Breast Implants

When a woman decides to surgically enlarge her breasts, she has three basic options:

• Saline implants – plastic or latex pouches filled with a saline (salt based) solution.
  • Silicone implants - gel-filled implants which may provide a more natural feel depending upon placement:
  • subglandular – behind the breast, and in front of the muscles and fibrous tissues that line the front of the ribs and chest wall.
  • partial submuscular – behind the breast tissue and partially under the pectoral and other chest muscles.
  • complete submuscular – behind the breast and the major muscle groups in the chest area.
• Breast lift – restores breasts to pre-pregnancy or pre-breast feeding appearance

The advantage of saline implants is if there is a rupture of the implant, the saline is absorbed in the body. A ruptured silicone implant, however, poses serious health risks to patients, even death. In the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s, defective silicone breast implants were linked to several deaths, which prompted the Food and Drug Administration to pull them from the market in 1992. From then until 2005, silicone was only allowed for use by researchers investigating their efficacy in reconstructive surgery for patients who had received mastectomies.

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2005 surveys revealed that 83.4 percent of the women and their doctors who responded used saline and 16.6 percent used the silicone implant. In November 2006 the FDA lifted restrictions, and approved the use of silicone breast implants for women 22 years of age and older. In choosing options for surgical breast enhancement, patients must consult with their doctors who, armed with complete medical background and other pertinent information, are fully qualified to advise them on the best procedure and material for each individual case.

Cost is a consideration that patients must also take into account when opting for breast enhancement surgery. Breast augmentation is usually considered to be elective surgery, and as such, not covered by most insurance companies, though some exceptions are made for reconstructive surgery after mastectomies. The cost of breast enhancement surgery depends upon factors such as the surgeon's skill, the region the surgery is being performed, whether it takes place in the doctor’s office or a hospital, the type of surgery you choose and the type of anesthesia used. The implants themselves also come with a cost, but they are normally included in the surgeons’ fees.

The average cost for breast enhancement surgery ranges from $4,000 to $10,000. The average cost for the implants is $1,000 to $1,300; the anesthesiologist’s fee is typically $600 to $800; and the facility fees range from $800 to $1,200, depending upon where the surgery is performed. The remaining cost is the fee charged by the surgeon, which varies depending upon the skill level, amount of experience and certifications. Typically, the most qualified surgeons who have performed extensive surgeries command the highest fees. Most surgical practices are willing to accept payments and offer a variety of financing options.

The best advice for any woman considering surgical breast augmentation is to do your research, ask for references and shop wisely.