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How Much Does A Breast Augmentation Procedure Cost?

How Much Does A Breast Augmentation Procedure Cost?

Breast augmentation is a type of plastic surgery that increases the size of a woman’s breasts by saline or silicone implants under the breast tissue or the chest muscle. A breast augmentation procedure (also known as an augmentation mammoplasty or a “boob job”) increases the fullness of the breasts and can improve minor drooping.

One of the first questions you’re likely to have about breast surgery is how much it costs. On this page, you’ll find out more about the cost of breast augmentation including:

How much does a breast augmentation cost?

You can expect to pay around £3,500-£7,000 for breast augmentation surgery in the UK. Breast augmentation costs depend on a number of factors, including:

  • the experience of the surgeon
  • the location of the clinic
  • the type of breast implant used (breast implant shapes vary in price—round implants tend to be less expensive than teardrop implants)
  • the type of procedure the surgeon uses
  • the placement of the breast implants

Other factors that may or may not be included in the price are listed below under hospital charges.

Do breast augmentation costs vary across the UK?

The average cost for breast enlargement in the UK is around £4246. A large number of procedures in the UK are done by large companies with set prices.

Costs do vary so you can speak to a number of surgeons to find a price and surgeon that you’re happy with. However, not all experience or implants used are the same. Options offered to patients about techniques to use will also differ. Also check what is covered if you were to experience any issues.

Here are some sample prices to give you an idea of what you could pay for breast enlargement surgery across the UK:

  • Clinic in London: £5180
  • Clinic in Birmingham: £4490
  • Clinic in Manchester: £3495
  • Clinic in Edinburgh: £4050
  • Clinic in Glasgow: £4316
  • Clinic in Belfast: £3950

The average cost is £4246. The costs for many individual surgeons may be higher than the fixed price clinics.

Does medical insurance cover breast augmentation costs?

If you have private medical insurance and are considering having breast augmentation surgery, paying for the surgery with insurance may seem like the best option.

However, it’s highly unlikely your insurance will cover the procedure if you’re considering breast augmentation for aesthetic reasons.

This is because most insurers don’t see breast augmentation as a medically necessity. The exception to this is that some insurers will pay for a breast augmentation that’s needed as the result of a mastectomy for breast cancer.

What about insurance cover for breast augmentation complications?

Many insurance companies won’t cover complications related to breast implants. However, there are policies available which cover some costs. Reputable surgeons will cover emergency problems such as infection or wound problems as part of your costs. However, long term problems such as encapsulation are not covered. Implant rupture has some cover from the implant companies but this only part covers costs. This means if you develop a longer term complication as a result of a breast augmentation procedure, for example, you need your implants removing due to an encapsulation, you’ll have to pay to have this done.

It’s also worth noting that you may need an MRI or ultrasound scan to confirm your implant has not ruptured. This scan is unlikely to be covered by insurance, so you may need to pay for this too.

It’s best to find out exactly what your insurance company will and won’t cover before you decide to have the procedure done.

How much does breast implant removal surgery cost?

According to the RealSelf website, it costs around £3,700 on average for breast implant removal surgery in the UK. Stephen McCulley charges £2,800 to remove breast implants.

Prices increase significantly if you want to have your implants replaced—Stephen McCulley charges from £5,825 for this procedure.

You may be able to have your implants removed on the NHS but this will depend on where you live and the extent of the problems the implants are causing you. However, even if you can have your implants removed on the NHS, you won’t be able to have them replaced.

What hospital charges are covered in the cost of breast augmentation?

What is and isn’t included in the cost of a breast augmentation will depend on the surgeon and clinic you choose.

Depending on the clinic you choose, hospital charges for breast augmentation can include:

  • consultant surgical fees
  • anaesthesia fees
  • medical tests before surgery, such as blood tests, to check you are in a healthy condition for the surgery
  • prescription pain medication
  • medical garments post-surgery, such as compression bras
  • hospital costs, such as an overnight stay, or food and drink
  • follow up consultation fees
  • revision surgery, emergency problems or re-admissions

Choosing who will perform your breast augmentation procedure is a big decision and one that shouldn’t just be based on price. Before you decide who’ll perform your operation, speak to the clinic and ask exactly what is and isn’t included in the price.

If you’d like to find out more about what to expect during a breast surgery consultation click here. You can find out more about how to choose the right surgeon for your procedure with our advice on how to pick a trusted plastic surgeon.

How much does a breast enlargement procedure with saline implants cost?

Saline implants tend to be less expensive than silicone breast implants. Saline implants cost less as they are produced as an empty shell, with no silicone gel in them, and are therefore cheaper to produce. They are filled with saline once they are in position in a woman’s breasts.

Both implants are usually inserted with an inframammary incision, so the length of surgery and recovery time are very similar. There are pros and cons to each type of implant, so it’s important to look at the products as a whole, rather than making a decision based solely on price.

You can read more about the difference between saline and silicone implants here and find out about the potential risks and complications of each implant type here.

How much does a breast reduction cost?

According to the RealSelf website, you’ll pay around £5,606 for breast reduction surgery in the UK. According to the NHS website, you’ll pay around £6,500 for the surgery.

Breast reduction surgery reduces the size and weight of a woman’s breasts. The cost of breast reduction surgery varies depending on what’s involved in the procedure and the experience of the surgeon performing the operation.

The cost to have a breast reduction with Stephen McCulley starts from £7,162. This cost includes the following hospital charges:

  • The pre-op assessment and investigations
  • Surgery
  • Hospital stay and any treatment required
  • All follow-ups related to your surgery
  • Any emergency treatments or re-admissions relating to your surgery within the first year

Bear in mind that what’s included in a procedure will vary from clinic to clinic so find out exactly what you’ll pay for before you agree to have a procedure. Stephen McCulley is regarded as a UK expert in Breast Reduction.

Does health insurance cover breast reduction surgery?

A breast reduction procedure may be covered by health insurance but this is becoming less common. It this will depend on the insurer and your individual medical history, according to the Society of Plastic Surgeons. Insurers (and the NHS) will only usually cover the costs of the operation if you need a breast reduction for health reasons or have extremely large breasts. This varies in different areas of the UK.

How much does a fat transfer breast enhancement cost?

According to the NHS website, you’ll pay between £2,000 and £6,500 for a fat transfer breast enhancement procedure.

Stephen McCulley charges between £2,600 for small area fat transfer up to and £6,047 for full breast fat augmentation.

A fat transfer breast enhancement procedure involves using liposuction to remove fat from the buttocks, thighs, back or tummy and transferring this to the breasts. The price depends on which area of the body is treated with liposuction, the experience of the surgeon and the location of the clinic you choose. You can read more about the procedure with our guide Fat transfer breast augmentation—how it works and what to expect.

How much does tummy tuck and breast augmentation surgery cost?

If you have breast augmentation and a tummy tuck with Stephen McCulley, you can expect to pay approximately £11-12,000.

Many women choose to have a tummy tuck and breast augmentation or uplift at the same time, often if they’ve had children and want to regain their pre-baby body.

Having two procedures during the same operation can save costs (as you’ll only need to pay for one hospital stay and one anaesthetic for example) and it also means just one recovery period after the operation.

However, a longer surgery could put you more at risk of complications so always discuss your concerns with your cosmetic surgeon.

How much does a breast augmentation consultation cost?

A consultation with Stephen McCulley costs £150 for 30 minutes. During this time you can discuss your expectations and Stephen will take you through your options for the size and shapes of your breasts and answer any questions.

Many cosmetic surgeons don’t charge a consultation fee. However, if you pay for a consultation, you’re likely to have more time to discuss your options and concerns in depth with the cosmetic surgeon doing the surgery.

Further resources

You can find out more about the potential risks and complications associated with breast augmentation, including conditions such as capsular contracture, by reading our guide to breast augmentation and the associated risks here.

We’ve also put together a list of frequently asked questions on the complications and risks of breast augmentation here.

For information on scarring associated with breast augmentation read our guide to How to reduce scars after breast augmentation.

To view before-and-after photos of breast enhancement patients please click here.

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