title: Potential costs of breast augmentation mammaplasty.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Augmentation mammaplasty is one of the most common surgical procedures performed by plastic surgeons. The aim of this study was to estimate the cost of the initial procedure and its subsequent complications, as well as project the cost of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-recommended surveillance imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  The potential costs to the individual patient and society were calculated. Local plastic surgeons provided billing data for the initial primary silicone augmentation and reoperative procedures. Complication rates used for the cost analysis were obtained from the Allergen Core study on silicone implants. Imaging surveillance costs were considered in the estimations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average baseline initial cost of silicone augmentation mammaplasty was calculated at $6335. The average total cost of primary breast augmentation over the first decade for an individual patient, including complications requiring reoperation and other ancillary costs, was calculated at $8226. Each decade thereafter cost an additional $1891. Costs may exceed $15,000 over an averaged lifetime, and the recommended implant surveillance could cost an additional $33,750.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The potential cost of a breast augmentation, which includes the costs of complications and imaging, is significantly higher than the initial cost of the procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level III, economic and decision analysis study.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners/Michigan State University, 221 Michigan St. NE, Suite 200-A, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA. Electronic address: William.schmitt@grmep.com.
authors.forename: William P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners/Michigan State University, 221 Michigan St. NE, Suite 200-A, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA.
authors.forename: Mitchell G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Eichhorn
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners/Michigan State University, 221 Michigan St. NE, Suite 200-A, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA.
authors.forename: Ronald D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Ford
mesh_terms: D018427:Breast Implants / Q000191:economics*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States
keywords: Analysis; Augmentation; Breast; Costs; Lifetime