What Is Breast Augmentation?
Breast enlargement has been a subject of interest for women for centuries. Over the years, a variety of unusual materials like glass balls, rubber, ivory, oils, sponges, and even wool were used in an attempt to increase breast volume.
Thankfully, with advancements in medical technology, breast augmentation has evolved significantly, now utilising silicone-coated saline or silicone implants — both of which are considered safe.
Breast augmentation, also known as augmentation mammoplasty, can modify the shape as well as the size of the breasts and is one of the most popular surgical procedures among women.
Breast size can be influenced by a number of factors, including genetics, weight loss, pregnancy, and hormonal changes. Those with smaller breast volumes may experience poor self-esteem and body image. Nevertheless, it is possible to permanently increase breast volume through augmentation surgery.
Note that the primary purpose of implants is to enlarge the breasts. This surgery is not intended to reposition the breasts or your nipple-areolar complex. Although, you can combine breast augmentation with other procedures to accomplish this.
Quick Facts
What is the downtime of breast enlargement surgery?
You might have to take at least 1-2 weeks off work after breast enlargement.
When do you see the full results of breast enlargement?
The majority of the results appear after 3 months, but you might have to wait for 6 months to 1 year for the final results.
What kind of anaesthesia is used for breast enlargement?
Breast enlargement surgery is done painlessly under general anaesthesia.
How long does breast enlargement last?
Breast implants don’t have an expiration date, but they can last for 10-20 years.
Am I A Good Candidate for Breast Enlargement Surgery?
Breast enlargement surgery can be a life-changing decision, enhancing confidence and improving body image. However, it’s essential to meet certain criteria to ensure the procedure is safe, appropriate, and aligned with your personal goals. Below, explore key factors that can help determine if breast enlargement surgery is right for you.
Breast enlargement surgery is typically performed on individuals aged 18 or older, as breasts are still developing before that and haven’t full matured.
Why 18? Breast growth is usually complete by this age, making surgery results more predictable.
Exceptions: In certain cases, such as breast reconstruction after trauma, cancer, or congenital conditions (e.g. amastia), surgery may be performed earlier.
Breast enlargement surgery can address a variety of concerns, including:
Breast Asymmetry: Correcting significant differences in size or shape.
Loss of Volume: Restoring fullness after pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight loss.
Congenital Conditions: Treating conditions such as tuberous breasts or breast hypoplasia (underdeveloped breasts) due to Poland or Turner syndrome.
Reconstruction Needs: Restoring breast shape after mastectomy.
Having a clear and realistic understanding of what surgery can achieve is essential for a positive outcome.
What It Can Do: Enhance breast size and shape to achieve desired breast proportions.
What It Cannot Do: Solve underlying emotional challenges or create perfection.
Your surgeon will discuss achievable results during your consultation to ensure your goals align with what’s possible.
Surgery is most successful when it’s a personal decision made for the right reasons.
Right Reasons: Improving your confidence and self-esteem and feeling comfortable in your own skin because you are the one unsatisfied with the current volume of your breasts.
Avoid External Pressures: Surgery should never be done to meet someone else’s expectations or societal standards.
Who is Not Suitable for a Breast Enlargement?
You might be considered unsuitable for an augmentation surgery in the following instances:
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Physical health problems (e.g. cancer and infection)
- Mental health conditions (e.g. body dysmorphic disorder and eating disorder)
- Unrealistic expectations
- Silicone allergy
If you’re considering breast enlargement surgery, our expert team at Longevita is here to guide you. We’ll help determine the best approach to meet your needs, whether cosmetic or reconstructive. Book a consultation today to take the first step toward feeling more confident in your body.
What Breast Implant Should You Get?
Choosing a breast implant isn’t as simple as saying you want to go a few cup sizes bigger. The fundamental issue with such a measurement is that bra cup sizes are not standardised. For this reason, implant sizers/dummy implants are used to visualise how different kinds of implants will look on you.
After your surgeon provides you with a sizer bra, you will be provided with different dummy implants that you can insert into the bra to see how much they enhance your bust size.
Additionally, it’s also a good idea to have some before and after photos of results you like for your surgeon’s reference.
Your surgeon also needs to make sure that the new implant will be adequately accommodated by your breasts, so they may take several measurements before surgery, including:
The implant width should be the same as the width of your breast base or slightly smaller. If the implant width is greater than your base width, you will have poor results.
Distance from collarbone to nipple can help assess the symmetry between breasts and the height of nipples. Note that the body can have a natural degree of asymmetry, which can be reflected in the final results.
Assessed by pulling the skin towards the front to check the amount of tissue coverage and determine a suitable implant projection.
Keep in mind the choice of implant is integral to the final results. For instance, placing an overly large implant in a small breast can stretch the skin and make your breasts look unnaturally round (where, naturally, breasts slope in the upper half and curve in the lower).
You should know exactly what you’re looking for, and your surgeon will take your preferences into account, as well as what your anatomy allows. Besides measurements, though, there are a few more things you need to choose when it comes to your implants:
Saline or Silicone
While your implants will have a silicone shell, they can be filled with one of the two: saline or silicone.
One of the biggest advantages of using saline implants is they require a slightly smaller incision and don’t carry the risk of silicone leaking into your body. However, these implants have a higher risk of gradual leaking and deflation.
Silicone implants, on the other hand, have a relatively larger incision size. But their feel is more natural, and their consistency and firmness are similar to breast tissue.
The type of implant most suitable for you can depend on your individual needs, so have a thorough discussion with your surgeon.
Round or Teardrop (Anatomic)
Breast implants can come in two different shapes: teardrop shape or round.
The teardrop-shaped implant resembles more of a natural breast. While it looks like an oval from the front, when looked sideways, you can see that this type of implant is fuller at the bottom.
This can be ideal for those who want to achieve more natural-looking results.
Alternatively, the round implants are in the shape of a circle, with the highest projection at the centre, and the fullness in the upper and lower half is the same.
This type of implant can be suitable for those who require more fullness in the upper half of the breast as well, making the results look more dramatic.
Smooth or Textured
The surface of your breast implants can be smooth or textured — the former looks transparent, while the latter is opaque. Although round implants are usually smooth, teardrop-shaped implants are always textured.
The reason behind this is that the texture ensures the implant retains its position once inside the body. Teardrop implants have a particular shape, and if they rotate, your results can be quite disappointing.
Since round implants are the same all around, there’s no need for them to always be textured; the results will remain the same even if they rotate.
Between smooth and textured, a notable benefit of the latter is that there may be a reduced risk of capsular contracture.
High, Moderate or Low Profile
If you place an implant horizontally on a surface, profile refers to its upward projection from the base. There are three types of implant profiles: low, moderate, and high.
So, if you keep the width of your implant the same, the higher the profile, the greater its projection will be, which can be useful when breasts are mildly sagging.
You can choose the profile according to your personal preference and the advice of your surgeon.
Important: Don’t forget about the breast implant brand!
Choosing the right breast implant brand is crucial. The surgeons who work with Longevita use MENTOR® Breast Implants, which have CE Mark approval and are also approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is a world-renowned brand of implants that has a reputation for safety, efficacy and high customer satisfaction rates. Not only are they durable, but they also have a track record of long-term performance, providing patients with peace of mind regarding their breast enlargement procedure.
What Are the Different Breast Implant Placements?
Implant placement refers to where within the breast your implants will be placed. Typically, there are three types of placements: below the muscle (submuscular), above the muscle (subglandular) and dual plane (which is a combination of the first two).
Placing the implant underneath the pectoralis major muscle is the most popular option as it has several advantages, including:
- Lower risk of capsular contracture
- Minimised risk of implant displacement (“bottoming out”)
- Extra support to implants, reducing strain on the skin
- Better blood flow to the nipples
- Better visualisation in mammograms
- Less sagging of breasts
- Greater implant camouflage
- Natural-looking results
On the other hand, over-the-muscle placement is where the implant is placed behind the breast tissue. Usually, this type of placement isn’t preferred because of the increased risk of capsular contracture, implant visibility, interference with mammography imaging, and problems with milk production. Although, it can be considered for those who have adequate breast tissue and for bodybuilders.
In dual plane placement, part of the implant is below and part of it is above the muscle. It can be suitable for those who have mild sagging, a nipple that’s slightly lowered or tuberous breasts. It also allows the implant to fill out the lower portion of the breasts a bit more, giving it a natural appearance. Furthermore, it has a low risk of capsular contracture.
If you have been recommended this technique due to sagginess, it’s important to have realistic expectations because a dual plane cannot correct noticeable sagging of the breasts. For that, you can consider getting a breast lift (mastopexy) with a breast enlargement.
What Are the Different Types of Breast Implant Incisions?
When it comes to incision placement, naturally, what people desire is a location that is very easily concealed.
However, incision placement is affected by several factors, such as the type of implant, size of implant, breast tissue, and your unique case.
The three most popular incisions for breast augmentation include periareolar and doughnut — both of which are around the areola — and inframammary incision, which is in the breast crease.
Breast implants are commonly placed by making an incision in the breast crease — its size varying from around 3 to 6 cm for saline and silicone implants, respectively.
This type of incision allows for the placement of any kind of implant, especially larger ones. Moreover, it helps in the precise placement of the implant and may also reduce the risk of capsular contracture.
The other type of incision that is quite popular is periareolar, which involves making a semicircular incision in the lower half of the breast where the skin meets the areola. If suitable for the patient and done well, its scar can be easily hidden.
However, periareolar incisions may be unsuitable for those with small areolas (diameter less than 3-5 cm) due to difficulties placing certain implants.
Another type of incision that can be made around the areola is “the doughnut,” where a cut is made all around the areola.
While your surgeon will take your preferred incision placement into account, it might not always be appropriate for you. Your surgeon will carefully consider your case and make recommendations accordingly.
How is Breast Enlargement Done?
Before heading for the surgery, preoperative markings will be made on your surgical area to ensure the achievement of optimal results. After you’ve discussed everything with your surgeon once again and feel confident about the surgery, you will be given sedation to ensure you stay relaxed.
Before the procedure itself, you will be administered general anaesthesia, so you will not be conscious and feel any pain. Once it takes effect, put simply, the surgeon will make the incision and insert the implant (after sterilising it) in its pocket.
Once the implant is in place, your skin will be sutured, and bandages will be placed. The entire procedure can take 1-2 hours, but it can be longer if you choose to combine it with a breast lift or nipple reduction/areola reduction.
Keep in mind that you will have to stay in the hospital for 1 day after the surgery and have a follow-up appointment 2 days after being discharged.
Important Note!
You are advised to register your implant ID cards so that the implant manufacturer can reach you in the future if necessary. For registration, you must first input the serial number given as SN, followed by a validation code placed on the right side of the ID, which can either be a number or a letter.
Patient Journey
How Long Does Recovery from Breast Augmentation Take?
You might need 1-2 weeks off work after having a breast augmentation, and keep in mind that although you’ll notice an immediate difference in your breast volume after the surgery, it can take around 6 months to 1 year to see the final results;
Besides swelling, most of which can take 3 months to subside, some of the other temporary side effects of surgery include itchiness, numbness, burning, firmness, pain, bruising, and mild discomfort. You can also experience temporary asymmetry due to the swelling.
Aftercare instructions will be verbally explained to you by your surgeon during the check-up. Our Aftercare team will also regularly follow up with you to make sure you’re healing normally. Also, you can always reach out to us at [email protected].
In addition, there are a few other things to keep in mind during recovery:
Wear a surgical bra
Wear the compression bra given to you for 4 weeks. It helps reduce swelling, provides support to and aligns the breasts. After 6 weeks, you can go braless, but wearing a supportive bra for most of the time is recommended for 12 weeks post-op.
Massage the breasts
Care for surgical scar
Scars will fade after 12-18 months. To improve their appearance, you can use bio-oil 1 month after the surgery and keep using it for 2 months. Certain gels may also be advised for scar treatment.
Take it slow
Take things slow and easy after the surgery. Strenuous activity, including lifting, needs to be avoided for at least 6 weeks.
Sleep in the right position
Sleep on your back — not the sides or stomach, which can cause pain and harm your stitches. You can start sleeping on your sides 2 weeks after the surgery but wait for 1 month before trying to sleep facedown.
* Aftercare instructions can vary between surgeons, so make sure to follow the advice of your surgeon.
What Are the Potential Complications of Breast Enlargement Surgery?
Like every surgical procedure, breast augmentation carries certain risks, some of which are:
- Capsular contracture
- Hematoma
- Seroma
- Infection
- Asymmetry
- Changes in skin sensitivity
- Malposition
- Rippling
- Rupture
Longevita prioritises patient safety by performing procedures only at A+ internationally accredited hospitals. The surgeons are selected based on their exceptional success rates, extensive background, and experience, ensuring that you are in safe hands.
Can You Get a Second Breast Enlargement Surgery?
Whether it’s to replace your implants for smaller or bigger ones, swap saline for silicone, or replace them after experiencing a complication, it is possible to have a second breast augmentation.
You can also have another breast enlargement if you’ve experienced major life changes such as weight loss or pregnancy after getting breast implants.
It is important to note that you cannot have a second breast enlargement immediately after the initial procedure.
Since it can take at least 6 months for you to see the final results of your surgery, your surgeon will advise you to wait until then if you want to change the implant size. Considering swelling can also affect the results temporarily, you should not make haste decisions or judgements.
On the other hand, if you’re having your implants replaced after a complication, your surgeon may recommend waiting for 3 months to allow for the healing of your tissues.
Breast Enlargement in Turkey Before and After Photos
Breast implants can last you for a couple of decades. You don’t need to get them replaced after a certain period of time if you aren’t experiencing any issues with them. Keep in mind individual results can vary and be affected by weight changes, pregnancy, ageing and even gravity.
What our Patients Say
Don’t take our word for it – see for yourself what patients say about their experience!
How Much is Breast Enlargement in Turkey?
Since breast augmentation is a cosmetic procedure, it is unlikely to be available on the NHS or be covered by your insurance. In the UK, the surgery can cost around £6,000, on average, however, we offer it for £2,500 in Turkey — by ISAPS-registered surgeons in Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited facilities.
Keep in mind that the price of an implant doesn’t vary by its size. However, it may differ depending on the shape, such as teardrop vs. round. Based on your treatment plan, we will inform you of any potential price differences.
Frequently asked questions
Can you feel breast implants after augmentation surgery?
You can feel the implants in your breasts, however, how much you feel can vary depending on a number of factors. For instance, it may be easier to feel them if you have a thin tissue cover, an implant in front of the muscle, a saline implant (silicone feels more natural), a large-size implant, etc. They can take some time getting used to, but they should eventually feel like a part of your body.
Can you breastfeed after getting implants?
Your breast implants shouldn’t interfere with breastfeeding. Additionally, your implants will not harm your baby in any way before you become pregnant or when you breastfeed.
When can I measure my bra size after enlargement surgery?
You can measure your new bra size 3 months after the surgery since it can take that much time for the swelling to go away.
Can I have a mammogram with implants?
You can have a mammogram with breast implants. This examination is important for your safety. However, when getting a mammogram, make sure to inform the technician of your implants since X-rays cannot penetrate them.
Do I need to get special check-ups for my breast implants?
Specifically, breast implants do not require any special check-ups; rather they are subject to regular check-ups every woman should undergo. If a patient feels anything unusual, they can have an ultrasound, but other than that, we recommend that women, especially those over 40, get a mammogram every 2 years.
When can I have a consultation with my surgeon?
One day before your breast augmentation in Turkey, you will have an in-depth consultation session with your surgeon. During that, you’ll also be given dummy implants to try, and you’ll be shown before-and-after pictures of patients with cases similar to yours.
