price, we can only guess why they cost more.  It is probably because they are more expensive to make and distribute.

The reason that silicone implants cost more than saline implants is that it costs the implant manufacturers more to produce the silicone filled implants than the saline implants which we fill in the operating room.  These prices are set by the manufacturers, not the surgeons.