Breast Implant Profiles: Which is Best for Breast Augmentation?

Posted August 22, 2024 in Breast Augmentation, Breast Implant Replacement, Breast Implants, Breast Lift, Breast Revision, Breast Sagging, Combined Breast Augmentation and Breast Lift

By Dr. Chris Patronella

A common question I’m asked is, “What breast implant profile am I best suited for?” It’s very individual. There are some anatomical considerations that I can pick up on at a physical exam when I’m able to evaluate a woman who is interested in breast augmentation. Generally speaking, the larger the implant, the more inclined I am to go with a higher profile implant because the implants get very wide when it’s a lower profile implant and oftentimes too wide for the natural width of the existing breast.

An implant profile is measured from the flat surface up, and each of the implants shown in the video have a progressively higher profile (the lowest implant profile is next to Dr. Patronella’s left hand). All of the implants shown are approximately the same size—a little over 400 cubic centimeters (cc) for each one—but they look quite different. The highest profile implant looks dramatically different from the moderate profile implant.

The diameter is largest with the moderate profile and smallest with the extra high profile. There are also two other profiles called low profile implants which I never use because there aren’t any patients that I think are good candidates for them.

How Dr. Patronella Selects Implant Profile Size

Every woman has unique anatomy. The breasts are never exactly the same on one side versus another. An examination and measurements are taken in order to evaluate each woman who is interested in breast augmentation.

Who Are The Best Candidates for High Profile Breast Implants?

There are circumstances where I would lead a person towards a higher profile implant.

1. A woman who has a wider overall breast but not a lot of projection would be an excellent candidate for a high profile implant in order to balance the width of the breast with enhanced projection.
2. In addition, a woman who has mild sagging—not enough really to merit a breast lift—and that generally occurs in a woman who’s had children and who has breastfed. In these cases, the skin has stretched and there’s a little bit of loss of fullness in the upper pole of the breast, which we call a deflated upper pole. A higher profile implant will also take up loose skin a little bit better than a moderate profile implant.

Breast Implant Profiles to Correct Breast Asymmetry

Some women come in who have dramatic asymmetries between their right and left breasts. Some of these are not completely correctable. But there are things I can do that will camouflage some of those asymmetries and make them closer to the same. For instance, I might use a high profile implant on one side and a medium implant on the other if there’s a chest wall asymmetry where one rib cage projects a little more than the other. And these anatomical considerations are determined after a good examination, measurements, and a careful conversation about what can be done and what the limitations of a procedure are as well.

Contact us today to schedule your consultation with Dr. Patronella.