Breast augmentation is the most performed cosmetic surgery procedure in Turkey. Istanbul’s clinics carry out tens of thousands of breast augmentations per year for international patients — primarily from the UK, Germany, Ireland, and the Gulf. For UK patients paying £6,000–9,000 at home, the same procedure with CE-marked implants costs £2,000–4,000 in Istanbul.
Breast Augmentation Costs: Turkey vs UK
| Procedure | Istanbul | UK (private) |
|---|---|---|
| Breast augmentation (silicone implants) | £2,000–4,000 | £6,000–9,000 |
| Breast lift (mastopexy) | £2,000–3,500 | £5,500–8,500 |
| Augmentation + lift | £3,000–5,500 | £8,000–13,000 |
| Breast reduction | £2,200–4,000 | £6,000–10,000 |
| Implant exchange / revision | £2,000–3,500 | £5,000–8,000 |
Includes surgery, anaesthesia, 1 night hospital, compression bra, and post-op follow-up. Flights and hotel extra.
Implant Types Available in Turkey
Silicone Gel Implants
The most popular choice globally. Modern cohesive silicone gel (“gummy bear”) implants maintain their shape if the shell is compromised. All major CE-marked brands are available in Istanbul:
- Mentor (Johnson & Johnson) — widely used, extensive safety data
- Motiva — premium brand, popular in Turkish clinics, silk surface with lower capsular contracture rates
- Sientra — FDA-approved, available at some clinics
- Sebbin (French) — CE-marked, used at mid-range clinics
Always ask your clinic which implant brand and specific model they’ll use. The implant documentation should be provided in writing before you consent to surgery.
Implant Shapes and Profiles
Round vs anatomical (teardrop): Round implants are more commonly recommended — they look natural in most positions and have lower revision risk than anatomical implants (which can rotate). Anatomical implants require a textured surface, which has been associated with a very rare lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) — most surgeons now prefer smooth round implants.
Projection: Low, moderate, high, and extra-high profile implants are all available. Profile selection depends on your chest width, existing breast tissue, and the look you want. Your surgeon will recommend based on your measurements.
Saline Implants
Less commonly used in Europe than silicone — considered to feel less natural. Some patients prefer them because a rupture is immediately obvious (the breast deflates). Available but rarely the first recommendation from Turkish surgeons.
How to Choose a Surgeon in Turkey
Credentials to look for
- ISAPS membership (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery) — requires peer review of case volumes and technique
- TPCD membership (Turkish Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Society)
- Subspecialty in aesthetic breast surgery — ask how many breast augmentations the surgeon performs per year (high-volume surgeons typically do 200–500+)
Before-and-after photos
This is the most important filter. Ask for 20–30 before-and-after cases showing:
- Similar starting anatomy to yours (similar breast size, nipple position, chest width)
- Results at 6–12 months (not immediately post-op)
- Natural-looking results, not just large results
Turkish clinics vary enormously in aesthetic taste. Review photos carefully — a surgeon whose aesthetic matches your goal is more important than the clinic brand.
Video consultation
Your consultation should be with the actual operating surgeon, not a patient coordinator. A surgeon who doesn’t do their own video consultations before booking is a yellow flag — you want to communicate about your specific anatomy and goals before agreeing to surgery.
Red flags
- Package prices under £1,800 with unnamed or unverifiable surgeons
- Clinics that won’t tell you the implant brand before payment
- No video consultation before booking
- Surgeons or coordinators who push you to decide immediately
Your Trip to Istanbul
Timeline
Day 1: Arrival, transfer to clinic or hotel. Pre-op consultation with surgeon, measurements, implant selection. Blood tests, ECG. Pre-op photography.
Day 2: Surgery (60–90 minutes under general anaesthesia). Overnight in hospital or clinic.
Day 3: Discharge. Compression bra fitted. Brief walk around the hotel.
Days 4–5: Rest at hotel. Light walking. First dressing check.
Day 6: Follow-up appointment with surgeon. Sutures checked (most use dissolvable). Cleared to fly if uncomplicated.
Day 7: Fly home.
Most UK patients stay 6–7 nights total. Some mini-packages are 5 nights for uncomplicated cases, but do not plan to fly before day 5 minimum.
What to Pack
- Loose, front-opening tops and shirts (you won’t be able to lift your arms comfortably for a few days)
- Zip-up hoodies — button-front shirts are ideal
- Comfortable, non-underwired bras or crop tops in addition to the compression bra provided
- Paracetamol and ibuprofen (you’ll have prescription painkillers from the clinic)
- Phone charger with long cable (lying in bed for a few days)
Recovery After Return to the UK
First 2 weeks
- Compression bra worn at all times except showering
- No lifting anything over 1–2kg
- No driving for 2 weeks
- Sleep on your back, slightly elevated
- Swelling, tightness, and sensitivity are normal — implants sit high on the chest initially
Weeks 3–6
- Implants begin to “drop and fluff” — settling into natural position
- Underwired bras generally avoided until 6–8 weeks
- Light exercise (walking) fine from week 3; no upper body exercise until 6 weeks
Months 2–6
- Full range of motion returns
- Implants settle into final position — this can take 3–6 months
- The final shape is not visible until after full settling
Long-term
Modern cohesive silicone implants do not have a mandatory replacement schedule — they can last 15–20+ years if no complications arise. Annual self-examination and periodic MRI screening (every 2–3 years from year 5) is recommended to monitor implant integrity. This can be arranged in the UK — your GP can refer for a private or NHS MRI if indicated.
Combining with Other Procedures
Breast augmentation + lift: Very common combination when there is both volume loss and sagging (ptosis). The lift repositions the nipple and removes excess skin; the implant adds volume. This is a more complex procedure than augmentation alone — recovery is longer (7–10 days in Istanbul) and the procedure takes 2.5–4 hours.
Mummy makeover: Combining breast augmentation (or lift) with tummy tuck and liposuction in one session. Very popular in Istanbul. Saves total cost and recovery time but is a significant combined procedure — total operating time should not exceed 5–6 hours.
Breast augmentation + rhinoplasty: Less commonly combined — recovery logistics are more complex. Some patients do both on the same trip in separate sessions (a week apart) rather than simultaneously.
Implant Safety and MHRA Guidance
The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) recognises CE-marked implants. The major brands available in Turkey (Mentor, Motiva, Sebbin) carry CE marking.
BIA-ALCL: Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma is a very rare cancer of the immune system (not breast cancer) associated with textured implants. The risk is estimated at 1 in 30,000 to 1 in 500,000 with textured implants. Most Turkish clinics now use smooth implants as standard. Ask your surgeon explicitly whether your implants are smooth or textured.
Breast Implant Illness (BII): A reported condition where patients attribute systemic symptoms (fatigue, joint pain, brain fog) to their implants. The evidence base is currently limited — the FDA and MHRA continue to investigate. If you’re concerned, discuss this with your surgeon during the consultation.
Arranging UK Follow-Up
Your Turkish clinic will provide:
- Implant card documenting the brand, model, size, and serial number of your implants
- Operative report in English
- Post-operative care instructions
Keep the implant card permanently — it’s needed for any future UK surgery, explantation, or revision. Give your GP the operative report. UK plastic surgeons or GPs can manage complications (capsular contracture, wound issues, seroma) if they arise.