For an initial breast augmentation surgery you should plan to pay at least $5000 to $6500 for saline breast implants and at least $6000 to $8000 for silicone breast implants. If you find doctors or surgeons who are charging less, be careful. It's imperative that you make sure the surgeon is a board-certified plastic surgeon. There are doctors in other specialties such as dermatology who routinely perform these breast enhancement procedures.

These costs in the United States don't vary too much except in New York City where they may be at least 50% more than the rest of the U.S.

When you're quoted a price for breast implants make sure it includes the cost of the anesthesiologist, the board-certified plastic surgeons' fee, the operating room, the hospital room and any other expenses. Make sure to ask about these fees because the surgeon's fee may only be 65%-80% of the total cost of the surgery.

Make sure the procedure is being performed in an accredited hospital or accredited surgery center. Don't try to cut any costs by agreeing to a non-accredited facility for your safety's sake.

Be aware that when the FDA-approved silicone breast implants they recommended that women have an MRI three years later and then every two years to find out if the silicone implants have ruptured or are leaking. Usually there will not be any symptoms of any leakage or of a rupture. A rupture can happen easily just from someone giving you a hard hug. If leakage has occurred the implants should be removed immediately to avoid silicone leaking into the breast area and into the lymphatic system.

MRI's to detect rupture can cost $2000 or more. Not to mention the cost of worry about developing breast cancer or auto-immune diseases as a result.

Health insurance companies won't pay for breast augmentation or any complications or medical problems that arise from the surgery. Nor will they pay for MRI's to detect ruptures. Saline implants deflate when they are ruptured so MRI's are not ordered for them to check for rupture.

Another serious consideration before one decides they must have bigger breasts and one that few women know about is that your health insurance company may drop you because of the breast implants. Or they might refuse to renew your health coverage or stop covering any other breast conditions or any medical problem they think are related to the breast implants.

Thinking about charging your breast implants on your credit card? If you do this you might be still paying for your surgery if any serious breast implant problems occur. What many people don't know is that it can cost more to remove the implants than to have them put in. Many women cannot afford to have them removed.

If you're thinking about saving money by traveling to another country for breast implants from doctors who are not board-certified plastic surgeons, it will cost you more in the long run to find a surgeon who will fix your problems should health problems arise. Your safety is not worth a few dollars saved.

In any case, getting breast augmentation is a serious life decision. You may be trading your good health for an appearance you think will satisfy your image of what you think is a better body for you. Why not think about natural breast enhancement? The decision to increase your breast size by getting breast implants should not be taken lightly. Make sure to do some thorough research on the health and medical problems and complications that can arise from this procedure. That in the end may cost a lot more than the surgery itself.