Many women in Las Vegas forgo breast augmentation surgery, choosing the breast implant method. At Smith Plastic Surgery, we offer a few options, including breast implants and fat transfer. Though wikipedia whimsically notes “boob jobs”, as a breast implant is a prosthesis used to change the size, shape, and contour of a woman’s breast. These Medical devices are implanted under the breast tissue or under the chest muscle to increase breast size (augmentation) or to rebuild breast tissue after mastectomy or other damage to the breast (reconstruction). Dr. Lane Smith did a fellowship at the world-famous Mayo Clinic, doing Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. There he was fortunate to work with some of the great pioneers of plastic and reconstructive surgery, including some of the pioneers in reconstructive breast surgery.
At Smith Plastic Surgery, Dr. Lane Smith meets with you, personally, to explain further. During your consultation, he’ll also discuss options available to you, helping you decide what works best for you and your lifestyle. If you wish to learn more about the breast implant medical device. before your visit, please visit the FDA website.
Some reconstructive breast surgery will be covered by insurance. If you live in Las Vegas and part of the Culinary Union, you should check with your Chapter. These types of surgeries are more commonly to reconstruct areas that have been damaged by trauma, cancer, or birth defects. Some surgeries that might be covered by insurance include:
- Some types of breast reduction surgery
- Breast reconstruction surgery after breast removal for cancer
- Scars left after trauma such as dog bites or auto accidents
- Burn reconstruction
- Defects left after skin cancer removal
- Other types of cancer reconstruction
Things that are never covered by insurance include:
- Breast augmentation surgery
- Breast uplift surgery (mastopexy)
- Abdominoplasty (“tummy tuck”) surgery
- Liposuction surgery
- Body contouring surgery
- Body lifts
- Fat transfer surgery
It is illegal and unethical for Dr. Smith to claim a surgery is reconstructive when it is really cosmetic. Please do not ask us to attempt to lie or falsify information to your insurance company in an attempt to get them to pay for cosmetic surgery.
How much will Breast Surgery Cost?
During your visit, Dr. Smith will evaluate your needs and work with you to formulate a treatment plan that is best for you. After this is done, Dr. Smith will estimate the amount of operative time it will take to complete your surgery. The length of time a surgery takes, varies with the difficulty and amount of surgery (remember that the length of time the surgery takes is the number one factor in determining the total cost of breast surgeries). For example, a heavier person will take longer to liposuction then some one who is thinner, and the charge for liposuction may be more. If there are several surgeries involved the cost for each surgery will be listed separately as well as a fee for all surgeries if they are done at the same time. Because you have to be put under anesthesia and awoken from anesthesia only once, it usually costs less to do several things at once versus doing each surgery individually.
This time estimate of the surgery or surgeries is given to one of Dr. Smith’s consultants who will then figure out the entire cost of the surgery or surgeries including anesthesia, the operating room, and the materials (such as implants), etc… The consultant will then come in the room and give you the surgical fee.
What is a surgical fee and what does it include?
The surgical fee at the Smith Plastic Surgery includes all the costs of the surgery including the cost of the anesthesia, the anesthesiologist, the operating room and staff, any materials needed (such as implants), Dr. Smith’s fees and four postoperative visits. The surgical fee does not include the cost of your postoperative medications such as your postoperative pain pills and antibiotics, and it does not include the cost of your preoperative lab fees, any scar creams or if necessary the leg squeezers (used to prevent blood clots when necessary.) Usually these are relatively small costs and health insurance will cover these costs. Four postoperative visits are usually more then adequate for normal healing and this is included with your surgery. The postoperative visits are usually scheduled for the day after surgery, the first week after surgery, around 4 to 6 weeks after surgery and the 4 to 6 months after surgery. If a patient elects to have more than 4 postoperative visits, there will be a 50$ charge for each additional visit. This is because some patients are more needy then others and may want excessive visits. This is fine with Dr. Smith, but a small charge after 4 visits will help defray some of the office costs and prevent visits that are truly unnecessary. If it has been more than one year after surgery, the cost of a clinic visit is $100.
The Average cost of breast surgery
Below is a list of the average costs of some of the more common breast surgeries. Please note that these are only estimates and that the exact cost will be given to you at the time of your first consultation. The actual costs will vary depending on the amount, time and difficulty of your surgery. Please note that when we are asked to repair another surgeon’s work the cost of the surgery will often be more because the surgery will take longer and be more difficult. The costs are usually less when one or more surgeries are done at the same time. These are the approximate costs of surgeries at the time of this publication and are subject to change. They may also change depending on what the patient actually needs. Some patients are more difficult than others.
Routine breast augmentation: $4500 to $6000 with saline implants, $5500 to $6800 with silicone implants.
Natural breast augmentation (fat transfer to breasts:) $7500 to $9800
Breast reduction surgery: $7500 to $9500
Breast lift surgery without implants: $6800 to $9200
Breast lift surgery with implants: $8000 to $10,800
Liposuction: $1700 to $3800 for each area. Things that come in pairs are counted as one area; for example, one area would be both outer thighs or both arms. The abdomen would be one area or the submental region would be one area.