Breast Implant Shapes and Textures

	Round Breast Implants   Round breast implants are just that...round. If a round implant "turns" in the pocket, it is still round and symmetrical, and will not cause any distortion in the shape of the breast. Round implants are measured while lying on a flat surface.  They come in smooth surfaces and textured surfaces.  Round implants are less expensive than anatomical implants.     It is a common myth that round implants produce a more "fake", or augmented, look.  This is not always the case.  Rounds can look just as natural as anatomicals, and vice versa.  Actually, when a round implant is held in a vertical position, it takes on the same shape as the anatomical implant.  This has been proven through x-rays of women with breast implants. The result you get with the type of implant you choose will depend on your anatomy, the amount of tissue you start with, as well as your plastic surgeon, and how he places the implants. Note: Implant pictured is Inamed Style 68 (smooth round saline).  Click on the picture to go to Inamed's web site.
	Anatomical Breast Implants   / Contoured Breast Implants Anatomical implants were designed primarily for reconstruction purposes, but have since made their way in to general breast augmentation.  They were designed to produce a more natural looking breast.  When looking at an anatomical implant from the front, it appears oval in shape.  If viewed from the side, it appears to have more volume at the bottom, thus making it project in a more conical fashion.  The majority of the volume in anatomical implants is in the lower portion of the implant. This causes the implant to be "bottom-heavy", as there is more volume at the bottom of the implant versus the volume at the top of the implant. It is possible for anatomical implants "flip", or turn, in the pocket.  Because of this, all anatomicals come with a textured surface.  The textured surface allows for tissue adherence, which helps to keep the implant in the proper position.  However, there is no guarantee that the implant will not flip.  Because the positioning of the implant is very important, it is vital that you choose a surgeon that is experienced in placing these types of implants.   The pocket must be precisely created. If it isn't, the risk of the implant shifting or flipping increases. Note:  Implant pictured is Inamed Style 468 (textured anatomical saline).
	"Surprisingly, in a radiograph study, plastic surgeon Robert S. Hamas, MD, deemed the round saline implant to be more "anatomical" than the so-called anatomical saline implant: He determined that round and anatomical saline implants have similar teardrop shapes and essentially the same proportions relative to height and volume when the patient is in an upright position, but that round implants behave more like a natural breast when the patient is lying down. "When both the upright and the recumbent implant shape is considered, the round implant is the more 'anatomical,'" says Dr. Hamas." Courtesy of the ASAPS
	Smooth Breast Implants /  Textured Breast Implants   Smooth implants move freely in the pocket, whereas textured implants do not. Textured implants have a thicker shell, and have a slightly higher rupture rate due to the imperfections in the shell. Smooth implants have thinner shells, and tend to last longer.  Textured implants were designed to help prevent capsular contracture.  Studies vary on whether or not it the textured surface really prevents contracture.  Some have shown that when the implants are placed under the muscle, there is no difference in capsular contracture rates, while others show lower rate of capsular contracture.  This subject is still being debated.    Textured implants are generally firmer than smooth implants.  This is due to the thicker shell.  Traction rippling is possible with textured.  This occurs when the overlying tissue grabs the implant surface and begins to "pull" on it.  Traction rippling does not occur with smooth-walled implants.  In the event that traction rippling occurs, the only option is to have a redo surgery, and have the implants replaced. Rippling is also possible with smooth implants. Click here to view photos of rippling with both smooth, and textured breast implants. No implant is better or superior to another. Some surgeons (and women) prefer smooth to textured, anatomical to round, and vice versa. Consulting with a few plastic surgeons will give you a better of idea of the option that is right for you.

 

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