The profile of the implant is also a big
determinate with what a patient can handle, along with the shape of
the implant. Anatomical
or contoured implants are going to appear more natural looking on
the chest wall, as they tend to closely resemble a natural breast.
However, once a round implant
is inserted into the
chest, it basically becomes more “anatomical in shape” – just due to
gravity.
A
High Profile
Implant that consists of the same size (or same ccs.) as a moderate
or low profile implant will stand out much further from the chest
wall. High profile implants were made for the patients who had
small ribcages and also small
breast width dimensions. Before
high profile implants were made, women who were smaller were limited
somewhat with their choices in sizes. This was the first
chance of giving these women a chance to go bigger without forsaking
any complications.
High Profile implants have the capacity of
looking great on a narrow ribcage patient as well as a patient who
has a wide ribcage, as everything is predicated on
breast width dimension. Breast width is measured closely and also
taken into consideration is the thickness of her skin on her upper
chest wall. A patient can have a wide ribcage with a small
breast width dimension on her natural breast, whereas high profile
implants could be a great recommendation for her. Or you can
also see the opposite, narrow ribcage with a patient who has a
naturally large breast width dimension. On this specific case,
high profile implants would not be suitable for this patient.
Allergan offers the following profiles for
round shaped breast implants:
Low Profile - this implant has the least amount of projection and has
the widest diameter.
Moderate Profile - moderate base width - moderate projection
High Profile - narrow base width - high projection
Very High Profile - narrow base width - high projection
Allergan offers the following profiles for anatomical shaped breast implants:
Full Height - Moderate Height - Low Height
Extra Full Projection - Full Projection - Moderate Projection - Low
Projection
MENTOR:
Mentor offers the following profiles for round shaped breast implants:
Moderate Profile - this implant has
the least amount of projection and has the widest diameter.
Moderate Plus Profile - moderate base
width - moderate projection
High Profile - narrow base width -
high projection
Ultra High Profile - narrow base width
- high projection
Mentor offers the following
profiles for anatomical shaped breast implants:
High Profile
Moderate Profile
Long before we understood
the difference in implant profiles, size was the only factor in choosing the
right breast implant. The manufacturers found that there was a real need to
have more choices available to ensure the best implant for a specific body
type.
The common problems with the older
standardized sizing:
Implants seemed too
wide or too narrow for a specific body type.
Implants were too wide
or too close together, problems such as
symmastia seemed to become more
evident, and or the implant violated the underarm area.
Implants that were too
narrow created an unnatural appearance and could contribute to a wide gap
in-between the cleavage area.
Implants which did fit
the breast width dimension properly didn’t project enough from the sides
(making the implants appear flat from the side profile)
The various profiles of breast
implants allow the device to be customized to the patient’s needs.
Projection and width are taken into consideration when choosing an implant,
along with the patient’s stature and measurements to make sure they are getting
the proper breast implant for their body.
A patient’s anatomy must
be taken into account when deciding which type of implant is to be used.
Breast Width Dimension
and also the measurement of the rib-cage is important
when choosing an implant style.
The base diameter of the breast will determine
what style implant will be used. The implant diameter should be at the same
size of the breast width dimension or a little less, or the implant could end up
too wide for the patient and could possibly lead to problems later on down the
road such as symmastia. If the implant diameter is too wide for the breast
width dimension, the implant can literally be "squeezed"
circumferentially. This will force the breast implant to scallop, or ripple
around the outer edge, creating a range of other problems.
For a woman who has a very
narrow frame and small ribcage measurement – a moderate or a low profile implant
might result in the desired size, however; it could end up being too wide and
end up having implant sit to far into the cleavage area or the underarm area.
By using a high profile implant, the woman with a smaller ribcage and a smaller
Breast Width Dimension is able to get the larger implant that she desires.
There are
lots of factors that are considered before choosing the profile of an implant.
The profile of a breast implant is really only one contributing factor to the
final breast shape. Implant profile is important; however there are other
factors to consider. The tightness or looseness of the existing breast size and
the size of the implant can be just as important. A woman with a small tight A
or B cup breasts with a large implant will end up looking round no matter what
the profile that is used. However, women who have loose saggy breast skin that
is then implanted will almost always have more of a natural shape (or teardrop
shape) – not unless a very large implant is used to take up all the pre-existing
loose tissue, or a breast lift is considered to reconstruct the breast.
Licensed image for CosmeticSurgeryForums.com
Surgeon increasing the pocket size for the breast implant
High
profile implants tend to project the furthest off the chest wall, when compared
to either moderate,
moderate plus or
low profile implants. The high profile
implant will achieve this projection by having a smaller base diameter than any
other implant. By decreasing the diameter of the shell, but keeping the same
fill volume the manufacturer has made more options available. This allows women
with smaller ribcages or smaller breast width dimensions to have the opportunity
to have a larger size implant.
The High Profile Implant
became available in the early part of 2000, giving breast augmentation patients
different options in choosing the projection of their implants. The profile of
the implant is measured by how far the implant projects out from the body. The
high profile implants were made by maintaining the same volume as the standard
implant, but reducing its diameter or base size.
It has been noted by some
studies that the high profile implant may have a lower risk of rippling compared
to its standard counterpart. This is because the high profile implant (saline)
allows a much higher fill ratio than the other profile implants, thus helping
with any rippling.
175cc HP
475cc Moderate
A 175cc High Profile Implant has
the equivalent projection of a 475 standard saline implant with much less
lateral width.
High profile implants
are very narrow in the diameter or width of the implant.
High Profile Implants
have the most projection offered in the United States at this time.
The side of the
implant is less matronly and does not protrude as much beyond the axilla
(underarm area)
When placed properly,
most patients can achieve great cleavage, but Breast Width Dimension is
important to see if you qualify for these implants
The upper pole area
has more fullness than any other implant.
Because of the way the
implant is designed, even though you get a large cc amount, high profile can
leave a woman looking thinner and not looking heavy or matronly.
Women with smaller
breast width dimensions and also smaller ribcages can have the option of
going with a larger implant size.
A high
profile implant is perfect for the woman with less natural breast tissue and a
narrow chest measurement.
High profile
implants on the wrong patient type can appear like torpedoes or missiles. It is very
important to make sure your breast width dimension calls for this type of
implant.
High
profile implants are great choice for women with a narrower chest frame and a
narrower breast width dimension - who still want a considerable size increase
during their breast augmentation.
Women who
need to have a mastopexy with their breast augmentation can be a candidate for
high profile implants, because sometimes the actual breast lift can make the
breast mound appear square, making the breast appear wider and not as round. The shape of the high profile implant shell restores the rounded shape of the
breast, while still allowing the considerable benefits of the mastopexy lift.
Difference Between High Profile and Moderate Profile
Moderate
Plus breast implants are considered the “happy compromise”
between the traditional moderate profile implants and the popular high profile
implants.
The moderate plus profile is perfect for women who want a little more projection
than is typically provided by a moderate profile, but not as much projection as
is found with the high profile shell.
Moderate
Plus implants tend to project further off the chest wall than regular moderates
at the same identical volume and size. Moderate Plus breast implants are a wonderful
choice for women who might be narrower in the ribcage measurement and also the
breast width dimension and are still hoping for a full aesthetic look from their
augmentation.
For average framed women, the moderate profile is still the
industry standard. Wider framed women with a large
breast width dimension might
consider low profile breast implants to create a proportionate shape and size
for their body. Women who are tiny framed and also have a small breast width
dimension should consider high profile implants if they are looking for the
highest projection available out of an implant.
Choosing
the proper breast implant profile is a very fundamental decision - one that
should take some time in making. Choosing the wrong implant profile can leave
a patient with a substandard result from their breast augmentation. The factor
to consider is finding an implant that will create the look the patient is
trying to achieve. Creating cleavage is very important to most all augmentation
patients.
The general rule on breast width dimension is that the implant
diameter should always be a little less than what the patient is measuring. Some Plastic Surgeons will go over the breast width dimension by a small amount,
so it is important to allow your surgeon to choose what size can safely be put
in without forsaking any complications.
Implant
profile does not change the size of the implant; it merely changes the
projection on what you will see from the side. Moderate Plus implants are
narrower at the base and taller than traditional Moderates or
Low Profile in the
same size (volume – cc).
This
implant offers a slightly tapered width and additional forward projection,
creating more breast depth than width. This is ideal for a slightly smaller
framed woman or a woman who desires a more projecting bust line.
Moderate
Profile Implants are considered as the Gold Standard, or implants for the normal
profile. Moderate profile implants are normal size implants which are
proportionate in width and forward projection. These are the industry standard
and closest to the original sizing method.
Moderate profile implants are generally used for most women with “typical”
breast augmentation needs. There are more sizes and selections available with
Moderate profile compared to any other implant profile.
Patients
that exhibit a medium frame and medium breast width dimensions would be prime
candidates for moderate profile breast implants. This is especially true when
the woman is looking for cleavage. If the patient has a wider breast width
dimension it is imperative that a implant is chosen with wider diameter. With a
wider breast width dimension, a wider diameter implant is needed to help achieve
the cleavage that most patients desire. Moderate profile implants on very
petite women can look very unnatural, and they can look out of proportion with
being too wide for the chest.
These implants are not
used as commonly as the other profiles available. A low profile implant
basically means that the breast will project at a lower amount than the
moderate, moderate plus, of high profiles. Low
Profile can be perfect for women who are larger and fuller framed in their chest
measurement. Wide framed women benefit from the larger base diameter of the low
profile implant, since it creates breast shape that matches the natural contours
of their bodies.
The low
profile implant has a larger diameter than other profiles and has very little
projection. The implant style is commonly used for women who have a wide broad
chest frame. It is the extra width of the implant shell that will help fill out
the chest wall, contributing to a very natural look with reasonable cleavage.
Because of
the dynamics of this low profile implant having very little projection, it makes
a perfect choice for women who want fullness but not an overly round or fake
appearance.
The main
criteria with choosing this implant should be predicated on the breast width
dimension and the woman’s ribcage measurements. Ideally, the implant should be
smaller in size than the actual
breast width dimension.
Low
profile implants might be used less than other implant profiles, but they offer
important benefits to women who are seeking a specific breast enhancement
appearance.
Knowing
about your choices with implant styles and profiles helps you determine what
implant will be right for you. Make sure you talk to your Plastic Surgeon about
the choices available for your anatomical body type. Understanding the
difference in implant profiles is just as important as choosing the right size.
