Breast augmentation involves more decisions than many patients expect going in — not just "bigger or smaller," but implant shape, profile, placement and material, each of which shapes the final look and feel. This guide breaks down the main options and how surgeons typically help patients arrive at the right choice.
Implant Shape & Profile Options
Modern breast implants come in two broad shapes. Round implants are symmetrical in every direction, tend to add more fullness to the upper part of the breast, and can shift slightly without changing the overall look, since they look the same whichever way they settle. Teardrop (anatomical) implants are shaped to taper toward the top and are fuller at the bottom, designed to mimic a more natural breast slope — though they carry a small risk of visible rotation if they shift, since an rotated teardrop implant looks noticeably different from one in the correct position.
Within either shape, implants also come in different profiles — essentially how far the implant projects forward from the chest for a given base width. A higher profile creates more projection on a narrower base, while a lower profile spreads volume more broadly and can look softer. Your surgeon will match profile recommendations to your chest width and existing breast tissue, since the same profile can look quite different on different body frames.
Silicone gel implants are the most commonly used option in reputable clinics today, valued for a natural feel, and come in standard cohesive gel or a firmer "gummy bear" cohesive gel that holds its shape well. Saline implants remain an option in some cases, though they’re less commonly chosen where silicone is available given differences in look and feel.
Placement Options: Where the Implant Sits
Where the implant is placed relative to your chest muscle affects both appearance and recovery, and it’s one of the more important decisions in planning your surgery.
- Subglandular placement puts the implant above the chest muscle, directly under the breast tissue. Recovery tends to be somewhat faster and the implant can look slightly more lifted in patients with adequate natural tissue coverage, but it may be more prone to visible rippling in patients with thin breast tissue.
- Submuscular (or dual-plane) placement puts the implant partially or fully beneath the chest muscle. This tends to give a more gradual, natural-looking upper slope and better coverage for patients with thinner tissue, though recovery involves a bit more initial discomfort since the muscle itself is affected by surgery.
Dual-plane technique, a common middle-ground approach, positions the upper portion of the implant under the muscle and the lower portion under the breast tissue, aiming to combine natural upper-pole coverage with a supported lower pole. Your surgeon will recommend a placement based on your existing tissue thickness, breast shape, and goals — there isn’t a single "best" option that applies to everyone.
Incision location is a related decision worth discussing at consultation too. The most common options are an incision in the crease beneath the breast (inframammary), around the edge of the areola (periareolar), or in the armpit (transaxillary), each with different trade-offs for scar visibility and surgical access. Your surgeon will typically recommend an approach based on your implant choice, anatomy and any relevant medical history, such as whether you plan to breastfeed in future.
How Surgeons Help You Choose a Size
Choosing implant size is often the part patients find hardest, and a good consultation process makes it much less guesswork than it sounds. Most clinics use sizers — physical implant samples you can try inside a fitted bra or garment — so you can see and feel an approximation of different volumes on your own body before deciding. Some clinics also use 3D imaging software that projects a simulated outcome based on your measurements and a chosen implant volume, which can help translate cc measurements (a unit many patients have no intuitive feel for) into a visual result.
Beyond your personal preference, your surgeon will factor in your existing breast tissue and skin elasticity, chest width, shoulder-to-hip proportions, and lifestyle (very active patients sometimes prefer a more conservative size for comfort). It’s worth bringing reference photos to your consultation — not as an exact promise of your result, since anatomy differs from patient to patient, but as a useful communication tool for the look you’re drawn to.
Key takeaway: Implant size is best chosen collaboratively, using sizers or imaging tools alongside your surgeon’s assessment of your existing tissue and frame — not picked from a cc number alone.
Combining With Other Procedures
Breast augmentation is sometimes combined with a breast lift for patients with sagging alongside volume loss, since an implant alone doesn’t reposition breast tissue that has dropped. It’s also a common component of a mommy makeover for patients addressing multiple areas after pregnancy — we cover how combined procedures are planned safely in our mommy makeover guide. For patients considering reduced breast volume instead, breast reduction is the relevant procedure rather than augmentation.
What to Expect From the Trip & Recovery
Breast augmentation trips to Istanbul typically run around 5-7 days, covering your consultation, surgery, an initial follow-up, and enough recovery time before flying. In the first few days, expect tightness and soreness (more pronounced with submuscular placement), managed with prescribed pain medication, and a supportive surgical bra worn continuously as instructed.
Most patients return to non-strenuous work within 1-2 weeks, though heavy lifting, upper-body exercise and strenuous activity are typically restricted for around 4-6 weeks to protect healing tissue. Final settling of the implants — as swelling resolves and tissue relaxes around them — generally takes a few months, so it’s normal for your breasts to look and feel different at 6 weeks than they will at 6 months.
Some tightness, temporary changes in nipple sensation, and mild asymmetry in early swelling are common in the first few weeks and usually settle as healing progresses. Your surgeon should give you clear guidance on which symptoms are expected and which would warrant contacting the clinic, and a responsible aftercare plan keeps that line of communication open well beyond the day you fly home.
Cost & What’s Included
Breast augmentation in Istanbul is typically significantly less expensive than the UK or US, often in the range of 70-80% less, which comes down to lower overhead and cost of living rather than different implant brands or lower technique standards — reputable clinics use internationally recognised implant brands with the same regulatory approvals used in Western markets. You can read more about this cost gap in Why Is Turkey So Cheap for Dental & Cosmetic Surgery?
A well-structured package should include your consultation and sizing session, surgeon and anaesthesia fees, hospital stay, implants, accommodation, transfers, and a defined follow-up period. You can see full details on the breast augmentation treatment page, and get a free, no-obligation quote tailored to your goals.
It's reasonable to ask which specific implant brand is used and to confirm it carries recognised international regulatory approval — a transparent clinic will answer this without hesitation, and it's a simple way to check that cost savings aren't coming from cutting corners on the implant itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know what implant size will look right on me?
Trying sizers during consultation and, where available, using 3D imaging tools gives you a much clearer sense than cc numbers alone. Your surgeon will also factor in your existing tissue and frame to recommend a realistic range.
Which placement is better, over or under the muscle?
Neither is universally better — it depends on your existing tissue thickness, chest anatomy and goals. Submuscular or dual-plane placement tends to suit thinner tissue better, while subglandular can suit patients with more natural coverage.
Will breast implants feel natural?
Modern cohesive silicone gel implants are designed to feel close to natural breast tissue, and placement choice also affects how natural the result feels to the touch. Your surgeon can talk through expected look and feel for your specific choices during consultation.
How long do breast implants last?
Implants aren’t considered lifetime devices, and many patients keep the same set for well over a decade, though monitoring and eventual replacement is a normal part of long-term implant care. Your surgeon will explain what routine follow-up looks like.
Can I combine augmentation with a lift in one surgery?
Yes, augmentation and lift are commonly performed together for patients with both volume loss and sagging. Your surgeon will confirm whether combining is appropriate for your anatomy during consultation.