Which profile gives more upper pole fullness?

Hello,HP implants are frequently chosen because of the assumption they will produce the most upper pole fulness. However, this is not always the case, due to unpredictable phenomenon like tissue over-expansion and implant dropout, leaving women with little fulness on top. The only thing HP implants do consistently is give more projection for it's volume than lower profile implants.  In general, an appropriately sized, intermediate profile implant will be less likely to stretch the pocket and dropout, textured implants drop out less, and larger implants fill the upper pole regardless of shape (round versus anatomical). Go visit a few ABPS certified/ASAPS member surgeons who specialize in breast surgery. Best of luck!

The control over the upper pole fullness, and its appearance is dependent in large part with the shape and projection of the breast implant chosen.  The higher the profile, the more prominent the upper pole fullness.  This is even further accentuated with a subglandular position.

Although the high profile implant gives you more projection with less width than a moderate implant, the moderate projection implant, being a wider implant, does start the fullness higher on your breast than a full.  So there's not always a simple answer to your question.   Focus more on the cc's you want and let the surgeon determine the best implant for your shape.  When this is done, I almost always find my patients are happiest.  

upper pole breast fullness can be achieved by both saline and silicone breast implants, as well as by breast lift. most moderate plus breast implants will give upper breast fullness, as long as an appropriate size breast implant has been used, and a breast lift has been performed (if needed). 

Hello, there is no one implant that always yields the best upper fullness or other desired results.  The most appropriate implant type will depend on your breast dimensions and other features (tissue thickness, sternal gap, etc).   Your surgeon will take all of these factors into account when helping you to select implants.

Thank you for your question. This is kind of a loaded question depending on several factors. The most important of which is what you mean by "upper pole fullness." If you mean height, then the wider the implant is, the more tall it is as well. So with two implants of the same CC size, the moderate profile implant will be wider and taller and thus provide more upper pole fullness. However, if two implants are the same width (and thus height), then the high profile implant is going to provide more fullness because it will be of larger CC volume. The other factor to consider is the gel characteristics. Silicone implants come in varying versions of gel consistency and the more cohesive the gel (such as Allergan level III cohesive gel), the more it retains its round shape and upper pole fullness. So in summation, there are several factors to consider in properly answering this question and your best guide in the process is your plastic surgeon who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.Hope this helps!

Hi brendaf2009,

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. 
Implant profile is one of the important considerations to make. 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 is associated with several problematic consequences.

The first issue is that the patient loses width and therefore 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 base width) but otherwise I try to avoid them.

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 higher the profile, the more upper pole rounding will occur; additionally, round implants will generally give more upper pole fullness than the anatomic teardrop shaped implants. Saline implants also may give a more rounded upper pole takeoff when compared to silicone. We use Crisalix simulation software to help show our patients these differences on a 3D model of the patient's body, which helps educate patients and inform the choice of implants, in combination with sizing kits and wish photos.

There are a number of considerations involved when choosing an implant. Measuring your breast dimensions, especially the base width, are very important. Next, we try to determine what volume is best to help you mee your goals. To achieve more upper pole fullness you need a higher profile implant and as well a more highly cohesive implant. You will be considering a SoftTouch (Trueform 2) or a highly cohesive (Trueform 3) to support more upper pole fullness. Please make sure you choose only a board-certified plastic surgeon when you decide to have your surgery.I wish you wellDr. Edwards

The best way to pick implant size is based on your breast and chest width and not the volume. As the implants get bigger, they get wider. When the width of the implant fits the width of your chest, it will look nice and fit your frame. If the implants are too small, you will have a gap between them and they may look too far apart. If they are too wide, they will make you look top heavy as they may be too wide and stick well out past the sides of your chest. There are ways to get a bigger or smaller look. This can be done by picking a different implant profile. The higher the profile, the narrower the base width of the implant. If someone has a very narrow chest and wants to be big, they should consider a higher profile implant. If someone has a broad chest and they do not want to be too big but want to avoid the gap and still have cleavage without projection, they should consider a lower profile implant such as a moderate. There are options in between these such as the moderate plus.  A consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon who takes careful measurements and talks to you about your cup size goals will be able to assist you in your decision. I prefer the underarm incision so there is no scar on the breast. Good luck!
Dr Ennis Destin and Miami Fl