The most important steps for patients considering breast augmentation is finding the right plastic surgeon for youself and choosing the best style and size of breast implant that can meet your desires. As part of choosing a breast implant is the consideration of the manufacturer’s warranty program for their implants. That is something that patients rarely think about or even know exists in breast implant surgery.
In the U.S. currently, there are two FDA-approved manufacturers of breast implants, Mentor and Allergan. Both offer lifetime implant replacements should they ever fail. While this means is that one will get a free breast implant for the one that has ruptured, for your remaining lifetime, . but this does not include any ‘installation’ costs that will be incurred. Both manufacturers do offer some financial compensation should the implants need to be replaced within the first 10 years after surgery. For the purchase of an ‘expanded’ warranty, this financial compensation is increased.
Mentor has now come out with a new breast implant warranty program for silicone gel breast augmentation called the Premier Advantage Limited Warranty which does not cost extra. If one has breast augmentation surgery between May 1 and December 31, 2009, an additional $1,100 warranty incentive is provided over their standard warranty. (lifetime implant replacement and optional warranty coverage of $2,400) What this specifically means is that their will be up to $3,500 of financial assistance for operating room, anesthesia, and surgical charges, free contralateral (opposite side) implant replacement, and this additional warranty coverage is free of charge.
This temporary expansion of Mentor’s silicone gel breast implant warranty makes the remainder of the year a good time to consider breast augmentation surgery. As of January 1, 2010, this warranty protection reverts back to the pre-existing optional warranty coverage of $ 2,400 at an extra cost of $100.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana