Boob lift surgery can be performed either in a hospital setting or a plastic surgeon’s private office, usually under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation.
Health insurance usually does not cover this type of surgery because it falls under cosmetic categories, and cost varies based on patient and surgeon.
Boob Lift Surgeon’s Fee
Surgeon fees play an integral part in boob lift costs. Their fees depend on how long it takes them to perform the procedure and are often charged on an hourly basis.
Other factors affecting surgical costs may be your location of surgery and cost of living in that region, doctor fees and supplies used during surgery as well as professional fees of doctors in general.
Cosmetic procedures like breast lifts are usually not covered by health insurance; however, you could potentially make a claim if the surgery was part of mastectomy reconstruction surgery.
Consider all costs related to medical procedures and supplies related to your recovery such as lab tests, x-rays, and recovery supplies such as painkillers, bandages, or surgical garments that you will require during this process – costs that could quickly add up unless discussed beforehand with your plastic surgeon as part of informed financial consent process.
The Anesthesia Fee
A boob lift is typically conducted as an outpatient procedure and under either general anesthesia or local anesthetics combined with sedation. An anesthesiologist’s fee will significantly increase the cost of your procedure; general anesthesia costs more than local anesthetics.
Small procedures, like periareolar lifts, may cost only several thousand dollars while major ones like anchor lifts often require more surgical expertise and therefore require thousands of dollars more in expenses. Where the surgeon practices can also have an effect: women living near coastal cities tend to pay more due to increased competition among surgeons for cosmetic procedures.
Your package will also include pre-operative tests, medications, and recovery garments. Taking time off work to recover from surgery and adhering to post-op instructions will reduce risks and speed recovery, but taking vacation days or paid time off could add up in cost – it is advisable to take advantage of every opportunity for saving.
The Hospital Stay
Boob lift surgery can be performed as outpatient surgery at any hospital; you don’t need to stay overnight at the facility. Instead, someone must accompany and transport you there and back home afterward.
Surgeons will reshape and reduce the size of your areolae during surgery, remove excess skin, and close any incisions made for incision closure, as well as possibly cause swelling and bruising for several weeks afterward. Your physician might place a thin tube (drain) near the incision sites to drain off any extra fluids that accumulate near them.
Complications from boob lift surgery are rare but can include infection, changes to breast or nipple sensation (which generally returns within weeks), difficulty breastfeeding, and difficulty accessing insurance coverage for cosmetic procedures like this one (unless it’s part of mastectomy reconstruction). A qualified plastic surgeon can reduce risk significantly.
The Post-Operative Care
Your surgeon may prescribe medications to aid recovery, including pain relievers, antibiotics, and anti-anxiety drugs – however, these costs will not be included as part of the surgical package. They must be paid out-of-pocket.
After surgery, most women will require several days to recuperate fully from any procedure, which may prove challenging if they have children at home and must arrange care accordingly. Physical activities must also be restricted for several weeks post-op to allow proper healing.
After having undergone a lift, your nipples and areolas may feel different due to having had their blood supply temporarily cut off during surgery. Rarely, this can result in partial or total loss of nipples or areolas; additionally, it could create difficulties breastfeeding later.
Boob lifts typically are not covered by health insurance providers as they are considered cosmetic. However, private health insurers may provide reimbursement if the procedure can be demonstrated to be medically necessary.