Important note as of 27 October 2022:

At this time, Medical Departures is no longer facilitating medical bookings in Manila or anywhere else in the Philippines. 

To find and schedule a free appointment with a board-registered surgeon elsewhere in Asia, please browse our network of trusted, verified breast augmentation (breast implants or "boob job") providers in Thailand, Bali or South Korea—as well as dozens of other destinations to choose from in our main global guide.

Ultimate Guide to Breast Augmentation - Global Guide

Ultimate Guide to Breast Augmentation in Thailand

Ultimate Guide to Breast Augmentation in Bali

Ultimate Guide to Breast Augmentation in South Korea

Alternatively, see some of our popular medical destination guides below—containing travel tips, price comparisons, before & after photos, reviews, and recommended clinics for other types of plastic surgery, dermatology, hair transplantation, orthopedics, fertility and anti-aging treatments:

Ultimate Guide to Doctors in Thailand

Ultimate Guide to Doctors in Bali (Indonesia)

Ultimate Guide to Doctors in South Korea

Full List of Clinics and Hospitals in Singapore

We thank you for your continued support and wish you all the best in good health and safe travels.

For your reference:

Am I a Good Candidate for Breast Augmentation?

You may be if:

• You are an adult (over 18). Your actual age may determine the best implant type for you.
• You are in overall good health – no active infections, no active cancer/pre-cancer
• You aren’t pregnant or breastfeeding
• You have generally good mental health, although this procedure can still be a viable option depending on your particular condition. This is something that a doctor at home can advise. 

Price is normally the main driving force behind people’s decisions to go abroad for treatment, but this should in no way be your only consideration. 

The combination of low-cost yet highly-skilled medical care, as well as the range of modern facilities, are the main reasons to have your breast augmentation in Manila. 

Surgeons have years of training and many are affiliated with international professional organizations like ISAPS. Add in cultural influences from Malaysia, Spain and even America, and the prospect of visiting this stunning Southeast Asia becomes all the more alluring. 

To make the most of your time here, plan any tours (such as island hopping) and other holiday activities before the date of your surgery, as you’ll need to take things very easily over the following days before you fly back home. 

It’s advisable to do some of your own research on breast augmentation clinics in Manila—just as you would at home. Check out their websites, look out for the surgeon’s credentials and read patient testimonials. 

However, in this age of fake online reviews, paid-for positions on Google and misleading information on business websites, conducting this research is easier said than done.  

The good news is that Medical Departures has done much of this work for you. We conduct quality checks on verified clinics, beyond just criminal and legal checks. We work hard to ensure that only clinics and surgeons with professional memberships, extensive training and qualifications and positive patient feedback are listed on our site. 

Your doctor (or anesthetist) will first decide on which kind of anesthesia to provide you; options are generally intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. With intravenous sedation, you are put into a deeply relaxed state with medication, and the surgical area is treated with local anesthesia. With general anesthesia, you will be totally asleep for the whole procedure. 

To begin the procedure, your surgeon will make an incision and create a pocket in the breast tissue. The breast implant is then placed in the pocket and the incision is closed with a combination of stitches, skin adhesive and surgical tape.

You can read more about breast augmentation at the website of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Techniques

The preferred and most common method for breast augmentation uses implants. Whether made from silicone, saline, or transplanted fat, they are inserted via incisions below the breast, called an infra-mammary fold (IMF) incision. While the scar is more apparent than other methods, the IMF incision provides the best results, with fewer undesirable side effects and risks.

The breast implants can be inserted through different points: under the breast tissue of the mammary gland, under the fascia of the pectoralis major muscle, under the pectoralis major muscle, or entirely below the chest muscles. Each position has its pros and cons, but your doctor can help you decide if you’re not sure. 

Breast Augmentation surgery generally takes about two hours to perform. Your total time at the clinic may vary, depending on when you are asked to arrive to prepare for the surgery, and how long you need to wake from anesthesia. You’ll usually be able to go home the same day.

You’ll need to wear a compression or extremely supportive bra. Depending on the method of implant used, you may be able to fly home in a few days and be back to most normal daily activities in a week or two. If the implants were done below your muscles in any way, you’ll need to move gently. You should be able to get back to light exercise in about six weeks.

Scars will heal in about six weeks after the surgery, and fade over a period of a few months to two years.

Sources:

Boden, Sophia. Philippines island hopping guide: where to go and what to see. Cosmopolitan. 18 October 2019.
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/travel/a28859099/philippines-island-hopping-guide/

The International Society of Plastic Surgery (ISAPS). Website accessed: 6 January 2020.
https://www.isaps.org/

Odunze, Millicent MD. Pros and Cons of Autologous Breast Augmentation. Very Well Health. 2 December 2019.
https://www.verywellhealth.com/bigger-breasts-without-getting-implants-pros-cons-2709949

Plastic Surgery of the Breasts. Website accessed: 6 January 2020.
https://www.isaps.org/procedures/breasts/