Breast Implants in Antalya, Turkey

Breast augmentation surgery is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures worldwide today. Breast implants play a significant role in boosting women’s self-confidence and quality of life. However, before embarking on this journey, it is your right to be fully informed about every detail, from the types of implants to the associated risks.

What Is Breast Augmentation Surgery?

Breast augmentation surgery in Turkey is a procedure in which an implant is surgically placed beneath the breast tissue or chest muscle, or fat transfer is performed, with the aim of increasing the size, shape and fullness of the breasts.

Reasons For Undergoing Breast Augmentation Surgery

Aesthetic and Cosmetic Reasons

Many women opt for this operation to achieve more proportionate body contours and improve their physical appearance:

• Dissatisfaction with Current Volume: The most common reason is to increase volume for women who consider their breasts to be structurally small (hypoplasia) or who wish to have fuller and larger breasts.
• Changes Over Time: It is chosen to correct conditions such as loss of volume in breast tissue (involution) and sagging of the breasts following ageing, pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Breast Asymmetry: This procedure is performed to balance differences in size or shape between the two breasts (asymmetry) and achieve a more symmetrical appearance.
• Improving Body Proportions: The aim is to make the size and proportions of the breasts more harmonious with the individual’s height, weight and overall body structure.

Reconstructive Reasons

These reasons generally relate to a medical necessity or the repair of physical damage:

• Post-mastectomy reconstruction: This is used to restore the contour and volume of the breast in patients who have had a breast removed (mastectomy) due to breast cancer or other conditions.
• Congenital Anomalies: Aimed at correcting congenital absence of the breast or developmental abnormalities (e.g., Poland syndrome; absence of the pectoral muscle and breast tissue).
• Trauma and Injuries: Performed to correct deformities in the breast tissue resulting from accidents, serious injuries or burns.
• Matching the Other Breast: This is performed following a unilateral reconstruction operation to make the other healthy breast (the contralateral breast) resemble the reconstructed breast and to achieve symmetry.

Psychological and Social Reasons

The psychological effects of breast augmentation surgery are just as decisive a factor for patients as its physical outcomes:

• Increased Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem: Many women report an increase in self-confidence and a more positive outlook on their social lives, alongside an improved body image following the operation.
• Improved Quality of Life: Studies show that following a successful breast augmentation operation, patients experience improvements in their psychosocial well-being and sexual lives.

Other Special Cases

• Gender Affirmation Procedures: Used to create breast tissue in individuals transitioning from male to female.
• Combination with Breast Lift: In patients with mild sagging (ptosis), implant placement alone may sometimes provide a more lifted appearance. However, in cases of severe sagging, the procedure is usually combined with a breast lift (mastopexy).

What is a breast implant?

Breast implants are prosthetic devices surgically placed in the breast to increase its size and proportions or to restore its contour and volume. These implants essentially consist of an outer shell and an inner filling material. The outer shell is now made from silicone elastomer in almost all implants, and its surface texture can be either smooth or textured.

Types of breast implants

During surgical planning, the surgeon determines the most suitable type of implant by assessing the patient’s height, weight, the amount of existing breast tissue and skin elasticity. It should be borne in mind that breast implants are not lifelong devices and may need to be replaced over time due to reasons such as rupture or capsular contracture.

Types of Implants by Filling Material

• Silicone Gel Implants: These consist of an outer shell made of silicone elastomer and an inner core of silicone gel. As they provide the sensation (on palpation) closest to natural breast tissue, they are the most popular choice worldwide. Modern silicone implants used today feature cohesive (form-stable) gel technology, which allows them to retain their shape even if the outer shell ruptures.
• Saline Implants: These are filled with sterile saline solution (sodium chloride solution). As they can be filled to the desired volume by the surgeon during the operation, they can be inserted through a smaller incision. In the event of a rupture, the fluid is safely absorbed by the body; however, it provides a less natural feel compared to silicone and carries a higher risk of ‘rippling’.

Types of Implants by Shape

• Round Implants: Provide greater fullness in the upper part of the breast (upper pole). They do not distort the shape of the breast, even if they rotate inside.
• Anatomical (Teardrop) Implants: By mimicking the natural shape of the breast, they create more volume in the lower part of the breast and provide a slight slope in the upper part. To prevent these implants from rotating inside the body, they usually need to have a textured surface.

Types of Implants Based on Surface Texture

• Smooth-Surface Implants: Their surfaces are smooth. They may feel softer than textured surfaces, but the risk of capsular contracture may be slightly higher.
• Textured-Surface Implants: These allow the breast implant to adhere better to the tissue and reduce the risk of displacement or rotation. They are particularly preferred for stabilisation in anatomical implants.
• Micro-polyurethane-Coated Implants: These are implants with a layer of polyurethane foam coated over the silicone shell. This coating is designed to integrate with the tissue formed by the body, thereby reducing the risk of capsular contracture (breast hardening) to very low levels, such as 0–3 per cent.

Profile and Projection Options

Implants also vary according to how far they project forward from the ribcage:

• Low, Medium, High and Extra-High Profile: Even if they have the same base width, a high-profile implant makes the breast appear more prominent and fuller, whilst low-profile implants offer a flatter and more natural appearance.

Degrees of Cohesiveness

In particular, with the options offered by certain brands, the fluidity or firmness levels of the silicone gel (e.g., Soft, Soft Touch, Cohesive) can be customised according to the patient’s desired softness or shape control.

Comparison of Breast Implants

Comparison of Breast Implants by Filling Material

Breast implants are divided into two main groups based on the filling material they contain, and each has its own specific advantages and disadvantages:

Breast Implant Shape and Surface Texture Options

The external shape and surface texture of the implant directly affect the aesthetic outcome and the risk of complications:

Breast Implant Placement (Pocket) and Incision Site Options

The surgical technique determines where in the body the implant will be placed and the route by which it will be inserted:

Key Complications to Be Aware Of

The following are conditions that may arise following implant surgery:

How Are Breast Implants Inserted?

The process of inserting breast implants consists of several basic stages and technical options, which vary depending on the patient’s anatomy, the type of implant selected and the surgeon’s preference.

Pre-operative Preparation and Anaesthesia

• Planning: Immediately before the operation, the surgeon uses special marking pens to draw on the patient’s chest area to determine the exact location where the implant will be placed.
• Anaesthesia: Breast augmentation surgery in Antalya is usually performed under general anaesthesia, and the procedure typically lasts between 1 and 2 hours.
• Sterilisation: To reduce the risk of infection, the breast pocket is usually irrigated with antibiotic solutions (triple antibiotic irrigation) during the operation.

Incision Sites

To insert the implant, the surgeon makes an incision in an area where the scar can be concealed most effectively and where the best visual access is available. The main methods are as follows:

• Inframammary Fold: This is the most commonly preferred method. It allows the surgeon the best possible view of the surgical site, and the resulting scar is concealed within the natural crease beneath the breast.
• Around the Nipple (Periareolar): The incision is made along the lower edge of the areola (the dark-coloured area around the nipple). Although the scars blend well with the skin colour in this area, this method may increase the risk of reduced sensation in the nipple or a decrease in breastfeeding ability (due to the severing of milk ducts).
• Transaxillary: The incision is made in a crease in the armpit, leaving no scar on the breast itself. It is generally ideal for saline implants, but inserting silicone implants via this route is more difficult.
• Umbilical (Transumbilical): In this rarely used method, the implant is inserted through the navel and guided to the breast via a tunnel.

The ‘Pocket’ Where the Implant Will Be Placed (Placement)

Once the incision has been made, the surgeon creates a space (pocket) into which the implant will be placed. There are three main placement options:

• Above the Muscle / Behind the Breast Tissue (Subglandular): The implant is placed above the chest muscle but immediately behind the breast tissue. The recovery process is generally less painful, but the edges of the implant (particularly in very slim patients) may be more visible through the skin.
• Submuscular / Subpectoral: The breast implant is placed between the rib cage and the pectoralis major muscle. This method ensures the implant is covered by more tissue, providing a more natural appearance and reducing the risk of ‘rippling’. However, post-operative pain is greater, and displacement of the implant (animation deformity) may occur when the muscle contracts.
• Dual Plane: This is a modern combined technique in which the upper part of the implant lies beneath the muscle, whilst the lower part lies beneath the breast tissue. This technique both protects the muscle and helps to correct mild sagging of the breast.

Placement and Closure

• Use of the Keller Funnel: Some surgeons use a sterile device known as the ‘Keller Funnel’—which resembles a piping bag—to place the implant without damaging its sheath and to minimise contact with the skin (and thus the risk of bacterial contamination).
• Closure: Once the breast implant has been inserted, the incision is sutured. Self-dissolving sutures are usually preferred. In some cases, small temporary drains may be inserted to drain any fluid that has accumulated inside.

First Steps After Surgery

Immediately after surgery, patients are usually given a medical support bra (sports bra-style) to wear for approximately 6 weeks. It generally takes between 2 and 4 months for the implants to settle fully into place and for the breast to take on its final shape.

Post-operative care and precautions

Although the recovery process following breast augmentation surgery varies depending on the surgical technique and individual factors, the general care guidelines and precautions outlined in the literature are as follows:

The First Few Days After Surgery and the Hospital Stay

• Hospital Stay: Although the operation is usually performed as a day procedure (outpatient), it may sometimes be necessary to stay in hospital for 1 or 2 nights for pain management or at the surgeon’s discretion.
• Pain Management: Pain is usually minimal and subsides rapidly after the first week. You should take the painkillers prescribed by your doctor regularly for as long as you need them.
• Drains: If drains have been inserted, these are usually removed by nurses 24–48 hours after surgery, depending on the volume and colour of the fluid draining from them.

Special Clothing and Bra Use

• Supportive Bra: Immediately following the operation and for approximately 6 weeks, you must wear a supportive, underwire-free, sports-style surgical bra day and night. This bra helps to reduce swelling and allows the implants to settle into shape.
• Breast Band: In some cases, the surgeon may ask you to wear an additional breast band over the bra to ensure the implant remains in the correct position.

Physical Activities and Daily Life

• Returning to Work: If you have a desk-based job, you can usually return within 1–2 weeks.
• Driving: You must not drive immediately after the operation or whilst under the influence of narcotic painkillers. You are usually permitted to drive after 2 weeks or when you can fasten your seatbelt without pain.
• Exercise and Sport: Light walks (early mobilisation) are encouraged in the early stages. However, you should avoid lifting heavy objects and strenuous sports for the first 2–3 weeks. Sports that place strain on the upper body, such as tennis, swimming or aerobics, can usually be resumed after 6 weeks.
• Sleeping Position: It is recommended that you sleep on your back for a while to stabilise the position of the implants.

Wound Care and Hygiene

• Showering: If waterproof dressings have been used, you can usually have a shower 1 or 2 days after the operation. However, having a bath, swimming or getting into water is not permitted until the wound has fully healed (usually 4–6 weeks).
• Scars: The stitches are usually of the self-dissolving type. Once the wounds have fully healed (approximately 2–3 weeks), it is recommended to massage the area with unscented moisturisers to help the scars fade and to use a high-factor (SPF 30+) sun cream for at least 1 year.

Recovery Timeline and Follow-up

• Settling-in Period: The breasts may appear very high and firm at first; it takes an average of 2–4 months for the swelling to subside and for the implants to settle into their natural shape.
• Follow-up Appointments: A dressing change is usually carried out in the first week, followed by a check-up with the surgeon in weeks 4–6.
• Long-Term Monitoring: To detect ‘silent ruptures’ in silicone implants, it is recommended to have an MRI or ultrasound scan 5–6 years after implant surgery and every 2–3 years thereafter.

When Should You Consult Your Doctor?

If you notice any of the following symptoms, consult your surgeon without delay:

• Excessive warmth, redness, swelling or severe pain in the breast.
• Discharge from the surgical incision site.
• Sudden asymmetry or change in the shape of the breast.
• Sudden swelling on one side of the breast that occurs many years after surgery (this is important in relation to the risk of BIA-ALCL).

Cost of Breast Implants in Antalya, Turkey

In Turkey, breast implant prices are generally offered as ‘all-inclusive’ packages ranging from €3,000 to €6,500. The price may vary depending on the type of implant chosen, the surgeon’s experience and the contents of the package.

Factors Affecting Price

The main reasons for price differences are as follows:

• Type of Implant: Brands such as Motiva and Mentor, and cohesive gel implants known as ‘gummy bear’ implants, are more expensive than standard silicone implants.
• Surgeon and Clinic: Opting for an experienced surgeon and a hospital that meets international standards, such as JCI accreditation, increases the price.
• Package Contents: When comparing prices, it is very important to pay attention to what is included in the package. Comprehensive packages generally include the operation, anaesthesia, hospital and hotel accommodation, transfers and medication.

International Price Comparison

Prices in Turkey are significantly lower than in European countries such as Germany (approximately €6,000–€10,000) and France (approximately €6,500–€8,000). This difference becomes even more advantageous as the packages usually include services such as hotel accommodation and transfers.

What’s Included in ‘All-Inclusive’ Packages

Comprehensive packages usually include the following:

• Surgery fee and anaesthesia
• FDA-approved implants
• In-hospital stay and Flexible Hotel Accommodation: Options ranging from charming boutique hotels to 5-star resorts in Antalya for the patient and an accompanying guest
• VIP airport transfers
• Post-operative check-ups and medication

Please contact Medcarya for a definitive price quote and personalised cost information.