Obviously costs vary, but how much are breast implants, about?

I am thinking about getting the silicone implants. I've been reading up on how great they've become through the years. What I didn't know was that the FDA only allows them for women over the age of 22, as of November 2006. I am 20, but maybe that's a good thing, it'll give me time to save some money, and an excuse to buy myself a graduation gift :D .

Can anyone give me a ball-park amount of how expensive they will be?

I am shooting to save $5000, because that is the most expensive I have seen, but I don't want to be disappointed if I am totally off. (I have also seen prices as low as $3000, but maybe that's for smaller sizes or "not-as-good" places.)

I think mine (saline) cost around $5k or so but that was back in '99. I went to 3 or 4 different consultations before choosing my plastic surgeon, and they all varied in cost.

I had my surgery a year ago and my costs ran around $5000 - I had saline implants and they cost 1,000. Not sure what silicone cost but I think my girlfriend who went with silicone said hers were around $1,500.

Go on more than one consult and remember those usually aren't free unless you decide to go with that doctor. I paid around $100 for consults with the surgeons I did not choose BUT I feel the money was well worth it to whittle out the doctors I did not choose.

My only advice to you is to not base your decision solely on cost. Remember your implants will be with you (hopefully) for years and you want to make sure your surgeon is the best surgeon for you not because he/she is the least expensive.

keep studying and I agree implants would be a wonderful graduation gift to yourself for all your hard work!! Wish my daughter would have stayed in school - heck I would have paid for hers if she had - oh well her loss, lol.

take care

Thanks for your replies!

River525, you're absolutely right, I think I should start saving without a limit because I really do need to base my choice on the best surgeon, not cost - I don't want to have any problems.
Gosh, I'm excited, even though I have a while to wait... Funny that you say that about your daughter, my mom's the only one in my family supporting my decision to have this done (she won't pay for it though).

Thanks for your replies!

my mom's the only one in my family supporting my decision to have this done (she won't pay for it though).

You and your mother need to do more research. The cost of implants is way TOO HIGH.
The initial cost. The cost to repair any mistakes. The cost to remove them. The cost of MRI rather than mammogram since the FDA now recommends MRI due to high rupture rate with implants.
The risk of infection, bleeding, capsule contractor, autoimmune disease.
If you start at age 22, you will need to replace them every 10 years (or more often). Do you really want 3-4 or more surgeries?
Save yourself years of problems. Don't waste your money.
Don't get implants. I wish I never had.

Innerstrength -- Sounds like you are on the right track with school and planning. Trust me Dads and brothers never understand us girls, lol. I didn't even tell my dad I did mine and I'm 42!!! I didn't really add size/volume to mine - I just basically filled up the sag:eek: from loosing 60lbs and had them lifted also. Everyone thought I lost more weight b/c they were off of my stomach finally!!:D

AuntPolly, I'm sorry your augmentation didn't go well for you - hopefully everything has improved since your complications:angel: . And you are right there are chances for all of those complications and unfortunately there are complications with every surgery procedure whether it be cosmetic or medical necessary. Everyone needs to weigh the pros and cons and do the research making sure they feel comfortable with their surgeons skills and are in good health (mental and physical). I don't think anyone said implants or surgery was cheap - matter of fact I'm glad they aren't so all the women aren't racing to go and have this surgery. I think, and this is my opinion, if a person wants to have cosmetic surgery and are healthy and has the means to pay for it without going into debt then that is their choice.

I have just had my annual mammogram and visit with my GYN this week and there was never a mention of MRI's by my GYN or the radiologist - so maybe the MRI is recommended for women who have breast cancer in their family history or possibly huge implants, can't say for sure since this wasn't brought up.

take care :wave: