The short answer is yes. Compared to a traditional breast augmentation, preservation breast procedures cost more. But that is only part of the story, as we have to look at what Preservé actually is, and what it provides for patients. That is probably the most important part of this equation. When we look at the choices that patients have that they have never had before, I truly believe that is priceless.
Why the cost difference with preservation procedures?
We are in a pivotal moment in plastic surgery. Innovation, technology, and what patients are actually asking for have all converged at the same time. Patients want a rapid recovery. They want minimal disruption to the breast tissue. They want a maximally effective result without being maximally large. The right shape, the right contour, the right cleavage, the right enhancement for that specific person, with minimal time away from work, kids, and life.
That intersection of innovation, technology, and patient demand is what drives the cost. This is new territory, and it has opened up an era of breast enhancement that simply did not exist before. The technology from an implant, preservation kit, and training that has to be integrated into this new procedure, and truly a new concept in how we view breast enhancement in the United States. The ability to create options for patients from where the implant is placed, in terms of above or below the muscle, general anesthesia or not, and downtime or not. Everyone has a different lifestyle and what is truly important to them, and what they see as the most important part of the procedure, but the true gem is the ability to help control that journey to have a choice in how you achieve the results you truly desire from your breast enhancement procedure.
For years, surgeons and patients were limited by the implants and techniques available. The implant and technology available dictated the techniques that were available for surgeons to maximize their results and minimize the risk of complications. As implants have continued to improve and technology improves, it allows our surgeons to evolve our procedures and techniques that we can offer patients.
Sixth-generation implants have expanded what is possible. You now have a real choice in how you want your breasts to look, what shape you want, and how the procedure itself is performed. We used to steer patients away from doing this under sedation or local anesthesia, as most of the breast enhancement procedures were done under the muscle, and that was difficult to do comfortably without anesthesia for our patients. Today, with modern techniques, patients have choices that they never had previously. You can be fully asleep, sedated, or awake under local anesthesia for your breast preservation procedure. The right decision is the one that fits your busy lifestyle and achieves the results you desire from breast enhancement.
The concept behind personalized care at Austin Plastic Surgeon is that we customize the treatment to your specific needs. The incision can go through the inframammary fold or through the axilla, depending on where you want to conceal the incision. The implant can be Ergo or Round, in the size that fits your goals (and your body frame). The use of our sixth-generation implants has helped expand these options for our patients. You can add an internal bra for long-term support, which many of our patients on their weight loss journey with GLP medications such as Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro need, as their rapid weight loss can thin their skin and create limited support for the breast implant. You can layer in fat transfer or AlloClae to enhance the overall result to increase your cleavage, minimize rippling, or just maximize your aesthetic result.
Preservation may not be the right answer for every patient. But for the right patient, it builds on every technique we have developed over the years and lets us tailor the procedure exactly to what you want in a way that fits your busy lifestyle!
What if you have already had an augmentation?
There is a myth that if you have had breast augmentation before, preservation is off the table. Not true for many of our patients who have had previous breast augmentation under the muscle. It is not currently possible to know how much of your natural supporting ligaments are still intact, but often, many of them are still present.
We can perform what we call a restoration first, then move you into a preservation procedure. The restoration gives you back the natural function and starting point of your breast. Restoration refers to removing the implant from under the muscle and restoring that muscle to its natural position. This gives us mostly a fresh start to then proceed with our preservation procedure. The preservation procedure would then be performed as it would be if you didn’t have an implant previously. This is a great option for patients who have anatomic deformity. Or for patients who have implants that are no longer in the correct position, such as they have moved to the sides or have fallen. Often, resetting the breast footprint gives us a fresh start at achieving our desired goals.
So is Preservation Expensive?
When you compare the dollar figure to a traditional augmentation, yes, it is more expensive.
When you look at what you are actually buying, it is priceless. The incision is your call, inframammary or axillary. The implant is your call, Ergo or Round, in the size that fits your goals and breast frame. The anesthesia is your call, too, from general anesthesia to local anesthesia. Adding an internal bra, fat transfer, or AlloClae is your option as well after discussion with your board-certified plastic surgeon, as all of these things can be used to tailor your experience to help you achieve the breast enhancement of your dreams. The goal is for this procedure to enhance your life, not disrupt it. You and your surgeon design the journey together, instead of picking off a menu. That is what we have built our entire practice around at Austin Plastic Surgeon. Not a fixed procedure list. A journey we design with you that fits not only your aesthetic goals, but also your lifestyle.
You are going to see this movement keep growing across the aesthetic world. Patients are not going back to the old model, and neither are we.
By Dr. Johnny Franco at Austin Plastic Surgeon.
