How Much is it for a Breast Augmentation? Choose Dr. Carlino & the IDEAL IMPLANT®

by | May 7, 2021 | Plastic Surgeon Feature

How much is it for a breast augmentation? At Specialists in Plastic Surgery in North Carolina, you can expect to pay about $7,000 – $8,200 for that particular procedure. With a clear, upfront pricing list, patients who visit Dr. Richard Carlino for their cosmetic surgery can feel confident in the cost of their procedure, as well as their choice in a plastic surgeon. Dr. Carlino says, “With every patient, I work to combine my in-depth plastic surgery training . . . and ability as a surgeon to provide each patient with extraordinary results.”

Dr. Carlino has over 19 years of experience as a plastic surgeon and has helped countless patients achieve their desired look with both surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures. Dr. Carlino was recently recognized as an Ideal Implant Preferred Surgeon due to his expertise working with IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implants. These new implants were developed using the latest technology, and give women the beautiful, natural look they want with peace of mind.

Your Breast Implant Options Explained

Every person’s body is unique, so certain breast implants are going to look different depending on your specific size and shape and how much breast tissue you already have. Right now women have three main options for breast implants: unstructured saline implants, silicone gel breast implants, and IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implants

Silicone gel breast implants have been a popular choice for many years, because they give you a rounded, full look, while also feeling very similar to breast tissue. There are a lot of different brands and types of silicone gel-filled implants out there, including “gummy bear” implants, which have a very firm, cohesive gel inside of the silicone shell. However, what you may not know about silicone gel implants is that they can silently rupture any time after your breast augmentation, and you may not know about it until weeks, months, or even years later. A silent rupture is when the outer silicone shell tears or rips, causing silicone gel to slowly leak out and be in contact with tissue. 

In a 2017 Independent Survey, Women’s Preferences in Breast Implants, “98% of women reported they would be somewhat to constantly concerned about silent rupture with silicone gel implants.” The FDA recommends women with silicone gel-filled implants obtain MRIs or ultrasounds every two-to-three years after primary breast augmentation to check for silent ruptures. These imaging procedures are expensive and insurance won’t cover them, so most women elect not to get them, despite the FDA’s recommendations. 

With the IDEAL IMPLANT, there is no need to worry about silent rupture. That’s because if your implant tears or breaks, you’ll be able to tell with a quick glance in the mirror. Your implant won’t completely deflate due to the unique dual-chamber design, but it will be noticeable enough that you’ll know it’s happened. Many women appreciate that the IDEAL IMPLANT is filled with a sterile saline solution, which is harmlessly reabsorbed by the body if a rupture occurs. Based on FDA clinical trial data, the IDEAL IMPLANT  only has a 3.7% rupture rate over ten years, whereas silicone gel-filled implants are more likely to rupture, with anywhere from a 8.7% to a 24.2% rupture rate.

The IDEAL IMPLANT also feels almost identical to a silicone gel-filled breast implant, due to its advanced design. While an unstructured saline implant tends to ripple and wrinkle like a water balloon, the IDEAL IMPLANT keeps its shape because a series of nested shells hold the saline in place so it doesn’t slosh and move around. Women and surgeons agree that the IDEAL IMPLANT looks and feels natural. 

How Much is it for a Breast Augmentation: Your Personal Consultation

When you come in for a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Carlino, you’ll sit down with him to discuss your personal goals and expectations for your breast augmentation. It’s important that you outline what you’re hoping to achieve out of the procedure so that Dr. Carlino can determine if your aesthetic goals are realistic or not. He will present your implant choices to you and talk you through what will happen before, during, and after your surgery. 

At your consultation, you’ll be able to step into the Vectra 3D Imaging system to plan your breast augmentation. This imaging system will take six photos that are turned into a 3D image by the computer, allowing you to see what your new breasts will look like from all different angles. With up-to-date information on breast implant sizes and shapes, the Vectra system visually approximates the changes in your appearance that can be expected after your breast augmentation.

Learn About Dr. Carlino

At Specialists in Plastic Surgery, Dr. Richard E. Carlino strives to offer patients an extraordinary level of expertise in a very individual and personalized setting. Dr. Carlino attended medical school at Rutgers Medical School in Piscataway, New Jersey. From there on, he completed his general surgery residency at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and his plastic surgery residency at Duke University Medical Center. He also completed his hand fellowship at Kleinert Hand Center in Louisville, Kentucky, and his cleft lip/cleft palate fellowship in Taipei, Taiwan.

Dr. Carlino is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a member of numerous medical societies, including: the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, the North Carolina Society of Plastic Surgeons, and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Why Patients Choose Dr. Carlino for their Procedure

There are a lot of surgeons out there who could perform your breast augmentation, and it’s important that you pick someone who has the right knowledge, skills, and experience to help you achieve beautiful results. Still wondering, “how much is it for a breast augmentation?” When you step into Dr. Carlino’s office, you’ll have this question answered in detail, along with any others you might have.

“Very pleased with the results. Dr Carlino exceeded my expectations. He is very personable and an outstanding surgeon. I appreciate the care I received from the staff as well. Can’t imagine a better experience anywhere.”

Google review from Colleen M.

Considering breast implants in Raleigh, North Carolina? Contact Dr. Carlino today to discuss your options. Simply call (919) 785-0505 or visit specialistsinplasticsurgery.com. Dr. Carlino’s office is located at 3633 Harden Road Raleigh, NC 27607. Call today for more information on IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implants.