Breast Implants: Q&A

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Risk of High-profile Saline Breast Implants Pushing out over Time?

I am an A cup (12.5 width) and I wanted to go with about a 425cc saline implant. I know that in order to do this I would most likely have to get high-profile saline implants to achieve this size. However, I have heard that the chest muscles push these implants out and away from the center over time. What is the risk of this happening? Would it be better to go with a tear drop-shaped implant instead, or is the high-profile saline still the best choice?

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A cup 400-449cc saline implants high profile risk tear drop implant

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7 Doctor Answers | Asked by JennaL in California

Doctor Answers (7)
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I think this implant is too big for you.

Of course, i haven't examined you. But it sounds from your description of your chest, that you would be overstuffing your breasts with 425cc implants. The problem is not that they will be pushed out to the side. It's that so much tension and weight in your tissues over time causes atrophy and deformities. You want your breasts to look good for a long time. So consider a somewhat smaller size. But there is nothing wrong with high profile implants. You actually see less rippling with them... more

High profile implants

High profile implants have more projection than the other shaped implants of the same volume. I am not a big fan of tear drop shaped implants, because they can shift in position and look like footballs.

Steven Wallach, MD

13 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Implants do not usually move out to the side

Hi Jenna. A high profile saline implant on your frame would certainly give you a more rounded appearance and more filling in the upper portion of the breast. In my experience, a round, smooth, saline implant is preferable to tear-drop shaped implants. All implants (saline or silicone) are affected by gravity and will descend with time. Many patients who have implants come back for a breast lift at a later time. If at the time of surgery the "pocket" (the place where the implant is placed)... more

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The implants may drop, but not push out to the side over time.

It sounds as if you would like a big size implant for your frame. With your narrow chest, a high profile implant may be your best choice. I have become less enthusiastic about the tear drop implants. I used them for many years and have seen rippling and deflations at a much higher rate than the smooth wall saline implants. The only way an implant can migrate laterally, or to the outside part of your chest, is if your surgeon over dissects the pocket. The implants do have a tendency... more

First, decide on the "look" you want

It is more important to discuss the "look" you want with your plastic surgeon rather than to get fixated on a volume amount. If you want significant upper pole fullness far beyond what is "natural," then go with the high profile implant. Based on your width, the moderate profile implant would be in the 275-300 range and wouldn't create upper pole buldging at all. This is what "natural" would look like. The moderate plus profile would create some excess... more

All implants descend over time

Gravity affects objects of equal mass equally. This is a law of physics. So, it's not really the shape of the implant - high profile saline vs. anatomic implant - that leads to the implant moving lower. It's just gravity. Over time, any and all breast implants will descend on the chest wall. This is true of natural breast tissue as well. Over time, natural breast tissue and breast skin will stretch, settle, and become ptotic. Gravity sucks. An anatomic implant may move less in that... more

Look first, implant size later

It is very important to decide on the look you are going for. In my opinion, high profile implants do not look very natural. They are very projecting and in my opinion are a bit "torpedo-ish". So, think if you are looking for a very natural look or a more implanted look. Once you have decided on this then you can decide on the volume and profile. I would not go the opposite route of trying to get the volume into you so that you have to do high profile. Any implant in the body... more

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