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What Implants Should I Choose to Replace my Teardrop Implants?

asked 3 years ago by sunlover86 in moline, illinois
Latest answer by Rian Maercks, MD
Question viewed 5,274 times
Tags: implant, tear drop, textured

I had my first breast augmentation surgery in 2003. I was an A cup before the surgery. I am 5'7", thin build. I wanted to go with a more natural look so decided to go with the teardrop. My first surgery had to be re-done, since one of the implants did not fall. I initally had 450cc in each, which only made me a B or very small C cup. I told the doctor I wanted to go up a size for the second surgery, so I went with 550cc in one breast and 575cc in the other.

After the surgery the doctor told me my chest caves inward, which is why I had to go with such a large implant to achieve a large C/small D. I have been fairly happy, though I have some rippling, they do not feel natural, no cleavage, and they stick out under my armpit.

Since the implants I have had two children and breastfed both for about 9 months each. I have noticed a reduction in size. I am ready for new implants, but will not go with the textured teardrop again. I am wondering which is the better choice for me - a traditional round or a high profile. I do want a large C, small D look, but would like some cleavage. What implants should I choose for replacement? Also, is one a better choice than the other with my concaving chest?

14 answers to What Implants Should I Choose to Replace my Teardrop Implants?

What shape of breast implants to choose?

Tear drop breast implants are usually more narrow that round breast implants. High profile breasts implants also have narrower diameter than moderate or low profile breast implants. A round breast implant will better fill upper chest wall emptiness. in order to decide the type of breast implant your surgeon has to also consider your chest wall diameter and your existing breast tissue volume.

S. Sean Younai, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.beautifulself.com

Which Profile Is a Matter of Fit (and Shape)

You may do well with smooth silicone gel implants, but the choice of profile depends not only on your preference for shape and size, but also what will fit your chest and breast. There are important considerations in planning your implant exchange that must also take into account the shape of your current implant pocket and the changes in your breast tissue (qualitatively and quantitatively), droop and tone. Your surgeon can evaluate all this with proper... more

Paul C. Zwiebel, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

Use Mentor round smooth walled implants

To sunlover86, Hi! Several points: 1) Some of the problems you have (no cleavage, implants against armpits) are due to poor surgical technique and not to the implants. How the operation is done matters more than which implants you use. 2) Having said that, I have seen a lot of problems with textured, teardrop implants, and I dont use them. 3) Don't use "moderate profile" implants, because these are really low profile, and can cause rippling. You need either moderate PLUS... more

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

No perfect choice

A few comments: Round and high profile implants are not mutually exclusive. Round refers to shape of implant while high profile refers to dimension. Because the teardops implants are textured, they will generally produce more rippling, especially if your over-lying soft tissue coverage is thin. The most natural implants fit the natural outline of your breasts. If you go outside the periphery of your natural breast, or if you have so little breast tissue that the majority of the breast will... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Smaller diameter, high profile silicone implants would be good

Sunlover86, Without examining you, it is hard to give specific advice. Also, with having several previous breast surgeries, it makes anything more complicated. However, I would suggest a narrower diameter but high profile silicone implant. This will help maintain the cleavage, but also reduce the amount of implant that is affecting you in your armpit. Good luck with your surgery.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Natural appearing breast augmentation with cleavage

Unfortunately the most commonly used type of implants (high profile) and the most common type of placement ( submuscular/dual plane) cannot deliver the natural 'tear drop' effect or cleavage that you desire. Leaving the origination of the pectoralis major medially intact in submuscular placement ensures that the implant cannot be medial enough to look natural, and a flat plateau is left centrally. There are also big problems associated with anatomic implants placed in... more

Rian Maercks, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

www.rianmaercksmd.com

Breast implant sizing

It is very important to communicate your size goals with your surgeon. In my practice, the use of photographs of “goal” pictures (and breasts that are too big or too small) is very helpful. I have found that the use of words such as “natural” or “C cup” or "fake looking" means different things to different people and therefore prove unhelpful. Also, as you know, cup size varies depending on who makes the bra; therefore, discussing desired... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Replacing tear drop implants

I think your best choice would be a round smooth high profile implant similar to a Mentor Moderate Plus size implant. If your chest is narrow... a narrower base implant will help. If you have a wide chest you will need an implant that has width to it... otherwise you will end up with" funny" looking breasts that are set too far apart from each other. Good Luck to you. Kimberly Henry M.D. San Francisco,... more

Kimberly A. Henry, MD
Greenbrae Plastic Surgeon

Increasing the size of breast implants

Because your breast volume has changed after pregnancy, you may need larger implants. You may consider a moderate to moderate plus profile round smooth implant with or without a minor breast lift to accomodate skin laxity.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Teardrop implants don't make sense to me.

I have never understood teardrop implants. Any bag of fluid will hang in the shape of a teardrop because of the laws of physics. Capsular contracture can alter this shape because there is an external for (smooth muscle cells in the capsule) actively pushing on the fluid and reshaping it. Texturized implants have the same rate of contracture as smooth implants. There are more problems with rippling and their failure rate is hight. I see no reason to use... more

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Mentor round HP implant

I was never a big fan of the textured anatomics. Too expensive, didn't move like natural breasts, and can shift in position and look like footballs. I would go with HPs on a narrow frame to give fullness.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

A Mentor round gel implant would be best

I would suggest you discuss using a Mentor smooth walled round gel implant of either moderate plus or high profile depending on your physical characteristics and measurements and the "look" you want. This should be a nice improvement for you.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

www.randcosmeticsurgery.com

Standard-shaped saline or silicone gel implants should be fine

You present several issues that are important. Teardrop shaped implants have become much less popular since a published study showed that plastic surgeons studying photographs could not reliably identify postoperatively which patients had teardrop shaped implants and which patients had the standard shape saline implants. It seems that the saline fell into a teardrop shape regardless of the initial shape of the implant. The same seems to be true of silicone gel. Silicone gel would also... more

Roger P. Friedenthal, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Some new breast impalnt suggestions for you

You have a very interesting if not complex situation, but nothing that would prevent you from getting happy. Sorry, but this may be a bit lengthy of an explanation. To minimize ripples in general, you want to: Use smooth round implants Under the muscle Silicone gel implants Next, if your chest caves in, it is a condition called pectus excavatum. This is challenging because it tends to make the implants/breasts turn inward, kind of like crossed eyes. Although technically challenging, it... more