No part of the body is as closely associated with beauty and attractiveness as the female breast. Every woman is unique – and so is her breast, shaped by genetics, weight changes, pregnancies, breastfeeding or menopause. On this page you will find everything you need to know about breast augmentation with implants in Berlin.
Please note: A medical consultation is a chargeable service under the German physicians’ fee schedule (GOÄ). Online bookings are binding; the practice team will explain the expected consultation fee when arranging your appointment.
Medically reviewed by Dr. med. Juliane C. Finke and Dr. med. Stephan Frantzen · Board-certified plastic surgeons · Last reviewed:
For breast augmentation (augmentation mammaplasty) we use CE-certified implants by POLYTECH and Motiva. We work with the full product range of both manufacturers and select the implant individually for you. All our implants are class III medical devices and are subject to regular, rigorous testing. Modern implants can still be damaged or rupture; the cohesive gel then holds together, but that does not reduce every risk to zero.
Filling: In our practice we work exclusively with silicone-filled implants – with a highly cohesive silicone gel that is form-stable and does not leak. In lightweight implants (B-Lite) this gel is combined, using nanotechnology, with tiny hollow microspheres: at the same volume they are up to 30 % lighter. That can be an advantage with weak connective tissue, larger implants (over 300 cc) or for athletic women.
Surface: Depending on the patient we use lightly textured (micro-textured), strongly textured (polyurethane-coated) or smooth (nano-structured, SilkSurface/SmoothSilk) implant surfaces. Which surface fits depends on your wishes and on the anatomy of your breast: in the consultation we examine the breast and recommend the surface for your individual needs. Surface characteristics can affect capsular contracture, implant behaviour and implant-associated risks; the evidence does not support a simple “rougher is better” rule. BIA-ALCL is reported more often in association with textured than with smooth surfaces – that too is part of the individual benefit-risk assessment.
Shape: A basic distinction is made between round, teardrop-shaped (anatomical) and Ergonomix implants. Ergonomix implants are filled with a particularly soft, form-adaptive silicone gel: they are round, but when you stand the soft gel lets them take on a very natural teardrop shape – they suit women who want a natural result above all. Today’s product range is so broad that an implant can be selected to match every patient’s measurements exactly – according to the shape of the chest, the distance between breast and neck and the natural shape of the breast. The footprint (round, transverse-oval or longitudinal-oval) and the projection (the implant’s height, available in up to four levels) are also chosen individually: for a woman with a short distance between breast and neck, a transverse-oval implant may be the right choice.
Whether the implants are placed above the chest muscle (directly under the skin) or below it essentially depends on two things: the thickness of the skin and subcutaneous fat layer in the décolleté – and the patient’s wishes.
Many women have very delicate skin with a thin subcutaneous fat layer in this area. If an implant is placed under such delicate skin, its transition remains visible. If the fat layer is sufficiently developed – or a visible transition is explicitly desired – the implant can be placed above the muscle (subglandular placement); with a slightly sagging breast this can even be an advantage.
Most women, however, want a natural, softly filled décolleté that does not look “operated on”. In that case, placement below the chest muscle is usually the method of choice: the large pectoral muscle is separated from the small one and the implant is positioned between them. The implant pocket is tailored exactly to the predetermined implant size so that the implant sits sustainably in the optimal position – muscle function is not impaired.
In breast augmentation, the scar forms where the implant is inserted into the body. There are essentially three possible incisions – and therefore scars:
The inframammary incision is the method of choice when no additional skin tightening is required. The augmentation usually shifts the fold slightly downwards – the scar can be positioned exactly in the fold or just above it. As it runs along the skin’s natural tension lines, a fine, delicate scar can generally be expected.
If additional tightening is necessary, the periareolar incision around the areola is often recommended: excess skin can be removed this way without creating a further scar. On this route, the augmentation can be combined with a breast lift.
The transaxillary incision has gone out of fashion: although it runs along the skin’s tension lines, sweat glands and hair roots impair wound healing – the result is often thickened, raised scars that are clearly visible in this area.
Which implant size will look good on you depends on many factors: the condition of your breast, the softness of the tissue, the size of the mammary gland, your chest circumference, whether the breast sags slightly – and of course the shape and size you want your breast to be.
In the consultation we explore this question together and, after a thorough examination and measurement of the breast, determine the implants that are right for you. Because it is not easy to imagine the result, you can test different implant sizes with specially made sizers in a sports bra at our practice – so you can see which volume suits your silhouette best.
By the way: for women who want a moderate enlargement without any foreign material, augmentation with autologous fat can be an alternative – we advise you openly on both paths.
After a breast implant has been inserted during breast augmentation, the body recognises a foreign object and, as a natural immune response, forms a delicate layer of connective tissue around it – it “encapsulates” the implant. This capsule forms within the first three weeks and is initially soft: like an inner bra it holds the implant exactly where we want it during all activities – a good and important function.
In some cases the capsule thickens and hardens; this is called capsular contracture. A single reliable percentage cannot describe every patient: frequency depends on factors including implant, surface, position, indication, follow-up period and individual risk. Clinically significant contracture can cause pain or distortion and may require another operation.
Breast augmentation with implants has short- and long-term risks. Whether the expected benefit outweighs those risks for you can only be assessed after examination, counselling and shared decision-making.
General surgical risks such as bleeding, infection, thrombosis and embolism exist with every operation. We actively reduce them: through meticulous haemostasis, a single-shot antibiotic during surgery, the shortest possible operating times, early mobilisation on the day of surgery and an anti-thrombosis injection during the short inpatient stay. Even so, they cannot be reduced to zero.
Implant-specific risks include capsular contracture, displacement or shape change, pain, altered sensation, rippling, seroma, implant rupture and further operations. Silicone-gel implants can rupture without obvious symptoms; ultrasound or MRI may be advised depending on the implant, symptoms and individual risk. Breast implants are not lifetime devices and may need to be removed or replaced later.
The rare lymphoma BIA-ALCL is associated with breast implants and is currently reported more often with textured than with smooth surfaces. Rare squamous-cell carcinomas and other lymphomas have also been reported in the implant capsule. Late one-sided swelling, fluid, a mass, shape change or persistent pain needs prompt assessment.
Autoimmune phenomena such as Sjögren’s syndrome, chronic fatigue or rheumatoid arthritis have also been studied in connection with breast implants (ASIA syndrome, “breast implant illness”). To date there is no sufficient evidence of a clear causal link – further research is needed. We address these topics openly in the consultation.
Examination, measurement of the breast and joint implant choice – including the size test with sizers in a sports bra. If your wishes and what is realistically achievable do not match, we tell you openly and show you alternatives.
In the two weeks before the operation our anaesthetist informs you in detail. Please do not take blood-thinning medication such as aspirin in the week before surgery. On the day of the operation you arrive at the clinic with an empty stomach.
The breast augmentation takes about an hour under general anaesthesia and is performed as a short inpatient stay at the MEOCLINIC on Friedrichstraße – you stay one night. With a simultaneous lift, a reduction of the nipples, an implant exchange or other corrections the operation takes longer; a breast augmentation with a full lift takes about 3.5 hours. You are operated on by the surgeon who advised you.
Ward rounds, suture removal and check-ups are carried out personally by your surgeon. The day after surgery we do a ward round, adjust your pain relief to your needs and discharge you home – with your follow-up appointments and an emergency number on which you can always reach Dr. Finke, Dr. Frantzen or Mr Saravia. You wear a compression bra for four to six weeks – please avoid sport and heavy lifting during this time.
The costs of a breast augmentation in Berlin can only be quoted reliably after a personal examination: we calculate them for you at the end of the consultation – they depend on the choice of implant, your individual conditions and whether an additional skin tightening is necessary. You receive a written cost estimate itemising everything: operation, anaesthesia, implants, clinic stay and aftercare.
As a purely aesthetic procedure, breast augmentation is a self-pay service – a sick note is only possible if health insurance covers the operation, for example in reconstructive surgery after breast cancer. Whether a medical indication applies in your case is clarified in the initial consultation.
Dr. Finke and Dr. Frantzen each hold two board certifications and bring many years of clinical experience in aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery – Dr. Finke as former senior surgeon and consultant at a certified breast centre, Dr. Frantzen as former head of a department of plastic surgery.
We use only CE-certified implants by POLYTECH and Motiva – class III medical devices. Directly after the operation you receive an implant card documenting the position, the surgeon and all identification data of your implants; since 2024, breast implants are additionally recorded in the statutory German Implant Registry (IRD).
Whoever advises you also operates on you – and personally carries out ward rounds, suture removal and check-ups until your treatment is complete. Should your surgeon ever be unavailable, the partner doctor takes over the check-up: both follow the same concepts in specialised breast surgery.
A note on before-and-after photos: Since 1 April 2006 it has been prohibited by law to show patients before-and-after photos of other patients. We protect our patients’ privacy and support this position – instead, measurement and the sizing session in the consultation give you a realistic idea of your result.
| How long | About 1 hour under general anaesthetic; about 3.5 hours with a full lift |
|---|---|
| Stay | One night at the MEOCLINIC, Friedrichstraße 71 |
| Implants | POLYTECH and Motiva – full product range, CE-certified (class III), chosen individually |
| Back to work | 1–2 weeks – desk work usually after one week |
| Sport | 4–6 weeks off, compression bra; walking is encouraged |
| Where | Consultations, aftercare and all day-case procedures take place at our practice in Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg. Inpatient surgery is carried out at the MEOCLINIC, Friedrichstraße 71 – the private hospital in Quartier 206. |
| Paid by | Private fee or private insurance benefit |
What does it cost? There is no flat rate. Time in theatre, technique, anaesthetic and the extent of the procedure differ from person to person. You get a binding quote at the end of your consultation, in writing, with nothing hidden. And the consultation itself? Medical advice is a treatment in its own right and is invoiced under the German scale of medical fees (GOÄ) — including when you decide against a procedure afterwards. We tell you what to expect when the appointment is made.
Will my insurance pay? As a rule, no. Purely aesthetic procedures are paid privately. German statutory insurers only contribute where there is a recognised medical indication; private insurers and international policies decide case by case. We will tell you honestly whether you have any prospect of cover.
These points apply generally. What applies in your case – with existing conditions or regular medication – we go through at your pre-operative consultation. That conversation is what counts.
More volume is not always the answer. We look first at whether something smaller would do the job – and we will tell you if none of these procedures fits your finding.
Board-certified Plastic &
Aesthetic Surgeon, Fellow of EBOPRAS
Board-certified Plastic & Aesthetic Surgeon,
Board-certified Surgeon
Dr. Juliane C. Finke and Dr. Stephan Frantzen are full members of the German Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (DGPRÄC) and the German Society of Senology (DGS). Dr. Finke is also a Fellow of EBOPRAS and passed the European board examination in 2010; Dr. Frantzen operates on a voluntary basis for INTERPLAST in South America. The jameda seals lead to the independent physician profiles with patient reviews of Dr. Finke and Dr. Frantzen.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Juliane C. Finke and Dr. Stephan Frantzen
We calculate the costs of the operation for you at the end of the consultation. They depend on the choice of implant, your individual conditions and whether an additional skin tightening is necessary. In any case you receive a written cost estimate.
The breast augmentation takes about an hour under general anaesthesia. With a simultaneous lift, a nipple reduction, an implant exchange or other corrections it takes longer – about three and a half hours with a full lift.
Placing the implants below the chest muscle is painful. As a rule, this pain can be managed well with common painkillers.
Dr. Frantzen, Dr. Finke and their team inform you in detail about all necessary preparations. On the day of surgery you come to the clinic with an empty stomach – nothing to eat, drink or smoke. In the two weeks before the operation, our anaesthetist informs you thoroughly about the anaesthesia. In the week before surgery you should not take blood-thinning medication such as aspirin, as it delays blood clotting.
We always recommend one night at the MEOCLINIC, Friedrichstraße 71, so that you can recover in peace. The day after surgery we do a ward round and discharge you home. By then you are mobile and your pain relief has been adjusted to your needs. At the ward round you also receive your follow-up appointments and an emergency number on which you can always reach Dr. Finke, Dr. Frantzen or Mr Saravia.
Dr. Finke and Dr. Frantzen are experienced board-certified plastic surgeons specialised in the breast. Whoever advises you also operates on you and looks after you until your treatment is complete – including ward rounds, suture removal and all check-ups. Should your surgeon be unavailable due to training, holiday or illness, the partner doctor is glad to take over a check-up: both follow the same concepts in highly specialised breast surgery.
Since 1 April 2006 it has been prohibited by law to show patients before-and-after photos of other patients – the intention is to prevent false expectations. We protect our patients’ privacy and support this position.
That depends on your profession: office work can usually be resumed after one week. If your work is physically demanding or involves small children, you should plan for two weeks. A sick note may only be issued if health insurance covers the operation – which is usually not the case.
You should avoid sport and heavy lifting for four to six weeks – during this time you wear a compression bra. Walks are allowed and actively encouraged.
Implants should be exchanged if capsular contracture occurs or if you are no longer happy with your breast due to the changes life brings – for example after major weight loss or through decreasing skin elasticity. In these cases a lift can remove excess skin and restore a pleasing overall picture. There is no fixed exchange interval.
Implants by POLYTECH and Motiva – we work with the full product range of both manufacturers and choose shape (round, anatomical or Ergonomix), surface and filling individually according to your findings and wishes. All implants are CE-certified class III medical devices.
Yes – every patient receives an implant card directly after the breast augmentation, stating the exact position of the implants, the surgeon and all identification data. Please keep this document safe. Since 2024, breast implants are additionally recorded in the statutory German Implant Registry (IRD).
Yes, cancer screening remains possible after a breast augmentation. Talk to your gynaecologist about your breast augmentation – the appropriate imaging method will be recommended for each examination.
Extensive internet research does not replace the personal conversation: in the consultation we work out together which option is best for you – honestly, thoroughly and with realistic expectations. In English or Spanish, if you prefer.
Related treatments: Breast lift in Berlin · Breast reduction in Berlin · Breast surgery overview
Medically reviewed by Dr. Juliane C. Finke, board-certified plastic and aesthetic surgeon, and Dr. Stephan Frantzen, board-certified plastic and aesthetic surgeon.
Last reviewed:
The content of this page is for general information and does not replace medical advice. A reliable assessment of suitability, procedure, costs and risks is only possible after a personal examination.
Independent information: Germany’s BfArM publishes current breast-implant safety information. The FDA explains long-term risks, rupture, further surgery and rare capsule-associated cancers. These sources supplement, but do not replace, individual counselling.
