Because my left breast was two cup sizes larger than the other, I had a hefty amount of breast tissue removed from that side. On either side, the doctor made a curved incision just underneath the breast—the one on the left is significantly longer because of the tissue removal—and another running perpendicular from the center of that line up to the nipple, kind of like an inverted T. Since reductions and lifts involve re-placing the nipple in the center of the breast, she also made incisions around the perimeter of each nipple (making my areolas somewhat smaller, which is standard for this kind of procedure).
The cost
I did not pay the full quoted price for my procedure because I would be writing this story you’re reading. Without an editor discount, my operation would have cost $20,000. However, given the potential for editorial coverage and my low budget, Dr. Doft graciously agreed to half the quoted price. To be honest, I could barely afford it even with the significant price chop. I took out a small personal loan and will be in debt for a bit, but I have no regrets.
Given the plethora of surgical options, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what you might pay for an augmentation for uneven breasts, but here are some numbers to give you an approximate idea: At Dr. Mahmood’s practice, she charges between $15,000 and $25,000 for breast augmentations. “This is inclusive of anesthesia, facility, surgical garments, and post-operative appointments,” she says. Dr. Doft usually charges between $17,000 and $25,000, and Dr. Teitelbaum says, on average, he charges $15,000.
I can tell you, however, what factors play into these numbers. Location’s a big one: “NYC and LA tend to have overall higher prices due to the fact that business costs are higher in these regions,” Dr. Mahmood explains.
All three surgeons I spoke with for this story say that surgeons can also base costs on their level of experience and the demand for their services. “When a surgeon’s schedule is full, he or she raises their fees, like in any other business,” Dr. Teitelbaum explains. But he stresses that lower fees or less experience doesn’t automatically make for an inferior surgeon, nor do high prices guarantee an elite one.
Then, there’s the procedure itself. Drs. Doft and Mahmood point out that the addition of breast implants raises costs depending on the type of implant (saline implants are less expensive than silicone). Longer and more complex operations are also more expensive, of course, because they require more anesthesia and more time in the operating room, Dr. Doft adds.
