Important decisions
One of the most important decisions when having a breast augmentation, is the size and shape of breast implants you choose. Both the size and shape of your breast implants will impact the final appearance of your breasts, following breast augmentation. With hundreds if not thousands of different shapes and sizes of breast implants available, how do you decide which breast implants will give you the result you desire?
What are the different breast implant shape options?
The shape of breast implant you choose will also partially determine the height of the implant. This is because breast implants come in a variety of shapes and heights. Regardless of the shape of breast implants you choose the cc volume will be limited by the width of your chest wall. This is an essential measurement that your plastic surgeon will take, however you can get a reasonable idea of your options by measuring your own chest wall. You can then use that measurement to find out what cc volume you may be able to accommodate. The cc volume is also determined by your skin and it may not be possible to have the maximum cc volume according to your chest wall measurement, if your skin is going to be excessively stretched.
How to measure the width of your chest wall for breast implants
To measure your breast width diameter (BWD) you should draw a line down the centre of your chest wall with an eye pencil or something easy to wash off down to the bottom of your breasts. Then measure the distance from the line, just below your breasts to the edge of your chest wall. This will give you an approximate measurement that can help you get a better idea of the breast implant width that will fit your body. You can also check what breast implant manufacturers your plastic surgeon uses and look in their breast implant catalogues. I have listed the main ones at the end of this post.
Breast Implant profile options
Low profile
Medium profile
High profile
Extra high profile
Extra, extra high profile
Non-anatomical (round) breast implants
Non-anatomical breast implants are often called round breast implants. This is because the height and width of non-anatomical breast implants is always the same. However, non-anatomical breast implants are not always round. Low and medium profile non-anatomical breast implants might better be described as oval.
The higher the profile, the rounder the actual breast implants will appear and the greater the projection. This means if you want a more natural breast shape you would normally opt for a low or medium profile breast implant. If you have lost breast volume and have a lot of loose skin than your plastic surgeon may recommend a high or extra high profile. Extra, extra high profile is normally only chosen if you want a round ‘fake’ breast shape.
Prior to choosing your profile you also need to decide how many cup sizes you want to go up. The cc volume that you choose will also determine the profile. This is because you may have to choose a certain profile to be able to have the cc volume you want. The cc volume will be determined by the maximum width your chest wall can accommodate and the profile you decide to have.
For example if your chest wall width is 12 cm you may be able to accommodate a breast implant with any profile, with this measurement. Although the majority of plastic surgeons will advise choosing a breast implant width, that is slightly less (1 to 2 cm) than your chest wall. So let’s say you want the biggest breast implants possible you could select extra, extra high profile, non-anatomical breast implants that are 1 cm less then your chest wall. Your plastic surgeon will then advise if your skin will accommodate this size of breast implant.
Anatomical (tear drop) breast implants
Anatomical Breast Implants have a different height to width measurement, although the height will not limit the size as much as the width. Even without your height measurement you can still get a good idea of the maximum size, anatomical breast implants you may be able to accommodate. All anatomical breast implants have been shaped to mimic the shape of a natural breast with a sloped shape. The profile will determine the projection from the chest wall and will make the breast appear fuller at the top. The height will determine where the top of the breast implant sits and the higher the breast implant sits the more likely you are to see the outline of the upper part of the breast implant, through the skin. Again, as with non-anatomical breast implants you will be limited by how much skin you have available and your skin elasticity. If you want large breasts, after breast augmentation and still want your breast to look natural this may be possible with anatomical breast implants. To go up as many cup sizes as possible with an anatomical breast implant, you could choose a full height, extra, extra high profile, anatomical breast implant. The width should be approximately 1cm less than your chest wall measurement to prevent any breast implant edges being visible through the skin.
My Advice
If you are considering breast implants of 500cc or more, you need to decide if you want a fake or natural breast shape, following your breast augmentation. If you want the biggest breast implants possible, then you would choose the widest non-anatomical, extra, extra high profile, breast implants that your body can accommodate. If you want a natural shape you may opt for low, medium or high profile non-anatomical breast implants, depending on how much loose skin you have. Alternatively if you want a natural shape you might choose to have anatomical breast implants. Anatomical breast implants are also used to increase your breast size as much as possible, without your breasts looking round.
Breast Implant catalogues
Nagor Breast Implants
GC Aesthetic – Eurosilicone Breast Implants
