Breast
Mentor breast implants in Korea
Mentor breast implants include the MemoryGel silicone gel line, which has had US FDA approval since 2006. Urban Plastic Surgery, our partner clinic in Seoul, suggests Mentor for fuller volume or a soft feel. Placing the implants takes up to 2 hours, asleep or sedated, and most people stay 7 to 10 days in Seoul.
Who is a good candidate for Mentor breast implants?
- You want fuller breasts and a soft feel. These are reasons the clinic gives for suggesting Mentor
- Your breasts differ in size, or they became smaller after childbirth
- You want an implant whose US FDA approval history and labeling you can read before deciding
- You are healthy, your weight is steady and you can avoid heavy lifting for several weeks
When it may not be the right choice
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding, or plan to be in the near future
- You expect any brand to remove the usual implant risks, or to last for life. Implants are not lifetime devices
- Sagging is your main concern. A breast lift, with or without an implant, may suit you better
- You are under 22. The US FDA approval of MemoryGel for breast augmentation covers women aged 22 or older
Which method fits you?
Choosing Mentor is only the first decision. You and the surgeon also choose the surface, how full the implant is, its shape and size, and whether it sits over or under the chest muscle. The clinic’s published cases use smooth MemoryGel and MemoryGel Xtra implants, mostly through the fold under the breast. Ask which other Mentor models it offers.
| Method | What happens | Suits | Downtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| MemoryGel, smooth and round | A round silicone shell with a smooth surface, filled with Mentor’s cohesive gel, which holds together rather than flowing like a liquid. | A soft feel, one reason the clinic gives for suggesting Mentor. Many of its published cases use smooth Mentor implants | Light activity after 3 to 4 days |
| MemoryGel Xtra | A round implant filled with more gel for its size than standard MemoryGel. | More fullness for the same base width, according to the clinic | Same timeline as standard MemoryGel |
| Textured or shaped (MemoryShape) | A textured surface moves less inside the breast, according to the clinic. MemoryShape is a textured, shaped (contoured) Mentor implant that the FDA approved in 2013. | Ask the surgeon whether the clinic offers it. BIA-ALCL has been found more often with textured implants | The clinic lists one timeline for Mentor surgery; ask whether a textured model changes it and how it is followed up over the years |
What happens on the day of Mentor breast implants?
- Consultation. The surgeon measures your chest and breast tissue, then you agree the Mentor model, surface, size, incision and placement. US labeling includes a patient decision checklist covering the main risks; ask the clinic to go through the same information with you and give it to you in writing.
- General anesthesia or sedation. The surgeon places the Mentor implant you agreed on; the clinic lists up to 2 hours with no drain.
- You return to your hotel the same day in a support garment. Before you leave, get your implant card or a record of the model, size and serial number.
What is recovery like after Mentor breast implants?
- Days 1 to 3
- The chest is tight and sore. Keep the support garment on and avoid lifting or reaching high.
- Days 3 to 4
- Light daily activities such as walking and desk work are usually possible.
- Days 7 to 8
- Check-up at the clinic. Once the surgeon is happy with the incisions, most people fly home.
- Week 2
- The clinic lists stitch removal at about 2 weeks. If you are home by then, follow the stitch plan agreed before you left.
- Month 3
- The implants drop and soften, and the shape is judged around this time.
How long should you stay in Seoul after Mentor breast implants?
Before you fly, check that you have your implant card with the Mentor model and serial number, which any future check or revision will need. Choosing Mentor does not change the trip: allow 7 to 10 days in Seoul, with the check-up around day 7 or 8 before your flight. On the plane, walk and move your legs to lower the risk of a clot. Of the clinic’s 3 to 4 follow-up visits, find out which fall in Seoul, and settle how the stitches will be handled once you are home.
What are the risks of Mentor breast implants?
- Capsular contracture: the scar tissue that forms around every implant can tighten, so the breast feels firm or painful or changes shape
- Rupture or a silent gel leak, which may only show on a scan. US labeling recommends ultrasound or MRI checks for silicone implants over the years
- Bleeding (hematoma), fluid collection (seroma), infection or a visible scar
- Changes in nipple or breast sensation, rippling, uneven breasts or an implant that shifts
- More surgery later. The FDA’s boxed warning says implants are not lifetime devices and complications become more likely the longer you have them
- BIA-ALCL, a lymphoma in the scar tissue or fluid around an implant, seen more often with textured implants but also reported with smooth ones. Swelling, pain or a lump in a breast, even years later, needs a doctor promptly
- Clots in the leg veins that can travel to the lungs. Sitting through a long flight in the first days adds to this risk, so plan the flight with the surgeon. If you become breathless, have chest pain, or one leg becomes painful and swollen, get emergency care first, then tell the clinic, and do not fly until a doctor says it is safe
- Whole-body symptoms reported by some people with implants, such as tiredness, joint pain or muscle aches, and the general risks of anesthesia
What affects the cost of Mentor breast implants in Korea?
For Mentor, the quote moves with the model (standard MemoryGel or Xtra, smooth or textured), the size, the incision, the anesthesia and anything done at the same time. This page shows no price yet: the surgeon sees your photos first, then the clinic quotes. The written version should name the surgeon and the exact model; also ask whether the implant carries a manufacturer warranty and how it would work once you are home.
More questions
Are Mentor implants FDA approved?
Yes. The FDA approved Mentor MemoryGel silicone implants in November 2006 for breast augmentation in women aged 22 or older and for reconstruction, and MemoryShape implants in 2013. Since 2021, labeling for all approved implants includes a boxed warning and a patient decision checklist.
What is the difference between Mentor MemoryGel and Xtra?
Both are round silicone gel implants. Xtra holds more gel for its size, which gives a fuller look for the same base width, according to the clinic. Its published cases include both. Which one suits you depends on your tissue and the look you want, so ask to compare them at the consultation.
Mentor or Motiva: which should I choose?
Neither brand is right for everyone. Both come in several surfaces, shapes and sizes, and the operation and recovery the clinic lists do not change with the brand. Choose the model with the surgeon based on your chest, skin and goals, and ask for its labeling.
How long do Mentor implants last?
No fixed lifespan applies, and the FDA’s boxed warning says implants are not lifetime devices: the longer they are in, the more likely a problem that needs surgery. Regular checks, including scans for silent rupture, help you and your doctor decide when to act.
Related procedures
Sources
- Clinic figures as published by Urban Plastic Surgery, collected October 3, 2026. Your surgeon confirms your own plan.
- Mentor MemoryGel (Premarket application number: P030053) (Approved November 2006). US Food and Drug Administration
- Mentor MemoryShape Silicone-Filled Breast Implants (Premarket application number P060028) (Approved June 2013). US Food and Drug Administration
- Labeling for Approved Breast Implants. US Food and Drug Administration
- Risks and Complications of Breast Implants. US Food and Drug Administration
Cases and clinic figures come from our partner clinic, Urban Plastic Surgery. The partnership does not change what we publish about risks and recovery.