Because women’s breasts take many sizes and shapes, and because goals for breast enhancement vary from patient to patient, there are different breast implant shapes available. For some women, the round breast implant provides the best results; for others, a better choice is an implant shaped like a teardrop. The appearance of breasts is highly affected by breast implant shapes, so close consultation with a surgeon who has extensive experience in breast augmentation is highly advisable before a final decision about breast implant surgery is made.
Shape Options
When choosing breast implants, shape is an important consideration. The two basic breast implant shapes are round and teardrop. Breasts differ greatly from woman to woman, so the ideal breast implant shape for each patient must be determined with care. Considerations include:
. The patient’s body type
. The amount of breast tissue the patient has
. Whether breast implant placement will be submuscular or subglandular
. Where the surgical incision will be made
Round Breast Implants
Of the two breast implant shapes, the round breast implant is the most common type used for breast augementation. A round breast implant is shaped like a flattened sphere. Certain types of round implants can enhance the forward projection of the breasts, which would otherwise require larger breast implants with wider bases. For women who desire fullness in the upper poles of their breasts, the round breast implant is a good choice.
Many women choose round implants because they tend to provide the greatest amount of lift, fullness, and cleavage. Some women, however, feel that the results produced with round implants appear artificial, so they seek out more natural-looking alternatives.
A round breast implant can have a smooth or textured surface. Due to a round implant’s symmetrical shape, it does not pose the risk of implant rotation. The cost of a round breast implant is generally less than a teardrop (contoured) breast implant.
Teardrop Breast Implants
As the name indicates, a teardrop breast implant, also known as a contoured breast implant, is shaped like a teardrop. Breasts attain a more gently sloping contour with teardrop breast implants. Although the upper poles of breasts that have teardrop implants are not as full as those of breasts that have round implants, teardrop-shaped implants often provide greater projection by volume. For women who want more naturally shaped teardrop breasts, these implants may be the ideal choice.
Of the two breast implant shapes, a teardrop breast implant is more expensive than a round breast implant, a consideration for those concerned with cost. A teardrop implant requires a textured surface to prevent rotation because, with teardrop implants, breasts can become distorted if the implant rotates. This is not a concern with round breast implants.
