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 distrubuted 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.
Ricardo L Rodriguez, MD
http://www.cosmeticsurg.net
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6 Comments
January 22, 2010 at 1:14 pm
I do work through MFI, I’m surprised you did not see our banner ad.
We’d be delighted to have you come to our office!
As far as the gummy bear implants, they are nice, but they are better for patients who have had a breast reconstruction or a lot of problems with capsular contracture. They are kind of stiff.
January 22, 2010 at 1:17 am
Dr. Rodriguez
I was wondering if you do gummy bear implants or silicone gummy implants. Also I was wondering if you do work through MFI (myfreeimplants.com)
Please let me know!! thank you
January 17, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Lester:
Did she have radiation? If she did, I would leave things alone, the better choice if she was to have anything done would be a tissue flap.
It looks like she has a saline implant. That is, by any standard, a complete reconstruction. If she wants a silicon implant, I would check out the Inamed gummy ear implant.
Go to the Inamed web site to find a surgeon near you who does the inamed implants.
January 13, 2010 at 6:08 am
My sister-in-law underwent a breast removal surgery after being diagnosed stage 2 borderline 3. Initial lumpectomy followed by bilateral mastectomy, 4 rounds chemo , oophorectomy, delayed reconstruction (tissue expanders replaced with saline implants), Arimidex. Can she have a breast implant now? If yes, which one would be better as per her given condition?
November 9, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Amber:
It is impossible to give specific advice without seeing you.
The decision to go with moderate profile implants sounds reasonable, but you should really try some implants on in the doctor’s office before making any decisions.
We’d be more than happy to see you.
November 3, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Hey Dr. Rodriguez,
my name is Amber and i am 20 years old. My friend recently came to you and recieved brest implants. They look good…anyway i am having trouble trying to figure out what to do. I have underdevolped breast and i want to go big. I am 5′10 and weigh about 289pds and i am ready to make them look like they fit. all i know is i want a moderate profile. What is your advice for me? Thanks so much.
Amber