Treatment guide

Breast Implant Surgery

Breast implant surgery is a type of breast augmentation that aims to improve the symmetry, proportion, shape, or size of a woman’s breasts. This is done by inserting prosthetic implants — either filled with silicone gel or a saline solution — into the breasts. 

Feeling self-conscious about the size or shape of our breasts can be a real confidence-killer for many women. This popular cosmetic surgery procedure, often referred to as a boob job, aims to tackle this. In recent years, accessibility to high-quality, affordable doctors abroad has given many women the opportunity to undergo breast implant surgery.  

But, choosing to get a boob job is still a significant decision. Knowing how to find an experienced doctor, choosing a reputable clinic, balancing price and quality, and choosing between getting breast implants in the UK or abroad, are just a few of the decisions facing women who are looking to undergo breast implant surgery.

The content has been reviewed for quality and accuracy to the best of our knowledge by Qunomedical and its Medical Board of Experts.

Breast Implant Surgery Quick Details

WHO IS THIS FOR

  • Women who are in good health.

  • Women who would like to enhance the size of their breast.

  • Women who want breast reconstruction following a surgery or accident.

TREATMENT DURATION

  • Breast implant surgery typically lasts around 1-2 hours.

  • If you have the surgery done close to home, you can go leave the hospital straight after.

  • If you have a boob job abroad, you’ll probably need to be away from home for 2-3 nights, which you will spend at the clinic or hospital.

RECOVERY TIME

  • Resume routine activities after around 2-3 days.

  • Resume light training after a week.

  • Cardio activities can be resumed after 3-4 weeks and heavy lifting or intense activity after six weeks.

  • You should fully recover around 6-8 weeks after your breast implant surgery.

SUCCESS

POTENTIAL RISKS & SIDE EFFECTS

  • Capsular contracture

  • Implant rupture or leakage

  • Infection

  • Implant rejection

Breast Implant Costs: How Much Is the Surgery?

Breast implant costs have steadied in recent years. However, the price that you pay for the surgery can be dependent on different factors.

Prices may change based on:

  • The type of implant you choose

  • The type of surgical incision required

  • Whether you choose to get breast implants in the UK or abroad (where prices are usually cheaper)

  • The specific clinic and doctor that you choose for the surgery

Quno Price

Below, we’ve outlined some starting prices for standard, round-shaped, submuscular, <400cc breast implants across several countries. It’s worth noting though, that these prices are not fixed or guaranteed and they may change depending on your situation.

CountryPrice (EUR €)
Czech Republic€3,050
Turkey€3,100
Lithuania€3,200
Poland€3,400
Croatia€3,600
Germany€4,900
United Kingdom€5,700
United States€6,825

What Are the Different Types of Breast Implants?

When it comes to choosing breast implants, there are two main types available.

  • Silicone implants: These are made up of a silicone case that’s filled with a silicone gel. They provide a natural look and feel and can be less prone to rippling than the saline alternative. But, silicone implants may move around over time or change shape over time which, in some cases, might result in having to get them removed. It’s also important to note that you need to be at least 22 years old to get silicone implants, except in special circumstances where they’re needed for breast reconstruction purposes.

  • Saline implants: These also have a case made from silicone but are filled with sterile salt water after the implants have been placed in the breasts. Saline implants are usually cheaper than silicone and are available for those aged over 18. But, the folds of saline implants are sometimes seen underneath the skin, otherwise known as rippling.

What Breast Implant Shapes Are Available?

There are a couple of different breast implant shapes to choose from. The one you go for will depend on what you hope to achieve from the surgery in terms of shape, size, symmetry, and proportion.

Round Breast Implants

Round implants are the most common shape. They give a fuller and rounder overall appearance to your breasts. They’re most commonly used as they’re less likely to rotate or shift out of place. Round breast implants come in four types, from low to high projection. The higher the profile and projection, the greater the distance the breasts will be from the chest wall.

Teardrop Breast Implants

Teardrop breast implants have a sloped contour that fills out the bottom of the breast. This helps to mimic the shape of natural breasts. Teardrop implants come in three shapes: 

  • Round base

  • Oval base

  • Classic base

Teardrops implants are usually the preferred option for those women who want to achieve a more natural look following their boob job.

The different shapes of breast implants.

What Does a Breast Implant Surgery Involve?

While breast implant surgery can vary between patients, there are a few common steps involved which we’ve outlined below.

1. Administering Anaesthesia 

A breast implant surgery is carried out using either general or local anaesthesia. The type of anaesthesia used can depend on things like your medical history and the type of implant you choose. 

2. Making the Incisions

The next step is to create the incisions. There are three main incision techniques that surgeons typically use.

  • Periareolar incision: Along the bottom edge of your areola.

  • Inframammary incision: Underneath the breast along the bottom fold, near to where your breast touches your lower chest.

  • Transaxillary incision: The bottom part of your underarm.

3. Inserting the Implants

Once the incisions have been made, the chosen implants can then be inserted into the breasts. There are a couple of options for placement here.

  • Subglandular implant placement: Implants are inserted directly behind the breast tissue and in front of the pectoral muscle.

  • Subpectoral implant placement: The implant is positioned in a pocket underneath the pectoral muscle.

The specific site that your surgeon uses will depend on your body type, your preferred implant type, and how large the implants are.

4. Closing the Incisions

The incisions are then closed using either stitches, medical-grade skin adhesive, or surgical tape and the breasts are then covered with bandages. If dissolvable stitches are used, these will be broken down by the body within around 6-8 weeks. If non-absorbable sutures are used, they will be taken out after about seven days.

Illustration showing how breast implants are placed.

Breast Implant Surgery: What to Expect

It's important to have realistic goals and expectations of what your breasts will look like following breast implant surgery. Understanding all surgery implications is also a fundamental step towards a successful treatment and recovery.

Physical Discomfort

Will I Be Left With Scars After Getting a Boob Job?

Regular Checkups

How Long Do Breast Implants Last?

Risks and Side Effects: Are Breast Implants Safe? 

Breast implant surgery has undergone significant developments in recent years. The procedure is safe and most women who have a boob job, experience no issues with their implants. However, there are still some risks and potential side effects associated with the treatment. Although rare, it’s important to be aware of these before undergoing the surgery. Risks and side effects may include:

  • Breast tissue feeling hard around the inserted implant - known medically as capsular contracture.

  • Implant rupture - when the implant breaks and slowly begins to leak and deflate.

  • A general change in implant shape, position, or the occurrence of creases, folds, or rippling.

  • Nipples becoming more or less sensitive — or losing all sensitivity — due to changes in the nervous system caused by the surgery. This can be temporary or permanent.

  • Issues with breastfeeding or not being able to produce enough milk. But, breastfeeding after getting breast implants doesn’t cause harm to a newborn baby.

Should I Get a Boob Job Abroad or at Home?

It can be tricky to choose between getting a boob job abroad, or at home in the UK. Travelling overseas for treatment is becoming increasingly popular.

This rising popularity is due mainly to:

  1. The reputation and experience of surgeons abroad

  2. The quality of care and facilities at clinics overseas

  3. Cheaper breast implant costs compared to in the UK

Despite the popularity of having a boob job abroad, there are a few common questions that patients ask before booking their treatment.

1. Why Is Breast Implant Surgery Cheaper Abroad? Does It Mean a Lower Quality of Treatment?

2. Will Getting a Boob Job Abroad Mean I Have to Be Away From Home for a Long Time?

3. How Do I Deal With Any Possible Complications When I Get Home? Will I Still Be Able to Reach Out to My Doctor Abroad?

Is Breast Implant Surgery Right for Me?

Before deciding to undergo breast implant surgery, it’s important to be well informed about every aspect of the treatment. Being both mentally and physically prepared for surgery is important. This will help you to be confident with your decision, as well as aware of each step of the process, to make the whole experience easier for you. 

It’s also important to keep in mind that with any breast implant surgery, there’s a small risk that a revisional treatment might be needed. As your breasts naturally change over time, the breast implants will stay the same. This is why they might not look as you hope after you have children, breastfeed, or grow older for example. Remember also that weight loss and weight gain can contribute to how your breasts look. 

Why Choose Qunomedical?

At Qunomedical, we always take a patient first approach. Our company was built on the passionate belief that high-quality, affordable healthcare should be readily accessible to everyone, regardless of background. 

100% free, non-binding assessment: Regardless of whether you go on to book a treatment or not, we offer a 100% free, non-binding assessment. 

World-renowned doctors: Our proprietary scoring system, Qunoscore, evaluates doctors on over 20 data points. These include qualifications, experience, accreditations, number of treatments performed, services offered, and reviews from past patients.

End-to-end care: We understand that your treatment journey doesn’t end once you get home. We’ll be there with you throughout, from initial consultations through to your successful recovery, available to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Price match: We’ve worked hard to match some of the best-in-class doctors with some of the lowest prices. Found the same treatment at the same clinic cheaper somewhere else? Let us know and we’ll match the price.

Breast Implant Surgery Reviews

Breast Implant Surgery Reviews

5
A great team
★★★★★
01.02.2023

The whole team from start to finish were really good at helping me through the process and I'm delighted with the end results so far.

Vikki G.
  • GOP Hospital
  • Ani Cinpolat
  • Breast Implant Surgery
The best decision I ever made...
★★★★★
18.01.2023

The best decision I ever made. After doing so much research and rang so many companies im so glad I used qunomedical. They sorted out everything and I could WhatsApp them my questions at any time. They always responded. My translator Funda, was honestly amazing. She was there for me through everything. I never wanted to be or feel scared and I can honestly say I never did. So many people have perceptions about going abroad for surgery especially turkey and people do only hear horror stories but for someone who has a family and children I needed my life back and they have given me that. The recovery is tough and I'm 2 weeks post op and it's still hard but pain is temporary boobs are forever. The surgeons were amazing too. It's very daunting going to sleep in a foreign country but the surgeon told me when I was going to sleep and help on to me till I did. When I woke up her face was the first I saw. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Emma W.
  • GOP Hospital
  • Breast Augmentation Surgery
  • Breast Implant Surgery
Great doctor.
★★★★☆
02.07.2020

Very good communication and psychological skills. Able not to succumb to "patient blackmail" in deciding what procedures will need to be performed. Very careful, assessing and taking past work into account and recommending an appropriate procedure. Unsolicitedly explains all procedures and provides all relevant information.

Julia S.
  • Mindaugas Kazanavicius
  • Breast Implant Surgery
  • Kardiolita Hospital Vilnius
  • Breast Augmentation Surgery
I recommend only Mindaugas Kazanavicis to everyone!
★★★★★
02.07.2020

Awesome surgeon! I enlarged my breasts for the third time. I asked Dr. Kazanavicius for the third time. He not only increased but also corrected the errors of the former surgeon. The breast is now not two silicone bumps but a real beautiful, erected breast. Dr. Kazanavicius cut out the surgeon's scars, which were big and ugly, and reduced them. He also did a lot of things for which I now have amazing breasts! Be careful when choosing surgeons! Because most don’t even bother to form a breast! I recommend only Mindaugas Kazanavicis to everyone!

Thea M.
  • Mindaugas Kazanavicius
  • Breast Implant Surgery
  • Kardiolita Hospital Vilnius
  • Breast Augmentation Surgery
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