Mammoplasty

What is mammoplasty and which operations does it cover?

Mammoplasty (also spelled mammaplasty) is the medical term for any operation that changes the size, shape or position of the breast. It is a family of procedures rather than one operation. Augmentation mammoplasty adds volume with implants or, less often, with your own fat. Reduction mammoplasty removes breast tissue, fat and skin to make the breasts smaller and lighter. A lift (mastopexy) raises and reshapes sagging breasts without a major change in size, and the two can be combined, for example a lift with an implant. In men, breast reduction for enlarged glands is a related operation; see gynecomastia surgery.

Because the word is so broad, the first job at a consultation is to agree which operation you actually need. This guide explains each type, how it is done, what it costs in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany, what recovery looks like and how to check a surgeon. The wider range of operations is on our plastic surgery treatments in Turkey page.

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Augmentation, reduction or lift: which mammoplasty fits your goal?

Choose by what you want to change. If the breasts are small or have lost volume after pregnancy, augmentation is the usual answer. If they are heavy and cause back, neck or shoulder discomfort, skin irritation under the fold or difficulty exercising, reduction is considered. If the volume is acceptable but the nipple sits low and the skin is loose, a lift is more suitable than an implant.

For the reduction route in detail, see our guide to breast reduction.

How is mammoplasty performed, step by step?

All types are performed under general anaesthesia and usually take one and a half to three hours. The surgeon marks the breasts while you stand, because gravity shows the true position. In augmentation, an incision is made under the breast (inframammary fold), around the nipple or, less often, in the armpit; a pocket is created either in front of or behind the chest muscle and a silicone or saline implant is placed. In reduction, an incision around the nipple, down to the fold and sometimes along it is used to remove tissue and move the nipple to a higher position. A lift removes excess skin and tightens the shape in the same way, without removing much tissue.

Sutures close the incisions, a dressing or support bra is applied and, in some cases, a small drain is left for a day or two. Most patients stay one night in hospital.

Implants: what do the safety reviews say?

Implant choice raises most questions. Modern implants are silicone gel-filled or saline-filled, round or anatomical (teardrop). Regulators including the UK MHRA and the US FDA state that implants are not lifetime devices and may need replacement or removal; they also note a rare cancer of the immune system, breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), linked mostly to textured surfaces. Capsular contracture (a hard, tight scar capsule around the implant) is the most common reason for revision. Ask for the make, model, size, surface and batch number of your implant in writing, and keep the implant card.

Fat transfer is an alternative for a small increase, but the volume that stays varies and some fat is absorbed.

Mammoplasty cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany

The figures below are approximate ranges, not hospital quotes. They differ by type of operation, implant brand and hospital.

What changes the price: the operation type (a lift with an implant costs more than an implant alone), the implant brand and shape, the surgeon's experience, the nights in hospital and the support bra and follow-up. A package normally includes pre-operative tests, surgeon and anaesthetist fees, the implant, hospital stay, medication and transfers. Check whether the implant is included in the quoted price and whether revision surgery is covered if something has to be redone.

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Who is a good candidate for mammoplasty, and who should wait?

Suitable candidates are healthy adults with stable weight whose breasts have finished developing and who have realistic expectations. Wait or choose another route if you are pregnant or breastfeeding (surgeons usually advise waiting about six months after weaning), plan to lose a lot of weight, smoke and cannot stop for several weeks before and after, or have a condition that affects healing or anaesthesia. If you have a personal or family history of breast cancer, tell the surgeon, and make sure screening is up to date, because implants can make mammograms more difficult to read.

How long should you stay in Turkey, and what is recovery like?

Plan for about five to seven nights. You normally spend one night in hospital, have a check at two to three days and again before travelling. The first week brings tightness, swelling and bruising, with discomfort controlled by prescribed painkillers. Most people return to desk work after one to two weeks, avoid lifting and arm-raising for about four to six weeks and wear a support bra day and night for the period the surgeon advises. Driving is usually resumed after about two weeks if you can turn the wheel comfortably, and swimming and high-impact exercise after six weeks. The first month is the stage when the breast looks high and firm; shape softens as swelling goes.

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Mammoplasty before and after: what are realistic results?

Photographs show a change in size, shape and position, and the scars at three to six months. They do not show the weeks of swelling, nor how the breasts will look at five or ten years. Augmented breasts settle (the implant "drops") over three to six months; reduced breasts keep their lighter weight but can change with weight gain, pregnancy and ageing. Scars are red at first and fade over a year or more. Ask to see patients with a body type similar to yours, and treat a gallery of only dramatic results with caution.

Risks and complications of mammoplasty

All surgery carries risk. Common effects are swelling, bruising and temporary changes in nipple sensation. Possible complications include infection, bleeding or a collection of blood (haematoma), delayed wound healing, asymmetry, visible scarring, capsular contracture, implant rupture or movement, loss of nipple sensation or, rarely, loss of nipple tissue. Reduction and lift can affect breastfeeding. Blood clots and anaesthetic problems are rare. The NHS and professional societies such as BAAPS and ASPS advise using a qualified surgeon, a regulated hospital and following aftercare. Ask what happens if you need a revision after returning home.

How to choose a surgeon and hospital, and red flags

Check that the surgeon is a specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, that the hospital is licensed and has an anaesthetist and intensive-care back-up, and that you get a written plan and price before paying a deposit. Red flags include an implant chosen before you are examined, quotes without implant details, guaranteed cup sizes, pressure to decide quickly and no named surgeon. Read how our process works and send your photos through the free quote page for a written plan.

Questions to ask the clinic before you book

• Which type of mammoplasty do you recommend for me, and why?
• Which implant (brand, surface, shape, size) and which incision will be used?
• Is the implant included in the price, and what is the warranty?
• How many nights will I stay, and which check-ups are included?
• What happens if I need a revision, and who pays for it?
• Who will review my healing after I go home?

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Hospitals with Plastic & Aesthetic Surgery in Turkey

Academic Hospital

Üsküdar, Istanbul

MoHHealth Tourism Licence+2

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Lokman Hekim Istanbul Hospital

Pendik, Istanbul

JCIMoH+2

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