Breast augmentation in Turkey: implants and fat transfer

Our all-inclusive breast augmentation packages

Every Body Expert package covers the surgery, one night in hospital, airport transfers and accommodation, plus your post-op follow-up. Our surgeons fit only certified, latest-generation implants (Mentor, Motiva) in cohesive silicone gel, known for their safety and natural look. You’ll find the full breakdown of prices and packages in the pricing table higher up this page.

Silicone implant augmentation

This is the most requested technique. It adds several cup sizes with a predictable, lasting result. The shape (round, anatomical or ergonomic), the incision site and the placement plan are all decided with your surgeon at the pre-operative consultation. These implants are built to last 10 to 15 years and feel very close to a natural breast.

Fat transfer augmentation

Breast fat transfer is an implant-free alternative. Your surgeon takes your own fat by liposuction (tummy, thighs, hips), purifies it, then reinjects it into the breasts. The gain stays modest, around one cup size, but the result is 100% natural. It’s ideal for correcting slight asymmetry or restoring a subtle curve.

Breast lift alongside

When the breasts are also sagging, a breast lift (mastopexy) can go alongside the implants. Together they restore both volume and firmness, for a balanced figure.

Breast augmentation in Turkey: the complete guide

Breast augmentation is one of the most common cosmetic procedures in the world: according to ISAPS, it sits on the podium of the most performed operations year after year. Behind that figure are personal stories, though: regaining confidence, correcting an asymmetry, or restoring volume to a chest that pregnancy or weight loss has changed.

Turkey has become one of the leading destinations for this surgery. The country brings together high-volume surgeons, well-equipped clinics and a cost of living that allows up to 70% savings compared with the UK, for the same quality of care. At Body Expert, our surgeons see you at our partner clinic in Istanbul and steer your whole journey, from the first consultation to post-op follow-up. The details of prices sit in the pricing table higher up this page.

Breast implants: shapes, incision sites and placement

Choosing the shape

Round implants add volume to the upper breast and create a fuller cleavage. They appeal to women who want a well-defined chest. Anatomical implants, shaped like a teardrop, follow the curve of the breast for a more subtle look, with the volume sitting lower. The latest ergonomic implants (such as the Motiva Ergonomix) adapt to your position: rounder when you lie down, more anatomical when you stand.

Volume, meanwhile, is decided together with your surgeon. They weigh up your build, the width of your chest, the thickness of your tissue and what you’re after. 3D simulation helps a lot: it lets you picture the result before the operation and fine-tune your choice with a clear head. The most common volumes fall between 250 and 400 cc, but every chest is different and the surgeon adjusts their recommendation case by case.

Incision sites

The incision site is simply where the surgeon makes the cut to slip the implant in. The inframammary incision, in the fold under the breast, is the most common: it offers excellent visibility and great precision. The peri-areolar incision, around the nipple, is more discreet but reserved for certain cases. The transaxillary incision, in the armpit, leaves no mark on the breast itself, at the cost of slightly trickier control over positioning. Your surgeon advises the site best suited to your anatomy.

The placement plan

Subglandular placement (in front of the muscle) suits women with enough breast tissue: quicker recovery, milder discomfort. Submuscular placement (behind the muscle) gives a more natural look in slimmer women and lowers the risk of capsular contracture, the hardening of the envelope that sometimes forms around the implant. The dual-plane approach combines the two: the top of the implant sits under the muscle, the bottom rests behind the gland. For many surgeons it’s now the reference technique, the results are that natural and reliable.

Breast fat transfer: an implant-free alternative

Breast fat transfer, or autologous fat grafting (using your own fat), appeals to women who want a natural result with no foreign body. The idea: take fat by liposuction from a donor area (tummy, thighs, hips), purify it, then reinject it into the breasts through fine cannulas.

The benefit is twofold: you reshape the donor area and add breast volume at the same time. The gain stays more modest than with implants, though, around one cup size per session. Some women plan two sessions a few months apart to reach the volume they want. Another thing worth knowing: part of the injected fat, roughly 30 to 50%, is naturally reabsorbed by the body in the weeks that follow.

This technique needs enough spare fat, so it isn’t ideal for very slim women. On the other hand, it rules out any implant-related risk (capsular contracture, rupture, replacement). On safety, a systematic review published in 2024 in Translational Breast Cancer Research concludes that fat transfer to the breast is a safe technique, with no added risk of breast cancer recurrence (Valente et al., 2024). Fat transfer can also top up implants in a combined approach, for an even more natural result.

How recovery goes

Recovery follows a fairly predictable timeline, even if every woman moves at her own pace. Knowing the main stages helps you approach this period with a calm mind.

In the very first days, you feel swelling, a tightness across the chest and mild discomfort, well eased by painkillers. The implants look high and the breasts a little firm: that’s normal. The compression bra is worn day and night from the moment you leave the clinic.

Through the first week, the bruising and pain settle. Most women get back to light activities between the 5th and 7th day. You avoid straining with your arms, carry nothing heavy and sleep on your back, propped up.

Between the 2nd and 4th week, the breasts relax and take on a more natural shape. This is the well-known “drop and fluff”: the implant eases down into its pocket and the tissue softens around it. Gentle sport can resume with your surgeon’s go-ahead.

From the 6th week, recovery is all but done for most women, upper-body sport included. The final result, though, shows itself after 3 to 6 months, once the swelling has fully gone. As for the scars, they keep fading and become very discreet after 12 to 18 months. For a day-by-day look, read our article on the post-operative period.

Results, satisfaction and safety

Recent studies are fairly reassuring about satisfaction after breast augmentation. A meta-analysis published in 2024 in the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, pooling 18322 patients, shows a clear improvement in psychosocial wellbeing and in satisfaction with the breasts after the operation (Knoedler et al., 2024).

What makes the difference over the long term? Three things come up again and again: the quality of the conversation with the surgeon beforehand, the right choice of volume and shape, and sticking to the post-op instructions (Marangi et al., 2024). Put simply, a good result is prepared as much as it’s operated on. That’s also why our surgeons take their time over the first consultation.

Want to go deeper into each technique? The complete guide to breast augmentation covers it all. And if the loss of volume comes with sagging skin, a breast lift can be combined with the operation.

Why Turkey for your breast augmentation

Budget matters, there’s no point pretending otherwise. By going through Turkey, you make up to 70% savings compared with UK prices, for implants of the very same brands (Mentor, Motiva) and comparable quality of care. That difference doesn’t come from cutting corners on safety, but from lower running costs and the sheer number of procedures carried out in the country each year.

Turkey is, in fact, one of the world’s major destinations for cosmetic medical tourism, with one of the highest shares of international patients anywhere according to ISAPS. At Body Expert, your all-inclusive package brings together the surgery, the hospital stay, transfers, accommodation and follow-up. The figures live in the pricing table higher up this page, and you can get a tailored estimate with your free quote within 24 hours.

Long-term follow-up and how long implants last

The latest implants are designed to last 10 to 15 years. There’s no obligation to change them by a set date. Regular monitoring by ultrasound or MRI is recommended 5 to 6 years after the operation, then every 2 to 3 years, to check all is well.

If a silicone implant ruptures, it often goes unnoticed and shows up on imaging; with a saline implant, the deflation is visible and the fluid is safely absorbed by the body. You only replace an implant if there’s a genuine complication, a wish for change, or natural ageing of the implant. Body Expert keeps up this follow-up over time, with scheduled checks and remote English-speaking support once you’re back home.

Contraindications and precautions

Breast augmentation is not advised during pregnancy, breastfeeding, an active breast infection or with certain autoimmune conditions. A full work-up is carried out before any decision, and women with a history of breast cancer are given a thorough assessment.

Stopping smoking is asked 4 weeks before the operation: it helps healing and limits complications. Do also flag any blood-thinning or anti-inflammatory treatment, which may need pausing on your surgeon’s advice. Our surgeons take the time to listen and steer you towards the safest option for your body.

In summary

Breast augmentation in Turkey brings together three things that count for a lot when you’re hesitating: specialist surgeons who operate on breasts every day, partner clinics selected for their facilities and their surgeons’ experience, and a markedly lighter budget, up to 70% savings compared with the UK. Two main routes exist depending on your body and your wishes: silicone implants (Mentor, Motiva), for a predictable, lasting gain in volume, or fat transfer, which reinjects your own fat for an entirely natural result. A breast lift can round out the operation if the skin is sagging.

On results, the recent data is encouraging: satisfaction and wellbeing improve clearly after the operation, as long as you prepare your plan well and follow the instructions. The Body Expert journey is built for that: a free online consultation to lay the groundwork, an all-inclusive stay in Istanbul arranged from start to finish, one night in hospital, then English-speaking follow-up kept up for 12 months. Allow 5 to 7 days before getting back to daily life, and 3 to 6 months to enjoy the final result.

Choosing a clinic for your breasts is a big decision, and you deserve every card in your hand. Want an honest opinion on your situation and a clear estimate? Ask for your free quote within 24 hours: you’ll get a personalised treatment plan, with no obligation and no nasty surprises.

Sources and references

1. ISAPS. (2025). ISAPS International Survey on Aesthetic/Cosmetic Procedures Performed in 2024. International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. https://www.isaps.org/discover/about-isaps/global-statistics/
2. Knoedler, S., et al. (2024). Quality of life and satisfaction after breast augmentation: A systematic review and meta-analysis of Breast-Q patient-reported outcomes. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, 95, 300-318. https://www.jprasurg.com/article/S1748-6815(24)00351-6/abstract00351-6/abstract)
3. Marangi, G. F., et al. (2024). Main factors influencing patient satisfaction after primary breast augmentation. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 44(4), 375-382. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38114077/
4. 4. Valente, D. S., et al. (2024). Breast fat grafting and cancer: a systematic review of the science behind enhancements and concerns. Translational Breast Cancer Research, 5, 14. https://tbcr.amegroups.org/article/view/85711/htmlnn5. Hua, S., & Xu, H. (2024). Volume retention rate after breast autogenous fat grafting and related influencing factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, 89, 105-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjps.2023.12.003nn6. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Risks and complications of breast implants. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/breast-implants/risks-and-complications-breast-implantsnn5. Hu, S., & Xu, H. (2024). Volume retention rate after breast autogenous fat grafting and related influencing factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, 89, 105-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjps.2023.12.003nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn6. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Risks and complications of breast implants. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/breast-implants/risks-and-complications-breast-implants4. Valente, D. S., et al. (2024). Breast fat grafting and cancer: a systematic review of the science behind enhancements and concerns. Translational Breast Cancer Research, 5, 14. https://tbcr.amegroups.org/article/view/85711/htmlnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn5. Hu, S., & Xu, H. (2024).5. Hu, S., & Xu, H. (2024). Volume retention rate after breast autogenous fat grafting and related influencing factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, 89, 105-116.