Breast augmentation is the most requested consultation at Southwest Plastic Surgery, and pricing is nearly always the first question patients ask. Dr. Frank Agullo doesn’t dodge it. The practice’s starting price is $7,000 for saline implants, $8,000 for silicone, and $8,500 to $9,000 for a gummy bear implant, and it’s genuinely all-inclusive: the surgical facility, anesthesia, Dr. Agullo’s fee, the implants, a post-surgical bra, scar treatments, moisturizer, vitamins, pre-op workup, and every post-op visit. Only prescription medications are billed separately.
What Dr. Agullo won’t do is treat that starting number as the final one for every patient. “The price of the surgery can vary depending on where you are located,” he says. “Some areas in the country are more expensive, because the overhead for the surgeon and the surgery center is higher.”
Why the Price Isn’t the Same Everywhere
Anesthesia team fees, surgery center costs, and what a practice can negotiate on implants and supplies all factor into the final number, Dr. Agullo explains, along with surgeon experience. “Surgeons that are in high demand are usually surgeons that consistently deliver good results, in a safe environment, with top-quality products. And this creates an increase in the cost.”
He’s direct about unusually low offers. “When you see an offer for a surgery that seems too good to be true, it usually is. The surgeon may be cutting costs on things that are really essential for a better result.” At Southwest Plastic Surgery, that means a Keller funnel for a no-touch technique when inserting implants, Exparel for a long-lasting chest block that eases early recovery, generous OR time to work at a careful pace, twenty-four-hour direct access to nursing staff, and every case performed in an accredited surgical center.
Saline, Silicone, or Gummy Bear
| Implant type | Starting price | What it offers |
|---|---|---|
| Saline | $7,000 | Lowest cost, adjustable fill |
| Silicone | $8,000 | More natural feel |
| Gummy bear | $8,500 to $9,000 | Cohesive gel, lowest rupture risk |
| Mentor enhanced oversized (800cc+) | Highest tier | Premium sizing option |
Dr. Agullo recommends the gummy bear category, and Motiva implants in particular, most often. “I truly recommend the gummy type implants, and above all the Motiva implants, because they have the lowest capsular contracture rate and the lowest implant rupture rate, with one of the best included warranties by any company,” he says. That warranty can extend to cover surgical costs for complications like contracture or rupture, or if a patient changes her mind about the implants entirely.
What Actually Raises a Quote
Certain additions predictably increase the price, and the practice names them upfront rather than leaving patients to guess: a revision requiring more OR time and technique, a donut lift or full lift performed at the same time, mesh support like GalaFLEX or DuraSorb used as an internal bra, a premium implant such as the Mentor enhanced oversized line, a longer anticipated surgery, or a transaxillary approach through the armpit, which takes more time than an inframammary or periareolar incision.
“There are really no hidden fees,” Dr. Agullo says. “We do offer packages for additional surgeries at a discount when they’re done at the same time, but there’s really no obligation for the patient to undergo any additional surgeries.” Even if a case runs long, patients pay what they were quoted.
Financing and the Consultation
The practice works with PatientFi, AlphaEon, Cherry, and CareCredit, and also offers direct payments made to the practice ahead of surgery, scheduled around what a patient can manage. Credit cards, cash, and outside financing are all accepted.
A separate consultation fee applies to see Dr. Agullo, in person or virtually, and it’s credited toward the procedure if the patient moves forward. The consultation includes 3D imaging with Crisalix, letting patients visualize different implant sizes and brands on their own bodies, along with physical sizers in the room. It also gives Dr. Agullo the chance to check for volume asymmetry and discuss whether a lift should happen at the same time.
Recovery and What’s Included
The all-inclusive starting price covers the post-surgical bra and scar-care products used during recovery. Patients recovering from breast augmentation are also welcome to pair post-op care with the practice’s Med Spa and Laser services once cleared, for scar management or general skin care during healing.
Revisions, Exchanges, and Insurance
Southwest Plastic Surgery offers a revision window of roughly one to two years after surgery. “If this is the case, the patient is responsible for the OR and anesthesia fees, but I will not charge any of my own fees,” Dr. Agullo says. A straightforward implant exchange down the road usually costs less than the original surgery unless mesh or a lift is added, while a full implant removal typically requires a bilateral capsulectomy, which raises the cost. Some patients choose fat grafting afterward to regain volume without another implant.
The practice no longer accepts insurance for these procedures, as they’re performed as cosmetic surgery. Reconstruction after breast cancer or for congenital breast asymmetry falls outside that, and Dr. Agullo refers those cases to colleagues who specialize in reconstructive care.
Why the Practice Publishes Its Fees at All
“I’d like to think our practice distinguishes itself by providing excellent patient service, pre- and post-operative care, and the latest current techniques and innovations,” Dr. Agullo says. “Because of this, a lot of our fees are on the higher end, and we publish them so patients know before a consultation what it may entail financially, and whether it works for them.” Eighty percent of the practice’s breast augmentation patients travel from outside El Paso, drawn by the reviews, the daily before-and-after posts, and repeat patients who return for additional procedures.
About Dr. Frank Agullo
Frank Agullo, MD, FACS, is double board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He completed his plastic surgery fellowship at Mayo Clinic and serves as a Clinical Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine. He has been named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for thirteen consecutive years, and breast augmentation, including the preservation technique with Motiva Preserve, is among the procedures he performs most.
Ready to Talk?
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Call (915) 590-7900, text 1-866-814-0038, or book online at agulloplasticsurgery.com/appointments. #StayBeautiful.
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Cross-links
- Editorial version on drworldwide.com: “The Breast Augmentation Quote Nobody Explains: Why $7,000 Is Just the Starting Line” (link once live)
- Patient-facing version on agulloplasticsurgery.com: “What Breast Augmentation Actually Costs in El Paso (And Why the Number Moves)” (link once live)
