- Breast augmentation surgery typically costs $6,000-$12,000 total — more if it's combined with a breast lift, liposuction, or a mommy makeover — and it's almost never covered by health insurance, since it's considered an elective procedure.
- Breast augmentation financing lets you split that cost into low monthly payments, often with a soft credit check, instant decision, and 0% APR options if you qualify — no cash, cashier's check, or credit card needed.
If you've been thinking about breast augmentation — whether that means implants, a lift, or a fuller, more balanced shape through breast enhancement — you've probably already pictured the outcome. What's harder to picture is how to pay for it without draining your savings or putting it off for another year.
You're not alone. Breast augmentation surgery is the most requested cosmetic procedure in the U.S., with more than 300,000 women choosing it every year. And because it's an elective procedure, health insurance won't cover it, which is why so many patients turn to some form of patient financing to move forward with treatment on their own timeline — not their bank account's.
This guide covers what breast augmentation really costs, whether you can finance a breast augmentation (also called a "boob job"), what payment plan and financing options are available, and how to choose one that fits your budget without hidden fees or surprises.
How Much Does Breast Augmentation Surgery Cost?
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average surgeon's fee for breast augmentation with implants is $4,875 — but that number reflects only the surgeon's fee, not the full bill. Once you add anesthesia, the surgical facility, the implants themselves, and post-op garments and follow-up visits, most patients pay somewhere between $6,000 and $12,000 for the complete procedure.
A few things that move that number up or down:
- Technique. Traditional breast implants (saline or silicone) are the most common approach, but some patients choose fat transfer augmentation, which uses liposuction to harvest and re-inject fat instead of an implant. Fat transfer procedures often run higher, since they combine two procedures in one session.
- Implant type (if you go that route). Saline implants tend to be the most affordable. Silicone gel implants usually add $1,000-$2,000, and cohesive "gummy bear" implants can add even more.
- Where you live. Coastal metro areas like Los Angeles, New York, and Miami tend to run higher than the Midwest or South.
- Combined procedures. Pairing augmentation with a breast lift (mastopexy), body contouring, or a full mommy makeover (which may include a tummy tuck and liposuction) can push the total to $15,000 or beyond.
- Surgeon experience. Board-certified plastic surgeons with more experience often charge more — and many patients see that as a worthwhile trade-off for safety and results.
- Revision surgery. If you've had a previous augmentation and need a revision — for implant replacement, capsular contracture, or a different size or profile — that procedure typically costs more than a primary augmentation due to added surgical complexity.
Related procedures come with their own price tags, too. A breast lift alone typically runs $5,000-$10,000, while breast reduction — which is sometimes partially covered by insurance if it's medically necessary — usually costs $6,000-$10,000 out of pocket when it's elective.
Whatever your final number ends up being, paying it all upfront in cash isn't realistic for most patients. That's where financing comes in.
Can You Finance a Breast Augmentation?
Yes — breast augmentation financing is one of the most common ways patients pay for the procedure, whether it's referred to as a “boob job,” breast enhancement, or breast augmentation surgery. Because insurance doesn't cover elective procedures like this one, most practices offer (or accept) some form of financing so patients aren't stuck paying the full cost out of pocket on the day of surgery.
Financing isn't just for implants, either. Patients also commonly finance a breast lift, breast reduction, breast reconstruction following mastectomy, and combination procedures like a mommy makeover — along with related cosmetic procedures such as liposuction, a tummy tuck, rhinoplasty, a facelift, eyelid surgery, a neck lift, or a Brazilian butt lift, since financing plans can often be used across your full treatment plan, not just one procedure.
What Payment Plan and Financing Options Are Available for Breast Augmentation?
Here's a look at the most common plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery financing options, and what to watch for with each.
Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) Patient Financing
Platforms like Cherry Payment Plans let you complete an online application process in about 35 seconds, using a soft credit check that won't hurt your credit score. If approved, you can choose from flexible payment options — a short-term, interest-free plan or longer monthly installments, some with true 0% APR options for qualified applicants and no hidden fees, no prepayment penalties, and no deferred interest.
Cherry isn't the same kind of BNPL you might use at checkout with retail apps like Affirm, Klarna, or Afterpay. Those platforms were built for everyday purchases — clothing, electronics, furniture — and typically cap loan amounts well below what a surgical procedure costs.
Cherry, by contrast, is purpose-built for healthcare and cosmetic procedures, with higher loan amounts (up to $65,000), longer repayment terms (up to 60 months), and underwriting designed around the realities of scheduling and paying for surgery — not a same-day online order. That distinction matters if you're comparing financing across different platforms, since a retail BNPL app may simply not offer enough credit or the right terms for a procedure like breast augmentation.
Cherry has a high approval rate, approving up to 90% of applicants across credit profiles, including many patients who don't have a great credit score — which makes it one of the more accessible flexible financing options if you're not sure where you stand.
Healthcare Credit Cards
A healthcare credit card, like CareCredit or Alphaeon Credit, functions like a dedicated credit card for cosmetic procedures. These often come with promotional interest-free periods, but if you don't pay the full balance within that window, interest can be applied retroactively to the entire original amount — not just what's left. Credit approval also tends to favor patients with a stronger credit score and history.
Installment Loan Providers
Lenders like Prosper Healthcare Lending and PatientFi offer structured installment loans built specifically for cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures. These can work well if you want a traditional loan format with predictable monthly installments, but these loans rarely offer 0% financing options, often require a hard credit check to apply, and a few require joining a credit union as a condition of approval.
Personal Loans
You can also take out a personal loan through a bank or credit union to cover the cost of breast augmentation. Like the specialty lenders above, these are installment loans with a fixed rate and fixed term, so your payment stays the same for the life of the loan.
Credit unions tend to offer lower rates — often in the 10-11% range on average — while bank rates typically run a bit higher, and the best pricing generally goes to borrowers with strong credit. The tradeoff is that they aren't built specifically for surgery financing, so you may not get the same provider integration, fast funding, or specialty underwriting as a lender like Cherry, Prosper, or PatientFi.
General Credit Cards
You can always cover the cost of breast augmentation with one of the major credit cards — Visa, Mastercard, American Express. These are a legitimate option, but general-purpose credit cards usually carry higher interest rates and less flexible terms than financing built specifically for plastic surgery procedures, which can mean paying significantly more over time if you carry a balance.
Cash, Savings, and HSA/FSA Funds
Some patients choose to pay by cash, personal checks, cashier's check, or debit card, or use funds from a Health Savings Account/Flexible Savings Account if a procedure like breast reconstruction qualifies as medically necessary. For purely elective procedures, though, most patients still combine some savings with a financing plan to avoid depleting their emergency fund.
What Should You Look for in a Breast Augmentation Financing Plan?
Not all plastic surgery financing options are created equal. Before you commit, check for:
- Flexible financing options and monthly payment plans that match your actual budget and timeline
- No hidden fees and transparent, itemized pricing
- A soft credit check so applying doesn't hurt your credit score
- A high approval rate, especially if your credit isn't perfect
- True 0% APR options — not just a promotional rate that hides deferred interest
- Special financing options for larger procedures, like combining augmentation with a lift or a mommy makeover under one plan
- No prepayment penalties, in case you want to pay off your balance early
- A fast, simple online application process, ideally from your phone, with an instant decision
Tips for Financing Your Breast Augmentation Wisely
- Get a full, itemized quote before comparing pricing. A quote listing only the surgeon's fee will look artificially low. Ask what's included — anesthesia, facility fees, implants, garments, and follow-up visits should all be spelled out.
- Understand the difference between "0% interest" and "deferred interest." True 0% APR means you'll never be charged interest as long as you make payments on time. Deferred interest means interest was accruing the whole time, and it gets added retroactively if you don't pay the full balance within the promotional window.
- Check your monthly payment against your real budget — not just the amount you're approved for. Approval for a higher amount doesn't mean it's the right monthly payment for your life.
- Ask your patient coordinator which financing partners the practice works with. Many practices already offer a preferred option, and applying through your provider's link is often the fastest path to a decision.
- Consider bundling related costs — a breast lift, liposuction, or recovery garments — into the same financing plan instead of paying for each separately.
- Use a payment calculator if one is available, so you can see exactly how your loan amount and term translate into a monthly payment before you commit.
How Do I Apply for Breast Augmentation or Breast Implant Financing?
The application process for most modern financing options is designed to be fast and simple:
- Prequalify online. Most platforms let you check your eligibility in under a minute from your phone, without affecting your credit score.
- Get an instant decision. You'll typically know right away — or within a few minutes — whether you're approved and for how much. Unlike other loan providers, Cherry offers an instant decision without harming your credit score.
- Choose your plan. Select the monthly payment plan or payment schedule that fits your budget, from short-term interest-free options to longer monthly installments.
- Confirm with your provider. Many practices have a patient coordinator who can walk you through applying, or you can apply directly and bring your approval to your consultation or schedule a consultation to finalize your procedure of interest.
Make Breast Augmentation More Affordable with Cherry
Choosing breast augmentation is a personal decision — and paying for it shouldn't be the reason you delay something that could genuinely change how you feel day to day. With Cherry financing, patients can:
- Complete the online application process in about 35 seconds with a soft credit check that won't hurt their score
- Get an instant credit decision with approval rates up to 90%
- Choose flexible payment options from 1-60 months
- Access loan amounts up to $65,000
- Take advantage of true 0% APR options for qualified applicants
- Avoid prepayment penalties, origination fees, and deferred interest traps
Breast Augmentation Financing: The Bottom Line
Between BNPL financing, healthcare credit cards, installment loans, personal loans, and general credit cards, there's an option to fit almost any budget and credit profile. Get an itemized quote, understand the difference between true 0% APR and deferred interest, and check whether the application uses a soft or hard credit pull before you commit. Ask your patient coordinator if Cherry is available at your preferred practice, or find a provider near you who offers it.
If you're a provider who wants to expand treatment access while supporting sustainable growth, Cherry can help: with a ~90% approval rate, upfront payment within 2-3 business days, exclusive approvals, and the lowest merchant fees in the industry, more of every transaction stays with you. Ready to offer flexible financing? Learn how with a personalized demo from Cherry.