How Much Does Breast Surgery Cost? Prices by Procedure

In the U.S., published breast surgery benchmarks range from $3,979 for implant removal to $7,800 for breast reduction, but neither figure represents a complete bill. The operation may be augmentation, a lift, reduction, implant removal, revision or reconstruction, and published averages often cover only part of the price.

The national benchmarks below were available from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) on September 25, 2026. They are not complete cash-price estimates.

Choose the procedure you are considering; the tool shows the published benchmark and what it covers.

Cost Benchmarks by Type of Breast Surgery

ASPS publishes a $4,875 partial average for augmentation with implants and a $5,719 partial average for augmentation with fat transfer. Both exclude anesthesia, operating-room facilities and other related expenses, according to the ASPS breast-augmentation cost page.

The organization applies the same warning to its $6,816 breast-lift figure and $3,979 implant-removal figure. Its $7,800 breast-reduction benchmark is specifically an average surgeon’s fee for aesthetic patients, not an all-in total (ASPS breast-reduction costs).

ASPS does not publish a national average for implant revision. There is also no single cash benchmark for post-mastectomy reconstruction because insurance coverage, staging and the reconstructive method shape the patient’s cost.

Use the published numbers as planning anchors rather than the amount you should expect to pay locally. For more detailed comparisons, see the guides to implant augmentation costs and mastopexy costs.

A Complete Quote Separates Every Charge

Ask for a written estimate that itemizes the following costs:

• Surgeon’s fee: The professional charge for planning and performing the operation.
• Implants or other materials: Relevant to augmentation, replacement and some reconstruction.
• Anesthesia: The anesthesia professional, medications and estimated operating time.
• Facility: The hospital, ambulatory surgery center or office operating suite.
• Testing: Preoperative laboratory work, medical clearance and imaging when required.
• Pathology: Laboratory examination of removed tissue, if applicable.
• Prescriptions and garments: Medication, dressings and surgical bras.
• Follow-up: Which routine visits are included and for how long.

Expenses outside the surgical package can include unpaid time away from work, transportation, childcare, help at home and lodging when the operation is not local.

Do not compare two totals until both practices have listed the same components. Ask whether anesthesia and facility charges are fixed or based on operating time, what could increase the estimate, and whether implants, pathology and routine follow-up are included.

The written quote should also state how long it remains valid, whether the consultation fee is credited toward surgery, and what happens financially if the operation is postponed or canceled.

The Procedure Name Does Not Define the Final Price

A lift reshapes and raises breast tissue but does not provide the same volume change as augmentation. Combining a lift with implants usually involves more work than either operation alone, but adding two national averages will not produce a reliable combined price. Settle the distinction between a lift and augmentation before comparing quotes.

Revision is even less standardized. Exchanging an intact implant differs from treating capsular contracture, changing the implant pocket, removing some or all of the surrounding scar capsule, or combining removal with a lift.

ASPS publishes no national average on its revision page. It lists implants, anesthesia, facility care, tests and garments among the possible charges (ASPS revision-cost guidance). Ask the surgeon to name each planned procedure rather than accepting “revision” as the complete description.

Insurance May Cover Reduction or Reconstruction

Cosmetic augmentation and breast lift are generally paid out of pocket. Breast reduction may be covered when the health plan’s medical-necessity requirements are met, but prior authorization, documentation and patient cost sharing may apply. The ASPS reduction-cost page advises obtaining approval before scheduling.

Ask the insurer for its decision in writing. Check the network status of the surgeon, facility and anesthesia professional separately rather than assuming that one in-network participant makes the entire operation in network.

Post-mastectomy reconstruction follows different federal rules. When a group health plan or health insurer covers mastectomy, the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act generally requires coverage for all stages of reconstruction of the affected breast, surgery and reconstruction of the other breast for symmetry, prostheses, and treatment of physical complications such as lymphedema.

Deductibles and coinsurance may still apply, and exceptions exist for some church and governmental plans. The U.S. Department of Labor’s WHCRA guidance explains these federal protections.

For reconstruction, ask the insurer about prior authorization, network hospitals, staged procedures, symmetry surgery and whether a later revision will be treated as part of reconstruction.

Implants Can Create Costs After the First Operation

Breast implants are not lifetime devices. The FDA says complications become more likely the longer implants remain in place, and some complications require another operation (FDA implant risks and complications).

For people without symptoms who have silicone gel-filled implants, FDA labeling guidance recommends a first ultrasound or MRI for silent rupture five to six years after surgery and then every two to three years. MRI is recommended when symptoms occur or an ultrasound result is uncertain (FDA breast-implant labeling guidance). Insurance coverage for this imaging varies.

Before choosing implants, ask what the manufacturer warranty covers. A warranty may replace the device without paying the full surgeon, anesthesia or facility bill. Also ask the practice what it charges for a future exchange, removal or complication-related revision. A lower initial price is not necessarily a lower long-term cost.

Verify the Surgeon and Operating Facility

Verify a surgeon’s certification directly through the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Obtain the operating facility’s exact name and verify its accreditation or licensing status with the relevant organization or state authority.

ASPS notes that accredited facilities must meet standards covering equipment, personnel, operating-room safety and surgeon credentials (ASPS facility guidance). Compare prices only after the planned operation, credentials, facility and included care are clear.