The new price list of the hospital ranking for Allergan Vivagel breast augmentation in Albany is out!

Introduction

Breast augmentation is a popular cosmetic procedure, and Allergan Vivagel breast implants are among the well - known options in the market. In Albany, the release of the new price list for hospital rankings related to Allergan Vivagel breast augmentation is a significant event for those considering this procedure. This article will delve into various aspects related to this topic, including the general cost of breast augmentation, factors influencing the cost, details about Allergan implants, and more.

General Overview of Breast Augmentation Costs

Cost Variation by State

According to data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, as of late 2022, the national average cost of breast augmentation surgery was $4,516. However, the cost varies significantly across different states in the United States. This reflects regional differences in healthcare costs, demand for cosmetic procedures, and other factors.

For instance, states such as Utah, Connecticut, Delaware, and Indiana have higher average costs for breast augmentation surgery, ranging from $5,000 to $16,000. On the other hand, South Carolina presents lower average costs, with prices ranging from $2,500 to $14,000. The table below shows a more comprehensive breakdown of breast augmentation costs by state in 2024:

It's crucial to note that these average costs represent only the surgeon's fees and do not include additional expenses such as anesthesia, operating room facilities, or post - operative care.

Cost in Albany

In Albany, the cost of breast augmentation also varies. At Rockmore Plastic Surgery in Albany County, Latham, NY, breast augmentation typically costs between $8,600 and $8,800. This cost includes anesthesia fees, facility fees, all office and surgeon fees, and post - op care. However, different practices may have different inclusions in their pricing, so it's essential to ask for a detailed breakdown of prices when comparing costs.

At K Plastic Surgery in Albany, NY, breast augmentation with silicone implants is approximately $9,500. The cost details will be further clarified during a consultation, which includes the surgeon’s fee, anesthesia fee, hospital fee, recovery room, and overnight stay in the hospital (if required). There is also a $500 scheduling fee at the time of booking the surgery, which is non - refundable and will be deducted from the surgical cost estimate.

Allegany Plastic Surgery provides the following breast augmentation pricing:

• Bilateral breast augmentation with local anesthesia: $6,664.50
• Bilateral breast augmentation with general anesthesia: $6,664.50
• Breast augmentation with donut lift: $8,419.50
• Breast augmentation with full lift: $10,278.00

Factors Affecting Breast Augmentation Cost

Surgeon's Experience and Expertise

More experienced board - certified plastic surgeons may charge higher fees than less credentialed surgeons. A highly skilled surgeon with a proven track record of successful breast augmentation procedures has spent years honing their craft. They are likely to have more advanced techniques, better judgment in handling complications, and a higher level of artistic ability to achieve a more natural and aesthetically pleasing result. For example, a well - known surgeon in Albany who has been performing breast augmentations for decades may command a higher fee compared to a newly - graduated surgeon.

Geographic Location of the Practice

The cost of the procedure is often higher in large cities where demand for the procedure is greater. Albany, being a significant urban area, may have relatively higher costs compared to smaller towns or rural areas. In large cities, the cost of living is generally higher, which translates into higher overhead costs for the surgical practice. Additionally, there is often more competition among patients for the services of top - rated surgeons, allowing these surgeons to charge premium prices.

Surgical Facility

Private surgical suites and outpatient surgery centers often charge less than hospital operating rooms. Hospital operating rooms have higher costs associated with them, including the cost of maintaining a large - scale medical facility, staff salaries, and equipment. On the other hand, private surgical suites may have lower overheads and can offer more competitive pricing. However, the quality of care and safety standards should not be compromised, and patients should ensure that the chosen facility meets all the necessary regulatory requirements.

Type of Implants Used (Saline vs. Silicone)

Silicone breast implants tend to cost more than saline implants. Silicone implants are known for providing a more natural look and feel. They are filled with a silicone gel that closely mimics the texture of natural breast tissue. Many women are willing to pay the extra cost for silicone implants because of the superior aesthetic results. In contrast, saline implants are filled with a salt - water solution. They are generally less expensive but may have a different feel and appearance compared to silicone implants.

Complexity of the Procedure

More complex surgeries require more surgery time, increasing the facility and surgeon’s fees. For example, if a patient has a lot of excess skin, the surgeon may need to perform a breast lift at the same time as placing the implant. This additional procedure adds to the complexity and time of the surgery, resulting in higher costs. Also, if the patient has a unique anatomical structure or specific requirements, the surgery may be more challenging and thus more expensive.

Additional Procedures Performed Simultaneously

Adding a breast lift or tummy tuck to your breast augmentation can make a lot of sense for some patients, but it will increase surgical time and overall costs. Combining procedures allows patients to achieve multiple aesthetic goals in a single surgery, reducing the need for multiple recovery periods. However, the increased complexity and time required for these combined procedures result in higher fees.

Allergan Breast Implants

Company Background

Allergan Inc. is one of the largest breast implant manufacturers in the world. It started selling breast implants in 2006, and in May 2020, AbbVie acquired Allergan and its aesthetics portfolio. Its biggest markets are the United States, Canada, and Latin America. Allergan’s flagship breast implant brand is Natrelle, but it previously sold implants under its subsidiaries Inamed and McGhan.

Implant Types and Models

Allergan offers a variety of breast implant types and models:

• Biocell textured saline and silicone - filled implants and tissue expanders
• Natrelle Inspira smooth round gel implants
• Natrelle Inspira textured round gel implants
• Natrelle 410 anatomical gel implants
• Natrelle saline - filled smooth round implants
• Natrelle saline - filled textured implants
• Natrelle 133 tissue expanders
• Natrelle 133 plus tissue expanders
• Various McGhan breast implants and tissue expanders
• Various Inamed breast implants and tissue expanders

Recall and Safety Concerns

In July 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) linked Allergan's textured implants to a rare cancer called breast implant - associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA - ALCL), a type of non - Hodgkin lymphoma. As a result, Allergan issued a worldwide recall of its textured implants. When AbbVie bought the company, it was rebranded as Allergan Aesthetics, and it no longer sells textured implants. In September 2022, the FDA also issued a safety communication warning consumers about reports of other cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and various lymphomas, in the scar tissue that forms around breast implants, which can occur with both smooth and textured implants.

Implant Materials

Allergan breast implants have an outer shell of silicone elastomer, a type of silicone with elastic properties similar to rubber. These shells can be filled with silicone gel or sterile saline (a salt - water solution). The choice between saline - and silicone - filled implants is influenced by factors such as cost, the patient's preference for a natural look and feel, and the surgeon's recommendation.

Breast Augmentation Procedure with Allergan Implants

Primary Augmentation

Primary augmentation refers to the first surgery someone undergoes to increase breast size. It is an outpatient procedure that uses general anesthesia. The operation may take anywhere from one hour to several hours depending on the patient and the implant. If a patient has a lot of excess skin, the surgeon may also perform a breast lift at the same time as placing the implant. Textured implants may require larger incisions because rougher surfaces may make it difficult to slide the implant into the breast pocket. Silicone implants may also require larger incisions than saline implants.

Implant Placement

There are two main ways a doctor may place the Natrelle implant:

• Submuscular: The surgeon places the implant under the chest muscle (pectoralis). This technique can reduce the risk of capsular contracture, which occurs when scar tissue squeezes the implant, causing pain, hard and misshapen breasts, and putting women at risk for implant rupture. It also makes breast tissue easier to see in mammograms and is preferred in women with weakened or thin breast tissue. However, surgery and recovery are longer and may be more painful, and reoperation may be more difficult.
• Subglandular: The surgeon places the implant on top of the muscle and under the breast glands. This method has a greater likelihood of capsular contracture and makes it more difficult to see breast tissue in mammograms. Women with thin or weakened breast tissue might not do well with this surgery. But in general, the surgery and recovery may be shorter and less painful, and it is easier to perform revision surgery on these implants.

Incision Location

There are three common incision sites for Allergan silicone implants:

• Periareolar: Located around the nipple. The advantage is that it is more concealed, but it has a higher likelihood of breastfeeding problems, a higher risk of change in sensation in the nipple, and a higher risk of infection.
• Inframammary: In the breast fold. It has fewer breastfeeding difficulties, provides the best access and control of the implant pocket, and is the most commonly used by surgeons. However, it is less concealed.
• Axillary or transaxillary: Under the arm. It has fewer breastfeeding problems but is less concealed, more difficult to perform, and may increase the risk of damage to and unexpected location of the implant.

Recovery

Women generally feel tired and sore for several days following the operation. As the skin adjusts to the implant, there may be discomfort and tightness. Swelling can decrease feeling in the nipple and breast after surgery. In most cases, women can return to work a few days after breast augmentation, but they should not do anything strenuous. Recovery may involve using a special bra or other support to help speed up healing, and some women may need pain medication infusion devices.

Reconstruction Surgery with Allergan Breast Implants

Women who have lost tissue because of mastectomy or trauma may use Allergan’s Natrelle implants for immediate reconstruction surgery or delayed reconstruction surgery. In the case of immediate reconstruction, surgeons will perform the mastectomy and put in the breast implant at the same time. Delayed reconstruction requires another operation but gives the woman time to evaluate the cancer risk. Some women may require more treatment after mastectomy, and it provides time to heal and get healthier for another surgery.

Surgeons typically perform reconstruction surgery in two stages. First, they place a tissue expander in the chest to stretch skin and muscle and create a breast pocket, which usually takes four to six months. Then, the surgeon removes the expander and places the implant in the pocket created by the expander.

Complications and Safety Precautions

Complications

Like any surgery, breast augmentation has its risks. The FDA classified breast implants as class III, high - risk devices. Key complications in studies included:

• Reoperation
• Implant removal with or without replacement
• Implant rupture with silicone - filled implants
• Implant deflation with saline - filled implants
• Severe capsular contracture (scar tissue squeezes implant)
• Asymmetry
• Nipple, breast, skin sensation changes
• Scarring
• Wrinkling / rippling (folds of implant are visible through skin)

Allergan found that 49 percent of primary augmentation patients and 64 percent of revision - augmentation patients will have at least one complication within 10 years of surgery, including reoperation.

Safety Precautions

Women with breast implants will require monitoring and care for the rest of their lives to detect possible implant ruptures. This requires an MRI every two years the implant remains in the body. If an implant is removed and not replaced, undesirable changes to the breast may be permanent, such as dimpling, puckering, or wrinkling. Women who wish to nurse should know that breast implants can affect a woman’s ability to breastfeed. Women should also tell all health care providers who treat them about their implants to reduce the risk of damaging the implant. Allergan requires surgeons and patients to sign its “acceptance of risk and consent to surgery” form before breast implant surgery and recommends women wait one or two weeks and think about whether breast augmentation is something they truly wish to do.

Choosing a Doctor in Albany for Allergan Vivagel Breast Augmentation

Healthgrades lists 155 doctors who perform breast augmentation in Albany. Some of the top - rated doctors include:

• Dr. Susan Gannon, MD, rated 4.60 out of 5 stars
• Dr. Gabriel Kaufman, MD, rated 4.70 out of 5 stars
• Dr. Todd Beyer, MD, rated 4.80 out of 5 stars
• Dr. Meera Menon, MD, rated 4.40 out of 5 stars
• Dr. Jonathan Canete, MD, rated 4.90 out of 5 stars

When choosing a doctor, it's important to consider not only their ratings but also their experience, expertise, and patient reviews. A qualified and experienced doctor can help you make the best decisions regarding the procedure, implant type, and other aspects of your breast augmentation journey.

Conclusion

The new price list of the hospital ranking for Allergan Vivagel breast augmentation in Albany provides valuable information for those considering this procedure. The cost of breast augmentation in Albany varies depending on multiple factors such as the surgeon's experience, surgical facility, type of implants, and complexity of the procedure. Allergan breast implants, while popular, have also faced safety concerns, especially regarding their textured implants. It's essential for patients to understand all aspects of the procedure, including the potential complications and safety precautions. Choosing a qualified doctor is crucial for a successful and satisfying breast augmentation outcome.