Does distance between nipples affect implant profile? (photo)

There is a spectrum with regard to what is considered a pretty breast, including the relation of the nipple/areola to the rest of the breast. A normal and aesthetic position of the nipple areola can be centered on the breast or slightly lateral (toward the arm). If it is off center toward the midline it can appear peculiar and "cross-eyed". An implant will need to be wide enough to aesthetically augment the breast without making the nipple areola look too "off sides". The trade off is that the more "centered" your nipple will appear in relation to the augmented breast, the more lateral breast ("side boob") you will notice, and some women find that objectionable. Your nipple/areolae are indeed fairly lateral and therefore implant selection is critical with regard to width, and final implant position in your breast is also very important and will relate to both the surgery performed and your ultimate healing process.

The more cleavage you hope to have, the greater the risk of having too much "side boob", but your body type appears to be thin and athletic so you may not have much choice but to accept the fact that your nipple/areola is a bit laterally positioned and there is not much one can do about that. On my own gallery look at patients 1, 2, 9, 22, 31, 38, 44, 47, 48 and 74 to get an idea of what outcome can be expected in patients with a similar breast appearance to your own. You will clearly notice that you are not alone, since this is a very common and normal appearance indeed.

Please discuss all of these issues with your plastic surgeon. Best of luck to you.

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. Well-placed implants should do very little to alter the distance between your nipples. Since implant selection is based on enhancing your existing breast parameters, the profile/projection of the implant will not change the base diameter and hence, not affect the nipple distance. I hope this helps.

You do have lateralized nipples and wide spacing between your breasts. The key is that you require a wide base diameter implant to narrow your cleavage while also providing lateral fullness to prevent further lateralization of your nipples. The question about profile then comes down to your size goals. While in-person examination would be necessary to verify your breast dimensions, I would estimate that you would require a roughly 300cc moderate profile implant, 400cc moderate-plus profile, or 500cc high profile implant.

I recommend an in person consultation with a plastic surgeon to discuss your goals and be measured. After I measure and discuss goals with my patients, we then look at pictures of women (my patients) with similar measurements with different size and style breast implants and they choose what looks right for them. They also get to see what they would look like when the breasts have fully dropped and fluffed and in clothes. You get to see actual results and the surgeon's experience and not a virtual idea of what can be achieved. Women tell me that this process is very helpful in determining what size and style breast implant is right for them. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee. Philadelphia, Pa., USA

Thank you for sharing your question and photograph. The profile should be determined based on the outcome you are hoping to achieve with moderate profile implants being wider, improving side boob and cleavage while a full profile is more narrow and grows cup size faster. I would advocate for a moderate profile but an in-depth discussion of your goals is necessary.

It is very unlikely that different implant profile (moderate vs. high) will significantly affect position of the areola/nipple. More important is to place implant to be centered underneath areola if significant discrepancy in areola position exists preoperatively. Patient just have to accept the fact that small asymmetries are not that visible and should be considered normal even if not perfect. Good luck.

Dear Cheerful4031,
breast implant type and sizing selection is a complicated process and requires a detailed consultation that includes a discussion of your goals, a detailed examination, and a lengthy discussion. But the decision will always start and end with the patient. When it comes to sizing, we have all of our patients find 3 photos of their desired breast size. We ask for naked breast photos because clothing can obscure the true size (push up bras). Next, we consult with patients and go over the photos and take detailed breast measurements during a physical exam. Next, we using a sizing algorithm to determine a range of implants that will work based on the exam and the measurements.Lastly, during the operation, we use silicone sizers in the operating room to see how the size actually looks in the breast. We sit the patient up in the operating room, while asleep of course, and compare the sizer result with their desired look photos. If it is too small, we start the process over with a slightly larger implant. We don't stop until we get the perfect match.Of all of my breast augmentation patients, every one of them has been happy with their size due to this detailed and meticulous process. You don't want to invest time and money into a result that is either too big or too small.You should discuss your concerns with a board-certified plastic surgeon and make sure that your surgeon understands your goals.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

The profile selected depends upon your measurements and the volume you chose. Your surgeon will be the best one to guide you in this.

I agree with you. Your nipples are quite lateral approaching the axillary line and your ribs are rounded (convex), so using a wider implant will make up some of both the medial (inner cleavage) and lateral breast shape. The HP implants are too narrow for your chest anatomy
Best wishes
Dr. Taranow

Hi and welcome to our forum!High profile breast implants will provide a "pointy" result, emphasizing the nipple areolar complexes. A broader less projected implant will provide a superior result if the nipples are laterally positioned. Best wishes...