Background: Breast augmentation relies on the use of an implant to create its result. Historically, breast implant shapes have been only round whether they were saline or silicone gel filled. But in the past few years, shaped breast implants have become available. This has provided women with another option to consider in their breast augmentation choices.
While women understandably focus on the size or volume of their breast implant choices, size alone is not the only consideration. There is also the consideration of the breast shape. When it comes to breast shape, only two results are possible…round or less than round. Some women prefer a very round look to their augmented breast and desire a lot of upper pole fullness. Other women prefer a less round look that does not look ‘so augmented’, thus desiring less upper pole fullness
For those women who do not want a lot of upper pole fullness, they need to consider using shaped breast implants. While there are many factors that control how much roundness an augmented breast will have, such as the size of the implant and the tightness of the breast skin, the shape of the implant certainly plays a role. For thinner women without a lot of breast tissue and loose skin, a shaped implant would play a major role in avoiding too round of a breast augmentation look.
Case Study: This 38 year-old female wanted to improve the size and shape of her breasts after having several children. She was an avid workout and exercise person and wanted a more shapely body. She was a 34A cup breast size. Her biggest fear from a breast augmentation was that she would be too big and round and obviously look like she had breast implant surgery.
Under general anesthesia, small 4cms incisions were made below her existing inframammary folds. A submuscular pocket was made and, using a no touch funnel technique, 330cc textured shaped silicone gel breast implants were inserted and vertically aligned with the nipple position. The incisions were closed in layers in a procedure that was completed in under one hour.
Her recovery was marked by leaving on a cruise one week later and returning to workouts as before surgery two weeks later. She had a very symmetric breast augmentation result that had a more natural shape to the breasts that was a direct result of the implant shapes.
Shaped breast implants have a niche role to play in breast augmentation surgery. Their value lies in creating a less round shape to the breast mound. To prevent after surgery shifting of the implant, and a resultant breast deformity, they have a textured surface to create better integration with the enveloping capsular scar tissue.
Case Highlights:
1) The shape of the breast after augmentation can mimic that of the implant particularly if one has little breast tissue and loose skin.
2) Textured shaped silicone breast implants have a teardrop shape in which roughly two-thirds of the implant volume is in the lower pole.
3) For women undergoing breast augmentation that want to avoid a round or very full breast shape result, the use of shaped implants can help prevent an ‘overaugmented’ look.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana