While prices for almost all cosmetic procedures in East Asia are lower than in the United States, the cost for breast implant enlargement surgery in Beverly Hills (often assumed to be the highest in the country) may be less than in Seoul, South Korea.

Total cost (surgeon, anesthesia, facility, implants, and miscellaneous) typically ranges between $7,000 - $10,000 for breast augmentation in Beverly Hills. In Seoul, the same package of services may run around $6,000 - $8,000 or more. After adding in the extra expense related to traveling abroad, total cost for breast enlargement in Beverly Hills may seem a relative bargain.

Lack of an attractive cost differential may be explained in part by the price of the implant. Using proprietary American brand name supplies eliminates any cost differential that might be obtained by selecting less expensive "commodity" implants produced locally or in nearby countries.

Silicone gel implants manufactured in China are significantly less expensive than those from Europe or the United States and are said to be favored by patients "on a budget." More knowledgeable medical tourists from the West, however, often insist on a familiar product with a known safety profile, which clearly makes good sense.

Of course, rockbottom prices exist in all cities and countries, from Shanghai, China to New York, USA. The comparison here is between experienced surgeons perceived to be highly accomplished in plastic surgery.

Considering that breast enlargement surgery usually takes only slightly longer to perform than incisional double eyelid surgery, its much higher price tag seems perplexing and may simply indicate a preference among Seoul's busy plastic surgeons to focus their efforts more on the eyes, nose, and face.