Breast augmentation with implants: understanding your options

The complete guide: everything about breast implants

Breast augmentation with implants has come a long way over the past few decades. Thanks to better biomaterials and surgical techniques, results today are more natural, safer and longer-lasting than before. One step still matters more than any other: understanding your options properly, so you can choose with your eyes open. That is what this guide is for.

The different types of breast implant

Choosing the implant is one of the defining decisions of your plan. Two broad families exist, each with its own character.

Cohesive silicone gel implants now make up the large majority of implants fitted. The gel holds its shape even if the shell tears, giving a feel very close to natural breast tissue. They come in different firmnesses, from the softest to the most structured.

Saline implants contain a sterile salt-water solution. Their advantage: they are filled once in place, which allows smaller incisions and a volume that can be adjusted during surgery. The trade-off is a feel judged slightly less natural, and a higher chance of visible rippling in very slim patients.

Implant shape: round or anatomical

Round implants give a fuller cleavage and volume spread evenly. They suit patients who have enough breast tissue and want a rounded shape. Their perfect symmetry rules out any risk of rotation.

Anatomical implants, teardrop-shaped, copy the natural curve of the breast, with more volume towards the bottom. They are often recommended for patients who start with little tissue and want a genuinely discreet result. They need a textured surface to stay properly in place.

Incision techniques and approaches

The approach is simply where the surgeon makes the incision to slide the implant in. Three options lead the field. The inframammary approach, in the fold under the breast, is the most common: excellent surgical control, with the scar hidden in the crease. The periareolar approach, around the areola, leaves a very discreet mark but puts nipple sensation a little more at risk. The transaxillary approach, in the hollow of the armpit, leaves no scar on the breast at all, in exchange for a more technical procedure.

Implant placement

Where the implant sits has a direct bearing on the look and on the risk of complications. Submuscular placement, under the pectoral muscle, is the most common: better tissue cover, a lower risk of contracture and a very natural appearance. Subglandular placement, in front of the muscle, suits patients who have enough tissue, with faster recovery and less pain. Finally, the dual-plane, straddling the muscle, marries the strengths of both and adapts to many builds. It has become the reference for a lot of surgeons.

Results, lifespan and long-term follow-up

Right after surgery, the breasts look swollen and sit a little high: that is normal. Over the weeks, the implants settle gently and take their final position. The final result usually shows between 3 and 6 months after surgery.

Modern implants are designed to last 10 to 15 years, and many patients keep them far longer with no trouble. There is no obligation to replace them on a fixed date. Regular follow-up (self-examination, review appointments, ultrasound or MRI) is enough to check that all is well.

Possible risks and complications

Like any surgery, breast augmentation carries risks, which today’s techniques have clearly reduced. The most common later complication is capsular contracture, a hardening of the tissue capsule that forms around the implant: its rate is around 7 to 8% at ten years for silicone implants, according to large follow-up studies. The risk of rupture is low with modern cohesive gels, put at under 1% per year. The latest-generation implants, such as the Motiva devices that gained US FDA approval in 2024, show particularly low rupture rates.

Among the other possible complications: infection, which stays rare (around 1 to 2%), haematoma, a temporary change in nipple sensation, or the implant shifting and rippling. One word of warning about smoking: it is a real aggravating factor that noticeably raises the risk of complications. Stopping a few weeks before surgery genuinely changes things.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding after implants

Good news for anyone who is unsure: breastfeeding usually stays possible after a breast augmentation, especially when the incision goes through the inframammary fold or the armpit, because these routes preserve the milk ducts. It is best, though, to wait 6 to 12 months after surgery before trying for a pregnancy, so the tissues heal fully.

Alternatives to implant augmentation

Implants are not the only route. Breast fat transfer is an appealing alternative for a modest increase (one to one and a half cup sizes) with a very natural result, since it uses your own fat. A breast lift, or mastopexy, corrects sagging without necessarily adding volume. These techniques also combine very well with implants when the situation calls for it.

In summary

Breast augmentation with implants remains the go-to solution for adding volume in a lasting, predictable way. It all comes down to a handful of choices, made hand in hand with your surgeon: the implant type (cohesive silicone gel or saline), its shape (round for a fuller cleavage, anatomical for a discreet look), the approach and the placement. The dual-plane, straddling the muscle, has established itself as an excellent balance between a natural look and safety.

On recovery, allow 1 to 2 weeks before going back to work and 3 to 6 months to see the final result, once the implants have found their place. The latest-generation implants are designed to last 10 to 15 years, often more, and simple imaging follow-up is enough to be sure all is well. If you would rather avoid implants, breast fat transfer and a breast lift offer alternatives worth weighing up case by case.

Choosing a clinic for your breasts is no small decision, and it is only natural to want to move forward calmly. By coming to Istanbul with Body Expert, you bring together specialist surgeons, partner clinics selected against our quality criteria and up to 70% savings compared with the UK. Want to see your situation clearly? Ask for your free quote within 24 hours: you’ll get a personalised plan, with no obligation and no nasty surprises.

Sources and references

1. Triana, L., Palacios Huatuco, R. M., Campiglio, G., & Liscano, E. (2024). Trends in surgical and nonsurgical aesthetic procedures: A 14-year analysis of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS). Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39103642/
2. Azahaf, S., Spit, K. A., de Blok, C. J. M., Willging, L., Rolfs, H., & Nanayakkara, P. W. B. (2024). Breast implant iatrogenics: challenging the safety narrative. Frontiers in Global Women’s Health, 5, 1359106. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2024.1359106
3. Fanzio, P., Hammer, J., & Van Laeken, N. (2025). Recognizing and managing breast implant complications: A review for healthcare providers. International Journal of Women’s Health, 17, 1297-1312. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S501800
4. 4. Zhao, H., Liu, N., Shen, Z., & Xu, J. (2025). Breast augmentation complications with three planes of implant placements. Chinese Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 7(1), 45-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjprs.2024.12.002