How Much Does A Breast Lift Cost?

Content Reviewed by AEDIT Medical Advisory Board

What is the average cost of a mastopexy (a.k.a. breast lift)?

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the average cost of a breast lift (a.k.a. mastopexy) in 2020 procedure was estimated around $5,000, but there are other possible expenses (more on them below!) that should be considered when booking a procedure.

• Average Cost of Breast Lift (Mastopexy): $4,500 - $5,000
• Price Range for Breast Lift (Mastopexy): $2,000 - $12,000

Candidates considering a breast lift surgery or non-surgical breast lift will find it helpful to understand the various factors that affect the total cost of a cosmetic procedure. The following table offers an overview of potential factors that will contribute to the final price.

Factors to Consider in the Total Cost of a Breast Lift Procedure

What is the difference between a surgical and non-surgical breast lift?

The biggest consideration in the cost of a breast lift is, of course, the type of procedure you elect to undergo. All breast lifts are targeted to skin and soft tissues. A surgical procedure will remove excess breast tissue, while a non-surgical procedure uses alternative technologies to alter soft tissues.

As you would expect, a non-surgical breast lift procedure, like a radiofrequency assisted breast lift, will usually be less expensive than a surgical breast lift procedure. A non-surgical breast lift eliminates high cost factors of a surgical procedure (think: facility fees and anesthesia fees). The trade off is typically the intensity and longevity of the results.

It is also worth mentioning that many breast lift procedures are added on to other breast plastic surgery like a breast reduction surgery or breast augmentation. If your breast lift is going to be part of another procedure, cost and price factors will be very different. This page, however, can still be helpful in understanding what goes into the price of a breast lift as a stand alone procedure.

What affects the cost of a breast lift?

It’s time to more specifically consider the variables we introduced in the first table. Friendly reminder, the information here is a general estimate. Consultations with cosmetic providers always creates the most accurate assessment of the cost of your breast lift.

Despite this, the following information can help you get a feel for the questions to ask and factors to consider during a cosmetic consultation. Knowledge is power… and it’s also useful for being an informed, empowered patient.

• Non-Surgical vs. Surgical: Non-surgical procedures usually cost less than surgical procedures. This is because they are usually less invasive, do not need general anesthesia, and can be done outpatient (less facility fees!).
• Provider: A more experienced, board certified plastic surgeon or specialized provider usually has higher costs for their skills and possibly higher consultation fees. Of note, the consultation fee may or may not be applied towards the final cost of the procedure.
• Anesthesiologist: Just like with the cosmetic surgeon, education, training, and experience will affect cost. General anesthesia requires more expertise and therefore is more expensive than local anesthesia. Most local anesthetics can be administered without an anesthesiologist.
• Location: Real talk, everything is more expensive on the coasts. This is true of plastic and cosmetic procedures, too. The 2018 ASPS Report breaks procedures down by region. The east and west coasts accounted for 64 percent of all breast lifts performed in 2018. More procedures create more experienced providers and higher procedure costs.
• Recovery: Breast lift recovery will vary by the procedure type. Recovery elements may include prescriptions, recovery garments, follow ups, and missed work.

There are numerous types of breast lifts and the most appropriate procedure for a candidate will be dependent on the individual. The table below provides additional details specific to each procedure type.

Types of Breast Lift & the Imapct on Cost

What does the cost of a breast lift include?

Even though we’ve now covered cost elements and overviewed the different types of breast lift procedures, you might still be thinking: what does the price of a breast lift truly include?

The time the surgeon spends performing the breast lift procedure is most often what gets quoted as the ‘average cost’ or ‘surgeon’s fee.’ It’s not an exact comparison, but think of it as your provider’s hourly rate. It helps to keep in mind that your provider has their own business expenses like office rent, staff payroll, professional insurance, and office/medical supplies in addition to their personal salary.

Breast lift costs continue to rise as additional factors are added. Other medical personnel in the room during your procedure (perhaps an anesthesiologist or nurses and surgical assistants), various supplies and tools used during your breast lift (classics: needles, gauze, gowns, gloves, etc.), medications before, during, and after your procedure (possibly sedatives, painkillers, and/or antibiotics), and the charge for using the hospital or facility’s operating room or procedure room.

Another element to keep in mind is the personal expenses you will encounter during your breast lift experience. These may include consultation fees with numerous providers, travel costs, pre-operative care, time off from work, and any recovery supplies you personally purchase during your recovery for your comfort.

How much does a breast lift cost?

Time for the next question: What kind of numbers are we actually talking here? The table below shows cost range estimates by specific breast lift procedure type. These procedure estimates include all of the variables we discussed except for your personal expenses. The ranges are, well, wide-ranging, but they can help give you an estimate of which procedure types are more costly in general. Many providers have financing options to assist with cost.

Cost by Breast Lift Procedure Type

How much does a breast lift cost across the United States?

Location, location, location! In case we haven’t made it abundantly clear, location plays a large role in the overall cost of a breast lift. The ASPS 2018 Statistics Report shows 64 percent of all breast lifts occur along the coasts. Given the high volume of breast lift procedures in these areas, costs in general tend to be higher.

The table below breaks down costs by state. The numbers in this table are from zip codes selected from the capital of each listed state.

Average Breast Lift Cost by State

*these states are presented as national averages as specific information is not available

How much does a breast lift cost around the world?

For those considering pursuing plastic surgery procedures like a breast lift abroad, the following table compares average cost ranges in a few countries. Quick reminder to also add in travel expenses, consider the reputation of the provider and facility, and factor in the additional costs related to recovery when taking into account the listed prices. The table below reflects costs converted to U.S. dollars.

Average Breast Lift Cost by Country in USD

Does insurance cover the cost of a breast lift?

Does insurance cover my procedure? It’s a common question with a complicated answer. In effort to be helpful let’s look at two definitions from the American Medical Association (AMA):

• Cosmetic Surgery: Procedures for reshaping normal structures for improved appearance and self-esteem.
• Reconstructive Surgery: Procedures performed on abnormal body structures resulting from congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, disease, infection, or tumors.

The difference is in the definitions. Cosmetic procedures are not covered by insurance, but reconstructive surgeries may be. In the case of breast lift procedures, there could possibly be a medical indication for performing the procedure in the case of women who are pursuing treatments following breast cancer.

Women who had a mastectomy for breast cancer and are undergoing breast reconstruction may have their procedure(s) covered by insurance. While this is more typical of breast augmentation, as a breast lift is really only appropriate for women with existing breasts, breast augmentations can be combined breast lift procedures.

If a breast lift procedure could possibly be covered by health insurance, the patient’s medical provider will need to document the medical necessity and evidence that alternative therapies have been trialed. The ASPS has more specific criteria you can review with a provider during consultation. One last caveat: Hybrid procedures (those that are aesthetic and functional) may not be covered even with the functional benefit.