The  of Breast Implants

3.   Breast Implant Shape

-Round
-Shaped / Anatomical / Teardrop

SHAPE - Now that you have your size of breast implants picked out, do you want round or anatomical (also known as shaped or "tear drop") breast implants?  Anatomical implants are meant to mimic the slope of a natural breast.   However, a round implant when not lying down, takes on basically the same shape.

Round Implants.  What's natural looking?  Round implants, placed under the muscle may have a more natural appearance than shaped/contour implants which can appear somewhat elongated in appearance in some women.  Shaped implants tend to remain stationary, 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.  Read more about a study comparing round and shaped implants.

Shaped, Anatomical, Tear-Drop.  These are all terms used to describe an 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 implants, a tear-drop implant will maintain the same shape lying down, which can appear unnatural in some women.

Most doctors and patients choose ROUND implants (85% in a poll in 2002).

Next Stop:  Breast Implants Surface:  Smooth or Textured>>

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.  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 Implant Manufacturer Specifications 3.   Breast Implant Shape -Round -Shaped / Anatomical / Teardrop 4.   Breast Implant Surface Textured Surface Breast Implants Smooth Surface Breast Implants 5.   Breast Implant Profile / Projection Moderate Profile (regular / standard) High Profile Low Profile Moderate “PLUS” Profile 6.   Breast Implant Manufacturers Mentor Corporation Inamed Aesthetics Silimed, Inc. Breast Implant Warranty Info See All Implant Dimensions and Specifications Other Implants / Considerations Overfill Insurance The Inamed (McGhan) Style 410 Implant The Mentor CPG (Contour Profile Gel) Implant Soy Expandable Breast Implants Becker Double Lumen Breast Implants

Breast Implants: Quick Links: 1.  FILL - Saline v. Silicone 2.  Size 3.  Shape 4.  Surface 5.  Profile 6.  Manufacturers 7.  Other Considerations

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