What brand options do we have for tear drop implants? Which brand do you prefer and why?

Thank you for your excellent question!  For a teardrop shape, we offer silicone gel implants through Mentor and Allergan.  We also offer the more highly cohesive gel implants through both companies for added cleavage and upper pole fullness which will help reduce the appearance of rippling.  Our most popular implant is the Mentor Xtra!  We recommend that you consult with board certified plastic surgeons in your area who give you the option to touch and feel the implants, and also try them on with a bra for sizing.  We wish you the best of luck on your journey!

My personal bias over the past 5 years has been to not use textured, shaped silicone implants - the recent association between textured implants and ALCL has reaffirmed my decision to not offer these implants to my patients. I use smooth, round silicone implants from Allergan.

I prefer non anatomical or shaped implants. These may rotate and look very deforming. Moderate plus Gummy bear implants from Allergan are FDA approved and create a very natural appearance 

Dear Teardrops123,
I use both tear drop (shaped) implants and round implants in my practice. One has to understand the dimensions of the breast to determine which implant would work best. A shaped implant looks like a tear drop and like a natural breast shape. This may sound like it makes the most sense for breast augmentation but if a patient has breast tissue already, this tends to push out or project the bottom part of the breast more so than what is natural. Two things that look like a breast don't necessarily make for a more natural looking breast. A round implant often times has a more natural look than a shaped implant because it increases the breast size more evenly. I still use shaped implants in a few circumstances when patients have no breast tissue. Patients that are very flat or have had a mastectomy. Shaped implants also have the increased risk, up to 30%, of rotation so I'm very careful when using or recommending them. The bottom line is that one should consult with a board certified plastic surgeon who does a lot of breast surgery to determine the best implant for each patient. All of my breast augmentations are designer breast augmentations which means that one size does not fit all. I customize the surgery and implant based on the characteristics of the patient and their goals.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Mentor implants are made in the US and they are a high quality product and great company.  Most teardrop implants are textured however, so be sure to educate yourself regarding ALCL concerns with textured implants and discuss with your surgeon.  While the risks with textured implants are low with regard to ALCL, many patients are choosing smooth implants until more is known.  I have been very happy with all of Mentor's implant products.

There are advocates of both types of implants, round and teardrop. Both may produce a good result in the appropriate patient. The perception of what is a "natural looking breast" is very individual and varies greatly from patient to patient and from doctor to doctor. The claim that the tear drop is more natural is debated by most of the plastic surgeons and in a panel presenting results to plastic surgery breast experts from around the world, they were correct in guessing which was round and which was teardrop shaped in only 50%, which is the same result you would get with a coin toss. So even experienced plastic surgeons couldn’t tell the difference which implant has been used. Most plastic surgeons feel that there are no cosmetic benefits provided by a teardrop (“anatomical”) implant.

Tear drop implants:

Textured.
Firmer.
Can rotate producing a distortion requiring additional surgery.
Don’t necessarily move as well and may not look as natural when lying down.
Being a textured implant there is an association with an increased risk of a very rare tumor, ALCL (Anaplastic large-cell lymphoma), that can occur in the fluid and capsule around the implant.
There is less fullness in the upper pole with a tear drop implant. Many patients use a bra to push the breast up to give that greater fullness superiorly which wouldn’t be achieved with a tear drop.
In the standing position, the round implant assumes a more tear drop shape because of gravity.
Shaped implants may produce a better result in some patients who have had breast reconstruction after mastectomies, but not in most breast augmentation patients.
What is more important than the specific type of implant is the experience and artistry of the plastic surgeon.

I would suggest that your plastic surgeon be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and ideally a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) that you trust and are comfortable with whohas all of the modalities of treatment available. You should discuss your concerns with that surgeon in person.

Breast surgery needs to be individualized. What would be an ideal approach for one patient is not necessarily the same for someone else. Based on the examination and discussion at the consultation, you should have a better understanding of the various options that can achieve the best cosmetic result for you. 

Robert Singer, MD FACS

 
La Jolla, California

Hello and thank you for the question. At this point, there is no scientific reason to pick an anatomic implant. These implants are more expensive, harder in feel, and can have issues with appearance if they flip, turn sideways or upside down. A recent study comparing anatomic vs round showed no difference in external appearance. Sometimes, patients have made up their minds that they have to have a specific type of implant or procedure. I would ask you to trust in the judgement of the plastic surgeon who is caring for you. I've been doing this for 20+ years and can assure you that a lot of wisdom and good common sense helps us avoid fancy sales pitches and jumping on the latest bandwagon because it sounds good. About 10 years ago, the anatomic implants became very popular and many plastic surgeons were using them. Today, most of my colleagues don't do them anymore. That should tell you something. Be healthy, non smoking with whichever implant you decide to use. Just make sure your PS shows you good before and after results to justify their decision in your case. Best to you. 

Hello and thank you for your question.  The implants you saw were probably made by Sientra, which is a company based in Santa Barbara, CA. When their implants first came out, although approved by the US FDA, they were made in the same factory as Silimed, and were sealed with the Silimed seal, but several years ago, the factory burned down and Sientra separated and started making their implants in Wisconsin.  So good news: the implants are US made, US FDA approved, and happen to be of great quality and have the best warranty on the market.  I hope this helps!Sincerely,Dr. Sean Kelishadi