Breast implant selection: Should you choose moderate or high profile implants?

A single breast implant.

If you are having Breast augmentation, you should have the opportunity to select the breast implant that will give you the look you want. Although implant volume (cc’s) is important, the shape of the implant is just as important.

Implant shape has two components. One is the base, or how much space the implant occupies on the chest wall. The other is projection, or how much the implant stands out from the chest wall. For example, a 350cc implant can be moderate profile or high profile.

Moderate profile implant

The moderate profile implant will occupy a larger diameter of your chest wall, it is wider and taller. It will not project outward so much, as it is distributed in a flatter, wider fashion. This implant is often chosen by patients who want fullness to the side of the breasts. In the video snapshot below, this profile is that implant to your right.

High profile implant

The high profile implant will occupy a smaller diameter on your chest wall as it is narrower but it also stands out more from the chest wall. This implant is often chosen by women who are slender and want more projection outward, instead of fullness on the side of the breast. In the video below, this profile is the implant to your left.

I prefer that the patient starts the process by first selecting the type, or profile of the implant. Then, after the shape of the implant is determined, you are better able to select the size of the implant that will give you the look you want.

Other factors which determine whether you want a high profile or moderate profile implant include the following breast dimensions:

  • chest width
  • breast inframammary fold
  • second intercostal space

I will continue to discuss these terms with you in future blogs so you will better prepared to discuss these with your plastic surgeon during your consultation.

Your plastic surgeon should have various samples of implants so that you can try on the implants to get a better idea of how high profile vs moderate profile will look on you. Implant size and profile are not something you want to try to guess!  Be sure that you have access to the various breast implant samples at your breast augmentation consultation.

By Dr. Ricardo L. Rodriguez MD Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Cosmeticsurg Baltimore, Maryland Ricardo L. Rodriguez on American Society of Plastic Surgeons.