What causes some breast implants to look fake while some others look very natural?

Bigger breast implants look more fake. Highly projecting implants look more fake. Using implants that are bigger than what the soft tissue can handle (measurements) makes one look fake. Best wishes, Dr. Aldo

When the surgeon places a breast implant partially behind the chest muscle (this is known as the dual plane), the rim of the implant is blunted. This adds to a more natural look. When the implant is placed in front of the muscle, it will have more of the tell-tale tennis ball look. For more information on this and similar topics, I recommend a plastic surgery Q&A book like "The Scoop On Breasts: A Plastic Surgeon Busts the Myths."

There are a couple reasons that breast augmentation can look fake vs. natural. First is the location that the implant is placed.  Implants placed in the "dual plane" position under the muscle tend to appear more natural than implants placed in the "subglandular" position on top of the muscle. Second is size.  Generally speaking, the larger the implant size (especially when the implant diameter is much larger than the native breast width) the less natural the breasts will appear. In response to your postulation about aftercare by the patient, I can tell you that has little if anything to do with the results a woman will have after her breast augmentation. Best of luck to you!

Everyone has a different goal in mind when doing a breast augmentation.  Some women want the larger, "fake" look and some a smaller more natural look.  The size, profile, and shape of the implant is based on your desired breast size/shape, your chest wall measurements, and your existing soft tissue.  The decision of which implants to use should be based on a detailed discussion with equal input from both the doctor and the patient.  A good surgeon will work with you to help you achieve your goals.

Hello and thank you for your question.  The end result of a breast augmentation is influenced by a number of factors.   The size, profile, and shape of the
implant is based on your desired breast size/shape, your chest wall
measurements, and soft tissue quality.  This decision should
be based on a detailed discussion with equal input from both you
and your surgeon.  My ultimate goal is a natural shape, without a fake look.  Make sure you
specifically look at before and after pictures of real patients who have
had this surgery performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.   The most important aspect is to find a
surgeon you are comfortable with. I recommend that you seek consultation with a
qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

There is a lot that goes into a breast augmentation - much more than most people realize.  It is a marriage between the patient's goals and what realistically will fit well with their frame, breast tissue, and measurements.  For those of us that do a lot of these surgeries, it is much more of a mathematical game then simply shoving something in arbitrarily.  Unfortunately, there are surgeons out there that do not follow the right principles which can then lead to issues over time.  Post operative pictures from a surgeon are always a good indicator of their work.  If you find a surgeon whose patients all look very round and fake, then that is an indication of how they do their surgeries.  The best thing to do is to go for a few consultations with board certified plastic surgeons and see what they recommend.  I hope this helps.

While there are standards of care which all board certified plastic surgeons presumably adhere to, the preference of the patient, decision making regarding type and size of implant, the aesthetic judgement of the plastic surgeon, the technique used, and the preop era rice and post operative protocols are all individualized and can vary. You are best advised to do your research, do not hesitate to seek more than one opinion, and convince yourself that your aesthetics align with those of your plastic surgeon, and that you fee you are communicating well with your surgeon. I recommend that you share with your plastic surgeon pictures of your "ideal" or "favorites". Once all the proper preparations have been made and your surgery is scheduled, there will be an element that is unknown. You are always taking a leap of faith that all will go well and the good news is that the statistics are well in your favor. The vast majority of patients do well and are happy with their outcome. Best of luck to you.

The three main factors in what a breast will look like after augmentation are the shape of the implant, the size of the implant, and whether it is placed in front or behind the muscle.

There are many factors that go into the appearance of breast implants.  The most important one is to choose the implant that is right for your body type, skin thickness.  One consideration is placing the implant above or below the chest muscle.  Above the muscle placement may lead to a more visible implant outline - especially in patients with thin skin.  Below the muscle placement often gives a more natural slope to the top of the implant.  Additionally, an implant that is too wide or too narrow for your anatomy can lead to a tight or stuck on look.  I suggest with all my breast implant patient to use the VECTRA 3D imaging device at our office.  This helps the patients see potential results on their own body and see what different size and shapes of implants will look like.Good Luck

Thank you for sharing your excellent question.  As with all elective, aesthetic procedures the results are largely dictated by the patient desired "goal" outcomes.  This is why open dialogue and communication with your surgeon is the most important aspect that goes in to a "successful" outcome.  Implant selection is a stressful process as there are so many available choices but limiting profile, cc size, and shape based on a patient's natural soft tissue will allow for a natural appearing result.  Hope this helps.