Things to Know Before Your Consultation
We have compiled this information to help you make an informed and educated decision. Please let us know if you have any questions along your surgical journey.
Cost & Financing
- Augmentation: $7,000 - $9,000
- Lift: $7,500-$13,500
- Financing Options: Prosper Lending, Care Credit, Alphaeon Credit
Procedure Details
Read through the breast augmentation procedure overview prior to consultation. This will help you become further educated about the procedure. We recommend creating a list of questions for Joseph T Cruise, MD regarding the surgical process.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2015 marked yet another year that breast augmentation made the #1 spot as the most popular plastic surgery procedure in the United States. With more manufacturer and implant options available today, it is unlikely it will move out of the top spot anytime soon.
Silicone vs. Saline in 3D
What is the difference between saline and silicone breast implants?
Saline breast implants
Saline breast implants are filled with sterile salt water. They are inserted empty into the breasts, and then filled once they're in place.
Silicone breast implants
Silicone breast implants are pre-filled with silicone gel. It is thick, sticky fluid that is very similar in feel to human breast tissue. Many women feel that silicone implants look and feel more like natural breast tissue.
Additional info about Silicone and Saline diffrences
Implant Placement
Implants can be placed in three different ways:
- Subglandular implant is placed on top of the muscle and under the breast tissue (gland) only.
- Partial Muscle Coverage, a.k.a. Dual Plane. Only part of the implant is covered by the muscle.
- Complete Muscle Coverage - the entire implant is covered by the muscle.
Read about Complete vs. Partial Muscle Coverage
Breast Cost & Financing
Estimated Cost of Breast Plastic Surgery Procedures
- Breast Augmentation / Breast Implant Exchange Cost - The price varies between $7,000 to $9,000 depending of whether saline or silicone implants are used, if other procedures are performed at the same time, etc. This includes surgical facility fee, surgeon fee, anesthesia fee, operative supplies, implants, and all the post-operative visits.
- Breast Lift Cost - The price of breast lifting varies depending on level of descent of your breasts and whether or not implants are used. A breast lift varies between $10,000 to $15,000.
- Breast Reduction Cost - If your breasts are large enough and cause significant discomfort, your PPO insurance may cover on rare occasion some of the procedure costs. If this is not the case, the price will vary between $10,000 to $15,000. It may be a two stage procedure if implants are added.
Cruise Plastic Surgery accepts the following forms of payment:
- Check
- All major credit cards
- Cash
- Financing: Prosper Lending, Care Credit, Alphaeon Credit
Are you a candidate?
Ideal Candidates for Breast Augmentation
Unlike many other cosmetic procedures, most patients are good candidates for breast augmentation. There are very few reasons which would cause a patient to be an unsuitable candidate. The two primary reasons someone is unable to have breast augmentation surgery:
- Serious medical issue
- Patient takes regularly a prescribed medication, which is not allowed when having surgery and cannot be stopped.
Candidates with Breast Sag
While most patients are a candidate for a breast augmentation, there are some women who may also need a breast lift to achieve their desired result. If you have experienced significant weight gain and/or loss, pregnancy, breast feeding or just naturally have breast sag, Joseph T Cruise, MD may recommend a breast lift with augmentation. Measurements will be taken during your consultation to determine whether or not an implant alone will provide the lift you need or if a breast lift with augmentation is needed.
Incision Placement
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here are several places where the incisions can be placed when having breast augmentation. In many cases, the incision is determined by the preference of your plastic surgeon. There can also be circumstances pertaining to your breasts or implant choice, which will also impact placement of the incision.
- Inframmamory fold: Within the fold at the bottom of the breast.
- Peri-areolar: Exactly at the margin of the areola where the lighter skin meets the darker skin.
- Axillary: Within the axila (armpit).
- Breast Lift Incisions: Donut, Lollipop, Anchor
Design Your Look
Choose your desired look from patients with similar height and weight. You can click this link and view before/after pictures of Joseph T Cruise, MD's patients to determine how you would like your breasts to look after surgery. Select the pictures you like best and save them to your saved Items. You will then be able to refer back to them or review them with your consultant or Joseph T Cruise, MD.
You can click the image below, fill out the form and submit it to our office. You can also click TLIW in PDF format to print it for your own use.
Recovery Timeline - Understanding what to expect during recovery, as well as how long it will take you to be fully healed, is key when deciding when to having your surgery.
FAQ
Discussion Boards
Patient discussions and experiences
When considering breast augmentation it can be very helpful to connect with others who have already recovered from surgery and with those who are currently going through the process. There are several on-line forum sites where you can read posts about topics pertaining to breast augmenation. You can even talk to others and get answers to many of your questions, receive emotional support, as well as get tips and advice.
Some of the popular forum sites are:
Patient Experiences and Forum Posts of Interest:
- 10 things I wish I knew before my breast augmentation journey
A fun and helpful article from a patient who gives her tips on things she wish she would have known before hand. - Breast augmentation journey
26 year old woman details her experience beginning with the research process through recovery. - Women talk about wishing they were bigger after having breast augmentation
One of the hardest decisions for breast augmentation patients is choosing the implant size. - Patient testimonial video
Actual breast augmentation patients discusses their experience and results.
Consultation Checklist
Prior to your consultation we recommend you complile a list of questions to ask Joseph T Cruise, MD. Some of the common questions asked by patients are:
- How many breast augmentations do you perform per year?
- Do you recommend saline or silicone implants for me?
- What are the incision options?
- How do I determine what size and profile to choose?
- Where do you place the implants?
- What are the most common complications from breast augmentation?
- When will the implants need to be replaced?
- How long is recovery?
- How many post-op visits will I have?
- When can i resume driving?
- When can I back to work?
- When can I work out?
- When can I resume sexual activity?
- What surgery center do you use and is it accredited?
- Is the anesthesiologist board-certified?
- Will I need to purchase any special bras?
949-644-4808