Mod+ or HP

[mom3]

Dear Dr. Mele,
I am curious to know what makes someone a good candidate for HP vs Mod+ implants? I know HP tend to fit women with smaller chest; however, I know some women have a very narrow frame, but their actual breast width could still tolerate a mod or mod+ implant...for example a 13 bwd. Is it possible to go with a HP implant, being thin, broad shoulders, 13 bwd, 5'5, & 105lbs without looking too fake with a 265-300cc implant? I have already had a breast augmentation (mod+), but I am still curious in how you decide (with your patients) what profile to use when mod+ and hp both could work? Thanks so much for your time!

[Dr. Mele]

Dear mom3:

The choice of implant profile depends in the width of the chest balanced against the desired increase in cup size.

In the past you could choose an implant based on volume or diameter or projection. With the advent of different profiles, your plastic surgeon now has a better a chance of finding an implant that will fit two, maybe all three criteria. It's a bit of a balancing act, and there is always some compromise.

While no implant is perfect, it is nice to have options. Ideally, I like an implant diameter that is about a centimeter smaller then the breast's base width. This is not a hard and fast rule as other variables come into play. In general, as the breast implant diameter gets larger, the breast pushes off more to the side. As the breast implant diameter gets smaller, the space between the implants gets bigger.

Other factors include the amount of breast tissue before augmentation, the shape of the breast, the shape of the chest wall, the desired final volume, the laxity of the skin, and if the implant is behind the muscle, the thickness of the muscle, to name a few.