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Breast Reconstruction With A Tissue Expander

North Carolina rates for HCPCS 19357

Rebuilds a breast by placing a temporary balloon-like expander under the skin or chest muscle. Over the following weeks or months salt water is added through a small port to stretch the tissue gradually, making room for a permanent implant later. It may be done at the time of the original breast surgery or as a separate operation afterwards, and the later exchange for a permanent implant is charged separately.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Breast Reconstruction With A Tissue Expander cost?

$6,462

Typical total for the visit. In North Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $6,462 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $1,995 to the doctor who performs it, and $4,467 to the hospital or surgery center where it takes place. Done somewhere without a facility charge, you pay only the first.

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$1,995$1,585 to $3,090
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$4,467$2,138 to $7,586

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $4,467 · 10th to 90th $1,122 to $11,220Professionalmedian $1,995 · 10th to 90th $1,230 to $3,715
$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $4,467professional $1,995

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,122.02
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$10,000.00
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,122.02
Median
$1,122.02
Typical High
$2,137.96
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,819.70
Median
$2,041.74
Typical High
$2,570.40
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,511.89
Median
$4,073.80
Typical High
$6,456.54
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,584.89
Median
$2,754.23
Typical High
$3,801.89
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$912.01
Median
$6,165.95
Typical High
$9,120.11
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,548.82
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$3,235.94
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$831.76
Median
$3,890.45
Typical High
$10,000.00
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,202.26
Median
$1,862.09
Typical High
$2,238.72
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,380.38
Median
$4,466.84
Typical High
$17,782.79
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,318.26
Median
$1,698.24
Typical High
$3,090.30
14 more rates with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$562.34
Median
$562.34
Typical High
$630.96
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$223.87
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$251.19
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$851.14
Typical High
$933.25
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$186.21
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$112.20
Typical High
$125.89
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$794.33
Median
$794.33
Typical High
$870.96
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$1,258.93
Median
$5,888.44
Typical High
$17,378.01
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$416.87
Median
$1,949.84
Typical High
$5,754.40
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$1,819.70
Median
$2,884.03
Typical High
$5,128.61
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$954.99
Typical High
$1,698.24
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
80 · Assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$239.88
Median
$380.19
Typical High
$676.08
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
81 · Minimal assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$478.63
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
82 · Assistant surgeon, no resident
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$478.63
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
AS · PA/NP assist
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$478.63

Where North Carolina sits

The same service costs 6.3 times more in Wyoming than in Hawaii. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.

Physician feeFacility fee

North Carolina· 29th of 51

$6,462

$1,995 physician + $4,467 facility

WY $21,505HI $3,422

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.