Cosmetic surgery prices differ from country to country, so how much should breast enlargement cost? The answer to this depends on many factors, such as where you live, who your surgeon will be, or where you intend to have the surgery.

Breast enlargement in the UK typically starts at around £3,000 but prices can vary costing easily up to £5, 000 or more. People looking to have breast augmentation abroad in places such as Argentina, Spain, South Africa or Eastern Europe can find cheaper prices, but it is important to investigate the cosmetic surgery company, which can lead to difficulty if they are based abroad. Here is a run down of 2008 breast augmentation prices from the Treatment Abroad PriceWatch Survey 2008, an independent medical tourism survey.

Amongst the interesting data it highlights the fact that as currency fluctuates you can save on the price, just as you can lose if Sterling loses value.  Cuba with it’s world renowned healthcare comes in at the cheapest, just £713 for surgery including hospital fees. This is markedly cheaper than the UK’s quote of £4,350, but remember that flights, accommodation and living expenses will have to be added to this. Such a trip could make it worthwhile to take an annual holiday there and have the surgery leaving you free to recuperate in the sun. This is the route many people take to breast augmentation.

Venezuela and Bolivia are next cheapest on the list coming in at around £1,500, but again travel and accommodation must be taken into account. European countries start to look more attractive when considering the flight and accommodation costs, with Lithuania coming in at £1,842. The Czech Republic and Slovakia are both close to the UK and are quoted as costing around £2,400. These may be the cheapest to get to, but it is still important to carry out some background research on the clinics and surgeons, particularly if they do not have clinics in the UK. Treatmentabroad.com have launched a voluntary code of practice and lists the companies that have signed up, and lists among it’s objectives to “drive quality in the medical tourism sector”.

]]> http://www.bestbreastenlargementprices.co.uk/how-much-should-breast-enlargement-cost/feed/ http://www.bestbreastenlargementprices.co.uk/what-does-breast-enlargement-entail/ http://www.bestbreastenlargementprices.co.uk/what-does-breast-enlargement-entail/#comments Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:08:57 +0000 Hannah http://www.bestbreastenlargementprices.co.uk/?p=18 Breast enlargement is something that most women have thought about at some point in their lives, of course not all of them go ahead with it for various reasons, either going off the idea or being put of by breast enlargement prices, but for those that do there are a few things to consider about the process and recovery before jumping in.

Breast enlargement surgery is actually a pretty major operation to undergo, and the recovery period can be lengthy so it is something that should not be taken lightly.  The procedure can be  broken down into many different stages, so to try and keep it simple we will take it down to 3 stages: pre-surgery, surgery and post-surgery.

The pre-surgery stage is where you will first choose the clinic where you wish to have your surgery carried out, you will then have a consultation with the surgeon to discuss why you wish to have breast enlargement, what you would like to achieve through having it, and of cost breast enlargement prices.  It is during this consultation that the surgeon will explain to you the differnt types of implant available and their advantages and disadvantages, they will also discuss the different incision types that may be possible to use. Of course everyone is different so even if you have a friend who has had a certain type of implant and incision that looks amazing, it may be that it is not an option that is open to you - your surgeon is best placed to advise you on this as they have knowledge and experience of what works and what doesn’t.

The next stage is the surgery itself. Breast enlargement is major surgery and as such you will need to have a general anesthetic. This means you will need to be in good health, and ideally if you are a smoker have given up or at least cut down prior to your surgery as smoking weakens the body and hinders recovery.  Depending on the type of implant and incisions you are having, surgery will normally entail having an incision made in the breast and the implant inserted either under or over your chest muscle. The incision is then stitched, bandages are applied and hey presto - job done.  Some incisions are smaller than others and will require less stitching, if any at all.

Lastly is the recovery stage. When you come round from your anesthetic you will initially feel very groggy as with any operation. Once you have fully gained consciousness you will more than likely feel very sore. Your chest will be tightly bandaged and these will have to stay on overnight to help reduce swelling.  The first night following your surgery will normally be spent in the clinic so you can be looked after by a nurse, you will have to sleep on your back and some clinics advocate being propped up on pillows to help with the discomfort. It will be uncomfortable for a good few days following surgery, although the initial discomfort will wear off in the first 24 hours. If you have had drains inserted during surgery these will usually be removed the following day and if all is well you will be sent home with aftercare instructions and some painkillers.

That is basically the process, all these aspects of surgery should be included in breast enlargement prices when they are discussed pre-surgery.

Many clinics have cottoned on to the fact that they can advertise low prices by not including every aspect of the surgery in the price. This may seem a little strange, but when you realise how many different cost aspects there are when it comes to breast augmentation then you will see just how it is possible for clinics to do this.  It is not as simple as it just being the surgery itself that costs money. The procedure is broken down into individual components, each priced up separately so you have, for example, the cost of the implants you chose to have. Now, implants come in many shapes and sizes and different materials, so there is no fixed price for the cost of an implant. Then you have the cost of the operating room, and any overnight stay that may be required, this will vary from clinic to clinic but all clinics will charge for the use of their facilities. The anaesthetists and surgeons fees are next on the list of costs, and depending on the experience and popularity of your surgeon this may well be the most expensive part.  Then lastly but by no means least is the aftercare package cost, this will include any follow-up appointments you will have and should include unlimited support and advice from the clinic in the weeks during recovery.

You can see from this that there is a lot to be included in brast enlargement prices, and how easy it is for clinics to pick and choose the costs they advertise in order to attract business. The last thing you want is to arrive for your surgery to find that in fact the price you have been quoted was only for your implants, or doesn’t cover the full cost of the surgeons fees.  It is so important to make sure you are fully aware of what needs to be included in your quotes, it is common practise for clinics to omit the cost of any aftercare from their prices as it isn’t actually part of the enhancement surgery itself. Many people have found themselves having to pay maybe half as much again in order to make sure they have access to full aftercare following surgery. The last thing you want to have to think about when you are about to go in for surgery is money and how you are going to afford any extra costs you weren’t expecting.

Be sure that you understand exactly what is included in the price you are being quoted before agreeing to anything as some clinics will give you a basic price that doesn’t include things such as the surgeons fee, or the aneasthetic cost, things that the surgery cannot go ahead without. Once you have found a clinic that you are happy with and you feel have answered all your questions thoroughly, then discuss the cost in depth. When you have a price that you are confident covers all aspects of the procedure, ask whether the clinic offers any kind of financing. Finance for cosmetic surgery is becoming a very popluar option, with more and more clinics realising that offering their patients finance also offers them more flexibility when it comes to managing the cost of cosmetic surgery, as while many people wish to have procedures carried out, the cost can all too often prove a major stumbling block.

Normally a deposit will be required, although this may only be for around 10% of the total cost of surgery. Interest rates offered tend to be based on each individuals circumstances, a bit like bank loans, as any financing offered has to be approved by a finance company who will be working with the clinic, however it isn’t uncommon to find clinics offering 0% finance for a period of a year or 24 months. When taking out finance to cover breast enhancement costs be sure that you can afford the monthly repayements, and also make sure that the payments you are making will cover the total cost of the surgery and interest that accrues (if any) over the period of time the finance is arranged for. You don’t want to find yourself facing an unexpected lump sum payment at the end of the finance term. If you are unsure about the terms being offered, ask for clarification on the salient points such as any deposit required, the interest being charged, the amount of monthly repayments, the term of the payments, whether or not there will be a lump sum at the end of the term, and the total amount you are going to end up paying. It may be that the breast enhancement price you are quoted increases by half as much again because of finance package being offered.

Typical prices for breast augmentation range from £3,500 – £5,000 in the UK. Prices vary from clinic to clinic and will also depend on the type of implant you have and the procedure that is carried out. There are then the costs of overnight stays in private clinics, along with your aftercare. Most clinics will offer an all inclusive package, however it is most important you are clear what is included in the price as you could find yourself facing additional bills when you arrive to have your surgery.

In Europe prices rage from £1,950 - £3,000 – again these prices are dependant on the type of implant. As a general guide saline are the cheapest, then silicone, and anatomical tend to be the most expensive. While you would have to factor in the cost of your flight, already there is a significant reduction in price for your surgery. Some European clinics offer packages that include surgery and accommodation where you will receive your aftercare – some may even include flights in their packages however with today’s low budget airline offerings you may be better off sourcing your own flights, just remember to check with the clinic how long you will need to leave between your surgery date and your return flight.

For those willing to travel a little further, and possibly throw in a little excitement before having their surgery, South Africa offers breast augmentation starting at £2,200. While the costs of your flights will be more than those to Europe, if holidaying in South Africa has always been something that has always appealed to you then adding your breast augmentation at the end of your holiday could work out perfectly – again, just remember to check the amount of time you need to leave between having your surgery and your return flight home so you can plan your preceding holiday accordingly while making sure you still catch the flight home!

An experienced, professional and board certified surgeon is the ideal surgeon. Your health and well being should be their main concern, not the breast enlargement prices they are charging, in most cases, price will be at the bottom of their list of things they are concerned with, they charge what they charge because they know they are giving you, their patient the highest standard of pre-surgery consultations, surgery and post-surgery care.

If you find a surgeon that meets all the above, but their prices are still markedly lower than other clinics, make sure you read the small print. Some advertised breast enlargement prices are in fact only a portion of the total cost. It could be that anaesthesia costs are to be added on top, or even the implants themselves meaning the price that attracted you only covers the surgeons and facilities fees. However, on the other hand, don’t immediately go for a clinic that has the highest prices, as this is not an indicator of a surgeons skills, qualifications or standards of care you can expect to receive. The surgeons education, board certification and dedication to your welfare are the most important things you need to look for.