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

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

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