Donegal at a glance
- Women in County Donegal
- 84,289CSO Census 2022, 50% of the 167,084 people there
- Largest towns
- LetterkennyLetterkenny (22,549), Buncrana (6,971), Ballybofey-Stranorlar (5,406)
- Aged 25 to 54
- 38%of the county, CSO 2022 (Ireland: 41%)
- To Dublin
- 3 hours 20 minutes243 km by road from Letterkenny, outside rush hour
- Nearest consultations
- Dublinabout 3 hours 20 minutes by car
- Typical cost
- €6,000 to €8,100a breast lift, the same range as Dublin
Letterkenny is over three hours from Dublin by road. Ask whether the first consultation and some later reviews can be by video.
What it costs
A breast lift costs €6,000 to €8,100, a lift with implants from about €9,500, and a breast reduction with a lift €6,500 to €9,700. Our price guide shows what's included and what moves the price.
Consultations and check-ups from Donegal
Plan on about four trips: the consultation (some surgeons like a second before you decide), the day of the operation and usually one night, a wound check at about 10 days to two weeks, and a review a few months later. From Letterkenny to Dublin that's about 26.5 hours in the car altogether, there and back, with someone else driving after the operation.
You won't drive yourself for two to three weeks, so book the lifts before you book the date.
That's a long road trip a day after an operation. Many people book a night near the hospital. On any trip of three hours or more, the HSE advises loose clothes, getting out to walk, compression stockings and calf exercises, because sitting still after surgery raises the risk of a clot.
Choosing a surgeon
Every doctor practising in Ireland must be registered with the Medical Council, and only a doctor with specialist registration can practise independently as a specialist. For a breast lift, check that the surgeon is on the Specialist Division in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, using the Medical Council's online register.
Ask where the operation happens, who gives the anaesthetic, how many check-ups are in the price, and who you ring at night if something worries you.
Is it the right time?
A breast lift isn't for you yet if:
- you're still breastfeeding, or stopped in the last six months
- you plan more children
- your weight is still going down or up
- you smoke and won't stop at least six weeks before
Guides
Questions from Donegal
Do I have to go to Dublin for a breast lift from Donegal?
From Letterkenny, the nearest places where plastic surgeons see private patients are Dublin (about 3 hours 20 minutes by car) and Galway (3 hours 35 minutes). Dublin itself is about 3 hours 20 minutes by car.
How many trips will I make from Letterkenny?
Usually about four: the consultation, the operation and a night in hospital, a wound check at about 10 days to two weeks, and a review a few months later.
Is a breast lift cheaper in Donegal?
Not really. Prices around the country sit in the same range, €6,000 to €8,100. The surgeon and the hospital move the price more than the county.
Can some check-ups be closer to home?
Ask before you book. Some reviews need the surgeon in person; others may be possible by video or nearer home.
Who will contact me if I enquire from Donegal?
One clinic, not five. We pass your enquiry to one Irish clinic and they contact you to arrange a consultation. Nothing is booked until you say yes.