There are two basic breast implant shapes: Round and Teardrop. Understanding the differences in these designs is central to your implant selection.

Round Breast Implants

The round-shaped implant is the traditional breast implant design and remains the overwhelming choice for women undergoing routine breast augmentation in the United States. Because of the widespread use of round breast implants, the attractive augmentations you see in fashion magazines and the Victoria's Secret catalog are most likely achieved with round implants. Round implants can create soft, round and nicely proportioned breasts. The availability of implants with a range of diameters and degrees of projection (see: Implant Dimensions ) provides great flexibility in fitting round breast implants to any woman's breast and body type.

A key advantage to round implants is that a soft, smooth implant shell can be used. The smooth shell is generally less likely to be felt than a textured shell. And, the smooth shell tends to cause less implant ripples, thereby decreasing the chance of visible implant rippling through the skin. Also, round breast implants tend to be more fluid in the breasts compared to teardrop implants. That is, when the patient is standing the implant assumes a teardrop shape as the upper part of the implant collapses and the lower part fills with fluid. When the patient is lying flat, the breast implant takes a flat shape and tends to move to the outside of the breast. These changes, between standing and lying flat, appear natural and tend to be the natural movement and position a natural breast takes. Saline filled and silicone filled breast implants are both available in multiple round styles.

Teardrop Saline Breast Implants

Teardrop saline breast implants have been available for many years. These implants are also called: shaped, anatomical, dimensional and contoured implants. These implants are available in a number of designs that vary in the height, width and outward projection of the implants. The concept of a shaped, saline breast implant is logical. However, these implants have never been widely accepted for routine breast augmentation, though they are widely used for breast reconstruction in women that have had mastectomies.

The lack of use of teardrop breast implants for routine breast augmentation is due to a number of factors. First, a teardrop implant must have a textured shell. This is the case because a textured shell is important to help the implant stay in a good, fixed, upright position within the breast. Second, textured shells are more likely to be felt and to cause visible implant ripples, compared to smooth shell breast implants. Thirdly, in order for a tear drop, saline implant to maintain its shape it must be filled more and be more rigid, compared to a smooth, round implant. Therefore, the teardrop implant will be more firm than a round implant and be more easily felt and appear more rigid, especially when the patient lies flat. Finally, it is possible for a teardrop implant to move or rotate within the breast pocket. If this occurs, the breast can be misshaped. Round implants can and do rotate within the breasts, but, since round breast implants are symmetrical, rotation of the implant does not affect breast shape. Teardrop breast implants are only available in saline filled versions (see teardrop cohesive gel implants to the left).

Teardrop Silicone Gel Breast Implants

The silicone gel currently used for breast implants is a very thick, but gooey material. Because of this gel's pliability it cannot maintain a definite shape and, therefore, cannot be molded into an implant that will maintain a stable teardrop shape. Therefore, teardrop shaped silicone gel implants are not available.

Teardrop Cohesive Gel Breast Implants

On the horizon: Promising tear drop cohesive silicone gel breast implants are presently available outside the U.S. and at a few study centers around the U.S. These are the form-stable breast implants that are sometimes called "gummy-bear" implants. This silicone is thicker than the current silicone gel and it can hold a definite shape. These implants are designed in a wide variety of teardrop shapes. Because of their silicone fill material, these implants are softer and less likely to cause ripples compared to saline filled teardrop implants. However, these implants can move or rotate within the breast pocket and cause a misshaped breast. These breast implants will likely not be available in the U.S. until around 2009. Even though these are promising devices, it is unknown how they will affect a woman's choice in breast augmentation surgery. Even when these implants are available, we expect that many women will do well with and prefer round smooth silicone gel or saline implants.

Round Breast Implants Are Preferred

Dr. Connall is experienced with the use of all types of the available implants for breast augmentation. Dr. Connall typically recommends round, smooth implants for routine breast augmentation due to their soft look, feel, fluidity, and ease of positioning. We will review round and teardrop implants with you during your consultation so that you can see and understand the differences in detail.