3. Breast Implant Shape
- Shapes: Round vs. Anatomical (Teardrop/Contoured/Shaped))
- Profile: Low, Moderate, High
Choosing breast implant shape may seem complicated since manufacturers have so many styles in their lineups. However, it’s really only a matter of making 2 choices. The first choice is the shape; the second choice is the profile. Shape refers to the actual shape of the breast implant, round or anatomical. Profile refers to the distance the breast implant projects off the chest wall.
Shape of the breast implant
There are 2 basic shapes of breast implant to choose from: round or anatomical. (Some people may call anatomical implants “tear-drop”, “contoured” or “shaped” implants.) Anatomical implants are meant to mimic the slope of a natural breast. However, a round breast implant, when not lying down, takes on basically the same shape. Some plastic surgeons and women feel that the anatomical implants reflect a more mature breast.
Round Implants. The most natural looking shape, round implants placed under the muscle may have a more natural appearance than shaped/contoured implants which can appear somewhat elongated in appearance in some women. Shaped breast implants tend to remainstationary, so they stay in the same place. When a woman lies down, round implants on the other hand, settle back evenly, like normal breasts. When a woman stands up, the saline goes to the bottom of the implants because of gravity, and the implants assume a natural teardrop shape anyway.
Contoured, Shaped, Anatomical, Tear-Drop. These are all terms used to describe a breast implant that is manufactured to be pre-shaped like the one pictured at right. Unlike a round implant, a "shaped" implant by design has a top and a bottom (it is tear-drop shaped). These have a textured surface to avoid the implant flipping, leaving the implant upside down and misshapen in appearance. This can be corrected but it is not an ideal happening. Unlike round breast implants, a tear-drop implant will maintain the same shape lying down, which can appear unnatural in some women.
Profile of the breast implant
Your second choice will be to choose the profile that suits you best. There are generally 3 choices: low, moderate or high profile breast implants. These terms refer to the distance from the chest wall the implant sticks out. A high profile implant projects furthest from the chest wall. A low profile implant projects the least. Please see the diagram below for an illustration.
Because the topic of breast implant profile is such an important choice, we have a whole section dedicated to helping you understand it. Please see Breast Implant Profiles.
See dimensions of all available breast implants, click here.
To see what various size implants look like in various size women, click here and search the breast augmentation photo gallery, where there are literally thousands of before and after photos of women with breast implants.
Breast Implants: The Full Roadmap
1. Breast Implant Fill - Saline or silicone?
- Saline
- Silicone
- History & Controversy
- Studies about Silicone Gel Breast Implants
- Who Qualifies for Silicone Breast Implants
- Cohesive Gel and Gummy Bear Silicone Breast Implants
2. Breast Implant Size - How do I choose the right size?
- Methods of determining ideal breast implant size choice
- Using Nicole's photo gallery to help choose size
- Choosing from breast implant manufacturer specifications
- Choosing Breast Implant Shape and Profile
- Breast Implant Shapes: Round vs. Anatomical (teardrop/contoured/shaped)
- Breast Implant Profile: Low, Moderate, High
- Textured Surface Breast Implants
- Smooth Surface Breast Implants
- Moderate profile breast implants (regular/standard)
- High profile breast implants
- Low profile breast implants
- Moderate "PLUS" profile breast implants