How Much Does Breast Augmentation Cost (2025 U.S. + Newport Beach Guide)

Guide:

• Why Patients Choose LEA’s Endoscopic Approach
• Average Cost of Breast Augmentation in 2025
• Newport Beach vs. Other Major U.S. Metros
• What Actually Drives Your Price
• Endoscopic Transaxillary Augmentation: Benefits & Evidence
• Before and After Photos
• Implant Options, FDA Safety & Monitoring
• Fat Transfer vs. Implants (Cost & Trade-offs)
• Line-Item Costs Beyond the Surgeon’s Fee
• Insurance: Cosmetic vs. Reconstruction (WHCRA)
• Recovery Timeline (What Most Patients Experience)
• Risks & Long-Term Considerations
• Financing Options
• FAQs
• Final Thoughts
• External References

Why Patients Choose LEA’s Endoscopic Approach

Dr. Goretti Ho Taghva specializes in endoscopic transaxillary breast augmentation—placing implants through a small incision hidden in the underarm (no incision on the breast itself), with endoscopic visualization to create a precise pocket. 

Peer-reviewed literature and recent prospective data show high satisfaction and quality-of-life improvements with transaxillary endoscopic augmentation when performed by experienced surgeons.

Learn more about Dr. Taghva’s technique here: Endoscopic Breast Augmentation (Transaxillary)

Average Cost of Breast Augmentation in 2025

Two ways to read the market:

1. ASPS average surgeon’s fee (does not include anesthesia, facility, or implants):
   • Implants: $4,875 (2023).
   • Fat grafting only: $5,719 (2023).
2. RealSelf patient-reported totals (what people say they actually paid, all-in):
   • U.S. average (all methods): $7,628 (updated July 19, 2024).
   • Implants: ~$6,400 average.
   • Fat transfer: ~$9,250 average.

Translation for planning: Most primary implant augmentations in premium coastal markets land roughly in the $7.5k–$12k+ all-in band once you add surgeon + implant device + anesthesia + facility + post-op. (Complexity, lifts, or combined procedures increase totals.)

Newport Beach vs. Other Major U.S. Metros

RealSelf’s “Costs by major U.S. metro” gives useful, patient-reported benchmarks. Here’s a snapshot including Orange County (Newport Beach):

Metro (RealSelf)	Average Total
Orange County, CA (Newport Beach)	$7,707
Los Angeles, CA	$8,925
San Diego, CA	$7,719
San Francisco, CA	$9,782
Seattle–Tacoma, WA	$8,427
New York City, NY	$9,445
Miami, FL	$5,450
Dallas–Fort Worth, TX	$6,895
Chicago, IL	$8,290
Atlanta, GA	$6,865
Houston, TX	$6,815

What Actually Drives Your Price

According to RealSelf’s cost analysis and national averages:

1. Surgeon expertise & case volume. Board-certified plastic surgeons with deep augmentation portfolios (particularly transaxillary/endoscopic) command higher fees—and may reduce revision risk.
2. Implant type. Silicone typically costs ~$1,000 more than saline; “gummy bear” highly cohesive gel is often pricier still; high-profile/specialty shapes can add cost.
3. Facility & anesthesia. Accredited private ORs typically cost less than hospitals; MD anesthesiologists often bill more than CRNAs.
4. Add-ons. Lift (mastopexy), areolar/nipple work, liposuction (fat harvest), or combining with a mommy makeover raise OR time and fees.

Note on approach and price: Whether you choose transaxillary (endoscopic) or inframammary, the approach alone is usually a smaller cost driver than surgeon experience, implant selection, and OR time (per RealSelf’s breakdown of cost factors).

Endoscopic Transaxillary Augmentation: Benefits & Evidence

Key benefits:

• A hidden scar off the breast (in the axillary fold) is the top cosmetic advantage. Reviews and series show high patient satisfaction when performed endoscopically by experienced surgeons.
• Direct visualization with the endoscope can help with precise pocket creation and hemostasis, improving control compared with non-endoscopic axillary techniques.
• Quality-of-life gains: A 2025 prospective study found transaxillary endoscopic augmentation significantly improved QOL metrics, psychological well-being, and sexual well-being at 6 months.
  

Balanced considerations:

• The intercostobrachial nerve traverses the axilla; careful, superficial dissection and endoscopic visualization help minimize sensory changes. Technique and patient selection are critical.

Some surgeons favor inframammary for direct access/teaching. Broad evidence suggests both approaches can be safe and predictable when the surgeon is experienced and the indications are appropriate.

Before and After Photos

Explore some before and after photos of endoscopic breast augmentation surgery.

Implant Options, FDA Safety & Monitoring

Saline vs. Silicone (and “gummy bear” highly cohesive gel):

• Saline costs less; rupture is obvious, and saline is absorbed.
• Silicone often feels more natural; silent rupture is possible, so ongoing screening is recommended. Cleveland Clinic offers a plain-language overview of each option and incision approaches (including transaxillary).
  

FDA-mandated patient information & follow-up:

• The FDA now requires clear labeling, a boxed warning, and a Patient Decision Checklist in implant materials to support informed consent.
• Screening for silicone implants: The FDA recommends ultrasound or MRI beginning at 5–6 years after placement and every 2–3 years thereafter, even without symptoms (with MRI preferred if symptoms or equivocal ultrasound).
  

BIA-ALCL (rare lymphoma related primarily to textured devices):

• ASPS and FDA emphasize that BIA-ALCL is rare and occurs more frequently with textured implants vs smooth; it’s a cancer of the immune system, not breast tissue. 
• FDA has tracked MDR reports and continues surveillance; ASPS maintains an updated patient-safety hub.

Fat Transfer vs. Implants (Cost & Trade-offs)

Fat transfer augmentation uses liposuctioned fat injected into the breast—ideal for subtle, natural increases and contouring.

• Cost reality: RealSelf reports ~$9,250 average (patient-reported), reflecting two procedures (lipo harvest + grafting). Many markets price fat transfer on par with or higher than silicone implants.
  

Trade-offs: No device, but partial fat resorption is expected; larger size jumps may require staged sessions. Cleveland Clinic frames fat transfer as best for modest increases.

Line-Item Costs Beyond the Surgeon’s Fee

When comparing quotes, align on apples-to-apples line items:

• Anesthesia fees (provider + medications)
• Facility/OR fees (accredited surgical center vs hospital)
• Implant device costs (silicone typically higher than saline)
• Pre-op testing (labs, mammogram when indicated)
• Prescriptions & post-op garments

Follow-ups/revision policy (some surgeons waive their fee for defined complications; device warranties may assist)

Insurance: Cosmetic vs. Reconstruction (WHCRA)

• Cosmetic augmentation is not covered by health insurance.
• Reconstruction after mastectomy: The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA) requires most group health plans that cover mastectomy to also cover all stages of reconstruction, including procedures to achieve symmetry and treatment of complications (e.g., lymphedema).

Recovery Timeline (What Most Patients Experience)

Cleveland Clinic outlines a straightforward, evidence-based recovery path:

• Desk work: many patients return after ~1 week (individual variation).
• Avoid heavy lifting/HIIT: typically ~4+ weeks; full recovery ~6–8 weeks on average.
• Approaches: surgeons commonly use inframammary, periareolar, or transaxillary incisions—your plan dictates scar care and garment use.

Risks & Long-Term Considerations

Common immediate effects: soreness, swelling, bruising. Less common but important risks include infection, wound issues, malposition/symmastia, capsular contracture, implant rupture/deflation, and the rare BIA-ALCL (more often with textured devices). Implants are not lifetime devices—some patients need replacement or revision over time. Cleveland Clinic and the FDA’s consumer page both reinforce these realities.

Financing Options

Many cosmetic patients use third-party healthcare financing:

• CareCredit® — widely accepted at cosmetic practices; promotional financing available at enrolled providers.
  

Pro tip: Compare promotional periods, APR, and fees; ask our coordinators to walk you through options.

FAQs

What’s the average all-in cost in Newport Beach/Orange County?

RealSelf’s metro table lists Orange County at $7,707 all-in on average; your total varies by implant, surgeon, facility, anesthesia, and add-ons.

Does the endoscopic (transaxillary) method cost more?

Not inherently. Approach is usually a smaller cost driver than surgeon expertise, implant type, and OR time. Choose based on anatomy, scar preference, and a surgeon’s strengths.

Can I breastfeed after augmentation?

Many can. Incision and placement matter (periareolar may impact lactation more than other incisions; submuscular placement may affect production less). Discuss your plans with your surgeon.

How long do implants last?

Implants are not lifetime devices. With silicone implants, the FDA recommends an ultrasound or MRI at 5–6 years, then every 2–3 years, even if you feel fine.

Is fat transfer cheaper than implants?

Often no. Because it includes liposuction + grafting, U.S. patient-reported averages for fat transfer are ~$9,250, frequently on par with or higher than silicone implant totals—yet best for modest size increases.

Final Thoughts

For Newport Beach patients in 2025, a realistic planning range for primary breast augmentation is ~$7.5k–$12k+ all-in, driven most by surgeon expertise, implant choice, and facility/anesthesia. Endoscopic transaxillary augmentation offers a no-breast-scar path with high satisfaction when performed by skilled surgeons—and it’s a signature option at LEA Plastic Surgery.

Ready to see if you’re a candidate for endoscopic, underarm-incision augmentation? Start here: Endoscopic Breast Augmentation (Transaxillary)

External References

• ASPS – 2023 Average Surgeon/Physician Fees (implants $4,875; fat grafting $5,719; fees exclude anesthesia/facility). American Society of Plastic Surgeons+1
• ASPS – “How much does breast augmentation cost?” (reinforces averages and the fee-exclusion caveat). American Society of Plastic Surgeons 
• RealSelf – Breast Augmentation Cost (U.S. + metro table) (U.S. avg $7,628; Orange County $7,707; implants ~$6,400; fat transfer ~$9,250). RealSelf.com 
• Cleveland Clinic – Breast Augmentation (incision options incl. transaxillary, recovery ~6–8 weeks, risks). Cleveland Clinic 
• FDA – Breast Implants Labeling / Patient Decision Checklist (boxed warning; informed consent materials). FDA Access Data
• FDA – Screening Guidance (ultrasound or MRI at 5–6 years, then every 2–3 years). U.S. Food and Drug Administration Access Data
• ASPS – BIA-ALCL summary (more frequent with textured implants; lifetime risk estimates). American Society of Plastic Surgeons
• FDA – Consumer update: “What to know about breast implants” (BIA-ALCL occurs more often with textured implants). U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• Prospective & review literature on endoscopic transaxillary augmentation (QoL improvements; safety & satisfaction; technique refinements). PubMed
• WHCRA – Federal protections for post-mastectomy reconstruction (U.S. Dept. of Labor & CMS fact sheet). DOLCMS
• CareCredit – Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Financing (promotional financing at enrolled providers). CareCredit