Are high profile breast implants better for petite women?

Question

Are high profile breast implants better for a petite woman if she doesn't want to look shorter waisted than she already is? Im only 4'9 and 80 lbs,I don't want huge implants but I also don't want my torso to look shorter.Thanks in advance!

John LoMonaco, MD, FACS · Answer

High profile implants are often a good choice for patient's whose chest wall measures 28 inches or less, and who want an implant above 300cc.  As with all choices regarding implant size and profile, a careful set of measurements and implant sizing must be done to determine which implant will give you the size, shape, and overall look you desire.

Andrew P. Trussler, MD · Answer

Choosing the right breast implant for you is a very individual decision and there are many choices out there that can be customized for your frame. A small, petite patient does not necessarily "need" high profile implants. High profile implants provide fullness and shape to the small breast or for a patient who wants to be on the fuller side. There are smaller implants in all profiles and this can be discussed with your plastic surgeon and there is 3D imaging which can show you what they will look like.

Christian Subbio, MD · Answer

This is somewhat complex to answer online, my to sense to the conversation would be that if you are concerned your torso is going to look short, you may consider a shorter implant such as a low height teardrop implant.  It will take up less distance in the vertical dimension, thereby making your torso looked longer.  Again, this is theoretic and so much depends upon your exam and other factors.Best of luck!
Dr. SubbioBoard-Certified Plastic SurgeonNewtown Square/Philadelphia, PA

Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question.  The
best advice you can receive is from an in-person consultation.  High profile implants can work well for patients with a small breast base width who still desire increased volume.  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.   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.  FACS
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Wantsathinnerface,Implant profile is a very important consideration. Many patients wrongly assume that the higher the profile the better. The truth is, the more profile (or projection/height) and implant has, the narrower its base has to become. This has several problematic consequences. The first is that the patient loses width and therefor cleavage of the breast. The second is the breast becomes more narrow and pendulous, often falling lateral and onto the side of the chest, and third, high profile implants have a higher risk of bottoming out because they exert more pressure on the inframammary fold than moderate profile implants. High profile implants do have a role in symmastia repair (when I need to narrow the basewidth) but otherwise I try to avoid them.Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS 
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery  
Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgery

Donovan Rosas, MD · Answer

Profile terminology will vary from one manufacturer to the next. The terminology matters less than the correlate dimensional measures.
As one goes up in profile the footprint or BWD of the device will shrink and the projection will increase for a given volume. I have found that full profile Allergan implants correlate closely with high profile Mentor implants. These devices exhibit higher projection than similarly sized moderate (+)/moderate profile devices. Ultra high profile is simply the next step upwards in projection.
Patients are encouraged to stay within the boundaries defined by their BWD. This is the best way to avoid the dreaded "fake" look. I generally recommend that patients with smaller frames who are seeking more than a modest augmentation consider a higher profile device.The higher profile device will impart greater projection and thus a less subtle result but will allow for a more significant augmentation than a similarly sized Mod/Mod+. Thus, the ultimate question is one of volume. Is the volume you can achieve via a similarly sized Mod + profile implant adequate to reach your desired goals. If not, a HP will afford you more volume at the cost of subtlety.
With regards to your specific question, the difference between high and low profile for a given volume is projection and for a given width is volume (with the high profile implant being greater in both scenarios). The moderate plus is the most commonly used profile in my practice. It allows for the most reasonable volume in given BWD. In my practice, low profile implants are the least commonly used (widest and flattest). I will typically reserve high profile devices for smaller framed individuals or those seeking a less subtle more dramatic change. 
Smaller framed patients tend to prefer HP implants as their BWD can be restrictive with regards to volume. An HP implant will provide greater volume in the same BWD footprint. Without photos or measures it is difficult to offer any more substantial guidance.
As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).

R. Scott Yarish, MD · Answer

High profile (or even ultra high profile) implants are used regularly in my practice for certain chest wall sizes and breast size desires.  In other words, if someone has a narrow chest wall (e.g. 32 inches or less) and wants a large implant for that chest wall size (roughly 325 or larger), then we need to use a higher profile implant because it has a narrow base and will fit the chest and existing breast better.  The higher the profile the implant in a given size, the more projection there will be.  Moreover, silicone under the muscle requires a higher profile implant than above the muscle because the power of the muscle requires a more projecting implant in order to show the full result. Depending upon the size implant you choose, your surgeon will recommend the correct profile, though I'm quite certain you'll end up with at least a high profile.  As for your short torso, I wouldn't consider that as an important determining factor in this situation since there are issues that will take precedence over the implant profile.  Good luck!

Bruce K. Smith, MD · Answer

Breast implants have different profiles or base diameter dimensions that vary with any particular volume of implant. It is common practice to fit the implant to your breast dimension. This is a confusing aspect of breast augmentation and should best be discussed with your plastic surgeon. Please select a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, preferably a member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.

Bradley Remington, MD · Answer

Many considerations here.  With smaller patients, there usually is more of a lack of fullness and projection, so generally speaking, fuller profile implants are desired, but not always.  A trial of external sizers under a sports type bra may unveil the goal that you wish.  Naturalness is key - a pretty, full breast beats an 'augmented' look - especially in a petite lady.  Take your time to understand what you wish, the products available, and consult with an experience board certified plastic surgeon that can explain the terms and anatomy and come up with the best option. You go, girl!Cheers,Brad Remington, MD

Helen S. Colen, MD · Answer

In my opinion not.  If one is short with a short torso the best option is small implants with very natural slope.  The bigger the implant and the more projecting they are the shorter the torso looks.

Are high profile breast implants better for petite women?

Answers (11)

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