Istanbul, Turkey · Endoscopic Transaxillary Technique · Double Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon

Breast augmentation through the armpit — no scar on the breast, pocket made under a camera.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayhan Işık Erdal, MD, FACS, FEBOPRAS — double board-certified plastic surgeon with 15+ years of experience. Transaxillary breast augmentation places the implant through a short incision in the armpit crease, with the pocket dissected endoscopically for the same precision as the fold incision — and the breast itself left unmarked. Honest about the trade-offs, before you book.

Book Free Consultation WhatsApp

FACS

Fellow, ACS

FEBOPRAS

European Board

5.0 ★

60 Google Reviews

15+

Years Experience

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayhan Işık Erdal at ACS Clinical Congress 2025 — FACS induction ceremony

★★★★★

5.0 / 5.0

Google · 60 patient reviews

Armpit breast augmentation — the facts in 30 seconds

What it is: breast implants placed through a 3–5 cm incision in the armpit crease; the pocket under the muscle is made endoscopically and the implant delivered through a sterile funnel. No scar on the breast.
Who it's for: first augmentations with little or no droop, moderate size goals and reasonable tissue cover — patients who want the breast itself unmarked.
Who it's not for: breasts that need a lift, revision cases, very large silicone implants — the fold incision serves those better, and we say so.
The trip: 5–7 nights in Istanbul — sizers and marking on day 1, surgery on day 2 (1.5–2 hours, day case or 1 night), fit-to-fly on day 5–7, remote follow-up through the first year.
Recovery: desk work at 5–7 days, arms below shoulder height for 10–14 days, sports bra 6 weeks, exercise from week 4–6, implants settle over 3–6 months, scar pale by month 12.

From the Surgeon

A word to international patients

Four 60-second messages from Dr. Erdal — a welcome, practical planning tips, a look inside the patient journey and quick recovery answers.

Welcome to International Patients

Tips for International Patients

Inside the Patient Journey

Recovery Questions, Answered in 60 Seconds

▶ More on the YouTube channel

The Approach

Why the armpit route with Dr. Erdal?

The transaxillary route earned a poor reputation in the era of blunt dissection. Endoscopy changed it — and the difference between a good transaxillary augmentation and a disappointing one is almost entirely in how the pocket is made.

✓
The pocket is made under a camera, not by feel
An endoscope lets Dr. Erdal dissect beneath the muscle and release its lower fibres exactly at the planned fold — the step that decides whether implants settle naturally or ride high. Every transaxillary augmentation here is endoscopic.
✓
Honest candidacy — the fold when the fold is better
Droop needs a lift; revisions need the fold; large silicone implants pass the route badly. Patients are told which route their anatomy needs, even when it isn't the one on this site.
✓
A scar placed in the crease, shown to you beforehand
The incision line is drawn standing, in the deepest fold, running with the crease — and you see it before surgery. Placement decides whether it reads as a crease or a scar.
✓
No-touch implant delivery
Silicone implants go in through a sterile funnel without hand contact, after antibiotic irrigation of the pocket — the technique steps that lower contamination and contracture risk, by any route.
✓
Sizing from your tissue, checked against the route
Base width, tissue pinch and envelope room set your cc corridor; sizers in a sports bra make the choice real; only then is the implant checked against what the armpit can deliver — never the other way round.

Incision Options

Three doors to the same pocket

Same implants, same pocket when the technique is right. What differs is where the scar lives, what size the route accepts, and how a future revision would be done. Dr. Erdal performs all three; your anatomy and your preference choose.

Inframammary (Fold)

The reference standard: direct vision of the pocket, any implant size, the best revision access. The scar sits in the fold under the breast — hidden by bras and most bikinis, visible lying down or topless.

Most precise pocket control; any implant
Standard route for revisions
Scar hidden in the fold, visible topless
Little fold to hide it in small breasts

Transaxillary (Armpit)

No scar on the breast. The endoscope gives the fold's precision; the implant goes in through a funnel. The scar sits in the armpit crease — invisible with arms down, a fine line with arms raised.

Breast, areola and fold untouched
Nipple nerves and ducts preserved
Silicone up to a practical size limit; saline any size
Trade-offs: line visible arms-up; revisions via the fold

Periareolar (Areola)

An incision at the areola's edge, blending with its border in patients with a defined, larger areola. Allows a mild lift at the same time; passes through breast tissue and ducts.

Blends with the areola border
Mild lift possible in the same operation
Size limited by areola diameter
More consideration for sensation, ducts and contamination

"Recommended" reflects this site's subject — the armpit route for patients who want no scar on the breast — not a universal preference. The fold remains the reference standard, and Dr. Erdal will tell you plainly when it serves you better.

The Scar

How the armpit scar matures over time

The armpit line is the operation's entire cosmetic trade, so it deserves a plain description: invisible with arms down, visible with arms raised, and cared for differently from any scar on the breast.

Early Healing

Weeks 0–3

Pink, slightly raised, firm. The crease is kept dry and friction-free; no deodorant or shaving; arms below shoulder height so the line isn't stretched. Sutures dissolve.

Sealed & Softening

Weeks 3–12

Deodorant (stick) and silicone gel start once sealed; electric shaving when no longer tender. The line is noticeable with arms raised in this phase — the price paid up front.

Fading

Months 3–6

Flattening and lightening; waxing and laser hair removal possible with the scar protected. Sun protection when the arm is raised in summer.

Final Line

Months 6–12

A fine pale line along the crease that most observers read as a fold. Thickened or darkened segments — more common in some skin types — are treated early and rarely need revision.

Important: the scar never disappears — it hides. Placement in the deepest crease, running with the fold, is what makes the difference between a line nobody notices and one everybody does; you see the drawn line before surgery. Dr. Erdal provides a written armpit-specific care protocol and reviews progress on your photos through the first year.

Recovery

Your week-by-week recovery roadmap

Breast augmentation recovery is short; the armpit route adds one rule — protect the closure from stretch for two weeks. The milestones below are a guide; yours will track close to them.

Day 0

Surgery

1.5–2 hours under general anaesthesia at an accredited hospital. You wake in a surgical bra with a soft band across the upper chest that holds the implants in position; tightness is the sensation, controlled with oral analgesics. Walking the same evening; home the same day or after one night.

Days 1–7

The arm rules

Arms below shoulder height, nothing over 2–3 kg, no pulling or reaching. Shower from 48 hours, armpits patted dry. Implants sit high and tight — day one of a six-month settling curve. Daily clinic checks; fly home on day 5–7 after review.

Weeks 2–3

Sealed and moving

Desk work from day 5–7. Once the incision is sealed: stick deodorant, silicone gel, gentle arm elevation. Driving around day 10–14 when you can turn and reach without pulling at the armpit. The band comes off; the sports bra stays.

Weeks 4–6

Exercise returns

Full arm range; cardio and lower-body training from week 4; upper-body and chest training from week 6, built gradually. Shaving once the scar is soft. Swimming when fully sealed.

Months 3–6

Drop and fluff

The implants settle into the lower pole as the muscle relaxes; softness returns; the fold looks natural. Underwired bras from month 3. The result is judged at month 6 — not before.

Month 12

Final scar, routine care

The armpit line is a fine pale crease. Routine implant care thereafter: a review at one year, imaging as advised — and no replacement timer: intact, comfortable implants stay.

Your Istanbul Journey

End-to-end care, from first contact to home

Every international patient receives a fully coordinated experience — designed around a short recovery with two weeks of arm rules and no lifting your own suitcase.

💬01

Free Video Consultation

Send photos (front, both sides, both obliques, arms down) with your height, weight, bra size and two reference photos of the look you want. Dr. Erdal reviews personally and schedules a free video consultation within 24 hours — you receive a plain recommendation: route, pocket plane, implant type and your cc corridor.

💰02

Transparent, All-Inclusive Quote

Written, with no hidden costs: surgery, anaesthesia, hospital, the implants by brand and model with the manufacturer's warranty registered to you, pre-operative tests, surgical bra and band, transfers and all follow-ups.

✈️03

VIP Airport Pickup

A private transfer meets you at Istanbul Airport and takes you directly to your accommodation. No taxis, no language barriers.

🏨04

Hotel Coordination

Your stay at Antwell Suites İstanbul — a recovery-friendly 1+1 residence minutes from the clinic with a separate bedroom and full kitchen — is coordinated for you. A companion stays in the same suite at no extra charge.

🔬05

Day 1 — Sizers & Marking

In-person consultation: measurements, sizers in a sports bra with your own tops, the final choice made in the mirror, and marking of the fold line and armpit crease with you standing. Anaesthesiology consultation and tests at an accredited hospital.

🏥06

Day 2 — Surgery

Endoscopic transaxillary augmentation under general anaesthesia, 1.5–2 hours. Home to your suite the same evening or after one hospital night with full monitoring.

🩺07

Follow-Ups

Daily checks during your stay — wound review, band and bra fitting, implant position. Your surgical bra, band and scar-care kit are provided.

📱08

Home — Day 5–7

Fit-to-fly clearance, written aftercare with the armpit scar protocol and arm rules, implant cards and warranty documents. After you return, photo and video follow-ups continue through the first year with WhatsApp support throughout.

🏨 Your Home in Istanbul — Antwell Suites

Premium 1+1 suites designed for recovery comfort, minutes from the clinic

1+1 SuiteFull kitchenSeparate bedroomWalk-in showerClose to clinicRecovery-friendlyDaily housekeepingGround-floor clinic

🤝 A companion makes the first days easier. You can't reach, lift or wash your hair overhead for two weeks — a second pair of hands helps with dressing, luggage and the small tasks of a hotel stay. Your companion stays in the same 1+1 suite and uses the transfer vehicle at no extra charge.

Your Surgeon

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayhan Işık Erdal

Dr. Ayhan Işık Erdal — Plastic Surgeon Istanbul

Dr. Erdal — ACS Clinical Congress 2025, FACS Induction

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayhan Işık Erdal

MD, FACS, FEBOPRAS · Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery

Fellow, American College of Surgeons (FACS) — inducted ACS Clinical Congress 2025
FEBOPRAS — Fellow, European Board of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery
Associate Professor — Plastic Surgery, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine
International training: Memorial Sloan Kettering (USA) & Ghent University Hospital (Belgium)
15+ years of surgical experience with thousands of breast & body contouring procedures
Award-winning surgeon: ISAPS World Congress 2023 — Gold & Bronze Award
30+ peer-reviewed publications in international journals
Member of ACS, ASPS, ISAPS, EBOPRAS & TPRECD
Ministry of Health — International Health Tourism Authorization (USHAŞ)
English consultation · direct surgeon communication · no third-party agents

"The armpit is only the door. What decides the result is a pocket made under vision, a muscle released exactly at the fold, an implant sized from the patient's tissue — and the honesty to send a patient to the fold incision when that is what her breast needs."

— Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayhan Işık Erdal, MD, FACS, FEBOPRAS

The Team

Personal care, from first contact

A dedicated team for international patients

From your first inquiry to your 12-month follow-up, our coordinator manages all international patient communication — scheduling, travel guidance and remote follow-up after you return home.

All communication is in English. We respond to WhatsApp and email within 24 hours, seven days a week. No agencies — direct surgeon communication at every stage.

Peer-Reviewed Research

30+ publications in leading international journals

Dr. Erdal is an active researcher with work published in Annals of Plastic Surgery, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Facial Plastic Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and ISAPS journals. Academic research informs surgical decisions — and vice versa.

Patient Reviews

What patients say

All reviews sourced directly from Google. 5.0 stars · 60 verified reviews.

★★★★★

"As someone terrified of surgery, choosing Dr. Erdal was the best decision of my life. From the very first consultation, the confidence he gave me left all my fears behind. I am incredibly happy with my results — natural and exactly what I hoped for."

B.A.

Google Review · 5 stars

★★★★★

"I had an excellent experience and couldn't be happier with the entire process and results. From the first consultation, I felt listened to, understood, and genuinely cared for. The results look natural, balanced, and exactly what I hoped for — better than I imagined. A true artistic eye."

M.D.

Google Review · 5 stars

★★★★★

"Dr. Erdal is incredibly attentive both before and after surgery. A surgeon with whom you will feel completely safe. He explains the entire process in detail beforehand. His clinic is bright and beautiful. I highly recommend him."

S.A.

Google Review · 5 stars

★★★★★

"Dr. Erdal performed my surgery 2.5 years ago. I am truly satisfied with both the result and his care. Despite being an anxious person, he patiently answered all my questions. The result is very natural and suits my body perfectly."

Y.D.

Google Review · 5 stars

★★★★★

"I met Dr. Erdal and simply said 'I trust you completely.' Not a single person has guessed I had surgery. He is a master of his craft — patient, warm, and exceptional. The result changed my confidence entirely."

G.K.

Google Review · 5 stars

★★★★★

"Everything from consultation to post-op was perfectly organized. The hospital was modern and clean. Dr. Erdal's calm and professional demeanor made me feel safe throughout. Absolutely worth travelling to Istanbul for."

L.M.

Google Review · 5 stars

Common Questions

Frequently asked questions

Breast augmentation through a 3–5 cm incision in the natural crease of the armpit. An endoscope guides the pocket beneath the muscle and releases it precisely at the fold; the implant is placed through a sterile funnel. The breast itself carries no scar.

With arms at your sides, yes — the crease covers it. With arms raised it shows as a fine line, pink for the first months and pale by a year. The breast has no scar at all; the trade is where the mark lives, not whether there is one.

Patients having a first augmentation, with little or no droop, moderate size goals and reasonable tissue cover, who want no scar on the breast. Breasts that need a lift, revision cases and very large silicone implants are better served by the fold incision — and are told so.

Yes — cohesive silicone implants pass through a sterile funnel. There is a practical upper size limit through this route depending on the gel and your anatomy; saline implants pass empty and are filled in place with no such limit.

Same implants, same pocket precision when the technique is endoscopic. The fold leaves a scar under the breast but gives the best revision access and no size limit; the armpit leaves the breast unmarked but shows a line with arms raised, limits large silicone, and sends future revisions to the fold anyway.

Desk work at 5–7 days, arms below shoulder height for 10–14 days, sports bra for 6 weeks, cardio at week 4, upper-body training at week 6. Implants settle over 3–6 months; the scar fades through month 12. International patients fly home on day 5–7.

Least of the three routes — the approach never cuts breast tissue, ducts or the nerves around the areola. Temporary numbness of the inner arm, where the tunnel passes, is the route's own trade and recovers over months.

The implant risks every route shares — capsular contracture, rupture or deflation, rippling, asymmetry — plus route-specific ones: a high-riding implant if the muscle isn't fully released (prevented by endoscopy), lateral drift, inner-arm numbness and armpit scar thickening. Bleeding, infection and clots are rare and actively prevented.

Below UK, US and Western European fees for the same implants, surgeon boards and hospital standards. Dr. Erdal issues a written, all-inclusive quote after a photo assessment — surgery, anaesthesia, hospital, named implants with warranty, tests, bra, transfers and follow-ups. The cost page explains what drives the figure.

Double board-certified (FACS, FEBOPRAS), Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery with 30+ publications, trained at Memorial Sloan Kettering and Ghent, authorised by the Turkish Ministry of Health for international patients, performing endoscopic transaxillary augmentation himself — consultation to follow-up, no agencies.

Patient Guides

Learn more about armpit breast augmentation

In-depth guides written by Dr. Erdal to help you make an informed decision.

Transaxillary Breast Augmentation — The Complete Guide → Am I a Candidate? Droop, Size, Revisions and Lifestyle → The Endoscopic Technique — How the Pocket Is Made → Armpit vs Fold vs Areola — Choosing the Incision → Implants Through the Armpit — Silicone vs Saline & Sizing → The Armpit Scar — Placement, Visibility & Care → Recovery Timeline — Week by Week → Risks & Complications — The Honest List → Cost in Turkey — What Drives the Quote → Your Istanbul Journey — Day by Day → Glossary — Terms Defined → All articles →

Get in Touch

Start your consultation today

Our team responds within 24 hours. Send photos (front, both sides, both obliques, arms down) via WhatsApp for the fastest initial assessment. Free video consultation available.

💬

WhatsApp — fastest response

YouTube — patient stories & Shorts

@dr.ayhanisikerdal

📍

Location

Teşvikiye Caddesi No:9/12 · Şişli · Istanbul, Turkey