Breast augmentation is about proportion, balance, and creating results that look like you—just enhanced. Dr. Neavin's philosophy is simple: the best breast augmentation is one that nobody can tell you had. Natural movement. Natural shape. Results that fit your frame and your life.
Schedule Consultation View Before & AfterWomen come to me for breast augmentation for all kinds of reasons—and none of them are wrong. Some have always felt their breasts were too small for their frame. Others had fullness once but lost it after pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight loss. Some just want to fill out a swimsuit or feel more confident in the clothes they love.
Here's what I tell every patient: breast augmentation isn't about chasing a number. It's not about cup sizes or cc's in isolation. It's about proportion. It's about creating breasts that balance with your hips, your shoulders, your height. The goal is enhancement that looks like it belongs to you.
The most common reasons women seek breast augmentation include:
Whatever your reason, the approach is the same: we figure out what will look best on your body, not what looks good on someone else.
Today's implants are safer and more natural-looking than ever. The right choice depends on your body type, your goals, and the look and feel you're after.
Silicone implants are filled with a cohesive silicone gel that closely mimics the feel of natural breast tissue. Most women prefer them because they feel softer and more natural—especially for thinner patients with less natural breast tissue to cover the implant. They're FDA-approved for women 22 and older.
Saline implants have a silicone shell filled with sterile saltwater after placement. The advantage? If they ever leak, the saline is safely absorbed by your body. They're FDA-approved for women 18 and older. The trade-off is they can feel slightly firmer and may show more rippling in thin patients.
These are form-stable silicone implants with a thicker, more cohesive gel that holds its shape even if the shell is compromised. They come in anatomical (teardrop) shapes that mimic the natural slope of the breast. Great for patients who want a more natural contour rather than a round, "augmented" look.
This is where a lot of women get stuck—and where a lot of surgeons fail them. Choosing the right size isn't about picking a number out of thin air or matching a celebrity photo. It's about understanding your anatomy.
Your breast width matters. Your chest wall matters. How much natural tissue you have matters. If I put an implant that's too wide for your chest, it'll look unnatural and potentially cause problems down the road. Too narrow, and you won't get the result you want.
During your consultation, we'll take measurements and try different sizers. I'll show you what different volumes actually look like on your frame—not in a photo, on you. Most women are surprised to find that the size they thought they wanted looks different than they expected.
Profile refers to how much the implant projects forward from your chest. For the same volume (say, 350cc), you can have:
The right profile depends on your anatomy. We'll figure it out together.
Where the implant sits in your body affects how natural it looks and feels. There are two primary options.
The implant is placed beneath the pectoralis muscle. This is my preferred approach for most patients.
The implant sits between the breast tissue and the chest muscle. Better for certain body types and goals.
The incision is how we access the breast to create the pocket for your implant. The goal is always the same: minimal visible scarring while giving me the control I need to place the implant precisely.
This is my most common approach. The incision is made in the natural fold beneath the breast where it meets the chest wall. Once healed, it's hidden by the breast itself and virtually invisible—even in a bikini. This approach gives me direct visualization and precise control over pocket creation and implant positioning.
The incision is made along the lower edge of the areola where the darker skin meets the lighter skin. The scar blends into this natural color transition. This approach works well but carries a slightly higher risk of affecting nipple sensation and milk ducts. I discuss these trade-offs with each patient.
I don't typically recommend transaxillary (armpit) incisions for primary breast augmentation. While it avoids any scar on the breast, it limits my control and makes precise pocket creation more difficult. If revision is ever needed, we'd need a different approach anyway.
Breast augmentation is performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia at an accredited surgical facility. The surgery typically takes 1 to 2 hours depending on the complexity of your case.
Here's what happens: You'll arrive at the surgical center and meet with me and the anesthesia team. Once you're comfortable under anesthesia, I make the incision we discussed. I create a precise pocket—either under or over the muscle—sized exactly for your implant. The implant is carefully inserted and positioned. I assess symmetry with you in an upright position before closing. The incisions are closed in layers for optimal healing. You'll wake up in recovery with a surgical bra in place.
Most patients go home within a few hours. You'll need someone to drive you and stay with you the first night.
Recovery from breast augmentation is more manageable than most patients expect—but you need to take it seriously. Rushing back to normal activity is one of the most common mistakes I see.
First 48-72 hours: This is the most uncomfortable period. You'll feel tightness, pressure, and soreness—especially if your implants are under the muscle. Pain medication keeps this manageable. Keep your upper body elevated, even when sleeping.
Week 1: Most patients feel significantly better by day 4-5. You can shower, do light activities around the house, and start gentle arm movements. No lifting anything over 5 pounds. Most patients can return to a desk job by the end of week one.
Weeks 2-4: Swelling continues to decrease. You can gradually increase activity but still no exercise or heavy lifting. Your breasts will sit high initially—this is normal. They'll settle into position over the coming weeks.
Weeks 4-6: Most patients can return to lower body exercise around week 4 and upper body exercise around week 6. I'll clear you based on your healing.
3-6 months: Your final result emerges as swelling resolves completely and implants settle into their natural position. This process—called "dropping and fluffing"—takes patience.
When done well, breast augmentation delivers results that last for years. Your breasts will be fuller, more proportionate, and naturally shaped. Most importantly, they'll look like they belong to you—not like something that was added.
You'll see an immediate change in size, but the final result takes 3-6 months to fully develop. The implants need time to settle, the swelling needs to resolve, and the tissues need to relax around your new shape.
Modern breast implants are remarkably durable, but they're not lifetime devices. The general guidance is that implants should be evaluated every 10-15 years. That doesn't mean they need to be replaced on a schedule—many women go 20+ years without issues—but they should be monitored.
Reasons you might need revision surgery down the road include capsular contracture (hardening of scar tissue), implant rupture or deflation, changes in breast tissue from aging or pregnancy, desire for a different size, or implant malposition.
The good news: if you do need revision, it's typically less involved than your original surgery.
The best breast augmentation is one nobody can tell you had. Natural shape. Natural movement. Results that look like you—just enhanced.
— Dr. Tim Neavin
Breast augmentation is one of the most studied procedures in plastic surgery with a strong safety record. But like any surgery, it carries risks. I believe in being direct about them.
Capsular contracture is the most common complication—occurring in roughly 5-15% of patients. Your body naturally forms scar tissue around any implant. In some cases, this capsule tightens and hardens, making the breast feel firm or look distorted. If it happens, it's correctable with surgery.
Changes in nipple sensation can occur. Most sensation changes are temporary, but some patients experience permanent numbness or heightened sensitivity. The risk is influenced by implant size and incision location.
Implant rupture is uncommon with modern devices but possible. Saline ruptures are obvious—the implant deflates. Silicone ruptures are "silent" and require MRI to detect, which is why periodic imaging is recommended.
Infection, bleeding, and poor scarring are possible with any surgery. Following pre- and post-operative instructions significantly reduces these risks.
BIA-ALCL (breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma) is a rare cancer linked primarily to textured implants. I use smooth implants in the vast majority of cases, which carry an extremely low risk.
Safety starts with choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon who operates in accredited facilities. I take this seriously.
Fat transfer is my specialty—I use it extensively in facial rejuvenation—and it has a role in breast augmentation too. But I'm selective about when I recommend it.
Fat transfer breast augmentation takes fat from areas where you don't want it (abdomen, flanks, thighs) and injects it into the breasts. The result is completely natural because it's your own tissue. No implant. No foreign material.
The limitation is volume. Fat transfer typically adds about half a cup to one cup size per session. If you want significant enlargement—going from an A to a C or D—implants are more predictable. But if you want modest enhancement, improved shape, or you're adding volume to the upper pole in combination with a lift, fat can be an excellent option.
I also use fat transfer to improve implant results—smoothing contours, correcting asymmetry, or adding natural coverage over the implant in thin patients.
Here's something important: breast augmentation adds volume, but it doesn't lift. If your nipples point downward or sit below your breast crease, adding an implant alone won't fix that. You need a lift.
Many women—especially those seeking enhancement after pregnancy or weight loss—benefit from combining augmentation with a breast lift (mastopexy). The lift repositions the nipple and removes excess skin. The implant adds volume and fullness.
The combination creates results that neither procedure could achieve alone: breasts that are fuller, perkier, and properly positioned on your chest.
The trade-off is more incisions and therefore more scarring. A lift requires an incision around the areola and often a vertical incision down to the breast crease. These scars fade significantly over time, and most patients feel the improved shape is well worth it.
During your consultation, I'll assess whether you need a lift, augmentation alone, or both. I won't recommend more surgery than you need—but I also won't promise results that aren't achievable with augmentation alone.
I've been performing breast augmentation in Beverly Hills since 2008. I trained at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center—one of the top plastic surgery programs in the country—and completed an advanced aesthetic fellowship under Dr. Richard Ellenbogen, a pioneer of Beverly Hills plastic surgery.
My philosophy is simple: keep surgery safe and keep it natural. I'm not interested in creating results that look "done." I want your friends to say you look great, not ask who your surgeon was.
I take time with every consultation. We'll discuss your goals, examine your anatomy, try different sizers, and develop a plan that makes sense for your body—not someone else's. I don't rush. I don't upsell. I give you my honest recommendation, even if it's not what you expected to hear.
I operate at accredited surgical facilities with board-certified anesthesiologists. I hold hospital privileges at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. I'm board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and have been recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor and RealSelf Top Doctor.
But credentials only matter if the results back them up. I encourage you to look at my before-and-after photos and read my patient reviews. That's where you'll see what I actually deliver.
Results speak louder than words. View real patient transformations from Dr. Neavin's Beverly Hills practice.
Size selection is based on your anatomy—specifically your breast width, chest wall dimensions, and existing tissue. During your consultation, we'll take measurements and use sizers so you can see what different volumes look like on your frame. The goal is proportion, not a number.
Most women with implants can breastfeed successfully. The inframammary (under the breast) incision has the lowest impact on milk production. Periareolar incisions carry slightly higher risk of affecting milk ducts. Implant placement—whether over or under the muscle—doesn't significantly affect breastfeeding ability.
The procedure typically takes 1 to 2 hours. You'll spend additional time in pre-op preparation and post-op recovery before going home the same day.
Most patients return to desk work within 5-7 days. Jobs requiring physical activity need more time—typically 2-4 weeks depending on the demands. I'll give you specific guidance based on what you do.
All surgery creates scars, but breast augmentation incisions are placed to be as inconspicuous as possible. The inframammary incision is hidden in the breast crease. The periareolar incision blends into the color transition around the nipple. Scars fade significantly over 6-12 months.
Silicone implants are pre-filled with cohesive gel and feel more like natural breast tissue. Saline implants are filled with sterile saltwater after placement. Silicone feels softer and shows less rippling, especially in thinner patients. Saline is safe if it ruptures—the body absorbs the saltwater harmlessly.
Breast implants aren't lifetime devices, but they don't need routine replacement on a schedule. Current guidance suggests evaluation every 10-15 years. Many women go 20+ years without issues. Replacement is typically needed only if a problem develops—like capsular contracture, rupture, or desired size change.
No. Breast augmentation adds volume but doesn't lift. If your nipples point downward or sit at or below your breast crease, you'll need a breast lift (mastopexy) in addition to or instead of augmentation. During your consultation, I'll assess whether you need augmentation, a lift, or both.
Take the first step toward the results you want. Meet with Dr. Neavin at his Beverly Hills office to discuss your goals and develop a personalized surgical plan.