Moderate Vs High Profile Breast Implants to Retain Cup Size?

You are comparing a high profile and a medium profile implant. While the two implants have similar overall volumes, with about the same number of cc's, they will have different shapes.
The high profile one will be somewhat narrower from side to side, but rounder. It will give you more fullness and roundness in the upper part of the breast, but possibly less cleavage/ more of a gap. It will tend to look more like "the push up bra" look than the medium profile
The medium profile implant will tend to be a little wider, but give less fullness on the top. In our practice, this shape is a little more popular, but it's really a matter of patient preference. Both can look nice, when they are proportional to your frame, and placed by a skilled surgeon.
Do you know what shape (profile) your current implant is? If you are trying to maintain that exact look, use that information as your guideline.
All the best,

This is an interesting question.  In my opinion, one of the most important aspects of breast surgery is placing an implant that fits your chest dimensionally well.  When changing from Saline to Silicone implants, in order to maintain an equal volume, a larger  volume of silicone would be required.  The dimensions of a high profile and moderate profile implant vary tremendously.  The implants you mentioned have very different dimensions. Their volumes will leave you with a smaller breast size than you presently have.  I would suggest that you and your surgeon discuss the dimensions of the implants you have currently and choose your silicone implants based on their dimension and projection and the size you wish to achieve.  Remember, the higher the profile of the implant, the more projection from your chest which tends to result in a less natural look. I hope this information will be helpful to you in making your decision .

Answer from Dr. Sean Hill, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon at Lone Star Plastic Surgery – Frisco, TX:
This is a great question—and one I help patients navigate every day during breast augmentation consultations. Implant profile refers to how far the implant projects outward from the chest wall, and it plays a major role in shaping your final result.
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Generally after a capsulectomy, the breast pocket gets bigger and takes an implant slightly bigger in size. To get a natural look you can consider a moderate profile implant and may be a tear drop shaped implant. Higher profile implant is more likely to give more upper pole fullness.

Thank you for your question. High profile implants provide more projection while moderate plus profile implants are slightly less projecting and provide a wider appearance. You should consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to determine the best width of implant that would fit your body. The moderate plus implants are wider while the high profile is narrower.I hope this helps.

Dear Doody,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.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 themYou 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

Never a great idea to get hung up on the numbers, but if you are... the same size moderate profile implant will look more natural in most women than the same size high profile implant.  I would be just as concerned about the recurrence rate of contracture and how your surgeon is adressing that issue.   best of luck, Dr. Greenwald

It's a very good question. Implant profile refers to how far forward the implant projects on your chest. Implants that have a higher profile create a more "augmented" look. I typically use moderate profile implants to give a more natural appearance. When considering breast augmentation make sure you find a board certified plastic surgeon who will take the time to answer all of your questions and explain all of your options, so that you can decide of breast augmentation is right for you.

Which of those implants to go with really depends on the measurements of your chest. Biodimensional planning allows for the selection of the right implant for each patient. If you are looking to keep a similar volume then you should choose whichever implant adheres to your personal base width. Your surgeon really should be guiding you through this, especially with a revision, so the fact that you are having to decide this on your own is a bit concerning. Best of luck! 

The Base Width and Desired Projection are most important when choosing an implant and should be part of every thorough breast augmentation consultation:1.  Base Width of Your Breast - The most important measurement in determining which implant will fit your chest wall well is the base width.  This is the measurement of where the breast starts medially near the cleavage to where it ends laterally near the underarm.  It must be measured at the chest wall with a caliper in order to exclude the thickness of the breast.  This number varies from 10 - 13.5 cm depending on whether you have a thin chest or wider chest.  Each implant has a diameter which allows the doctor to determine if they will fit your chest base with.  By comparing the diameter to the base with the doctor can tell you which implants will fit your well.  There are usually several implant sizes that will fit within your base width2.  Desired Projection - Think of this as how full or voluptuous you would like your breasts to be.  Higher profile implants project more and appear more voluptuous.  Moderate profile implants project less and appear less voluptuous.  Remember that you as the patient must be part of this decision since only you know exactly what you want.  I also commonly use two other methods to help women decide which implant is best for them:1.  Trying on implant sizers with a bra and T-shirt in the office - this is one method to help determine size and shape.  While it is less exact it does give patients a "real world" how much enlargement a particular breast implant would provide and helps them determine moderate vs. high profile.2.  Vectra-3D Imaging - using a special 3 - dimensional camera system a 3-dimensional image of your torso and breasts is made.  The computer then allows me to show you a three dimensional image how it would look after a specific implant size, style and shape is implanted literally side by side with your natural breast.  There is nothing like seeing your own breasts enlarged in 3-dimensions to help in making a decision on  which shape and size you want.Using the above system I have had great success in helping women choose the best Style, Size and Projection of Breast Implant which fits both their chest well and fits their desire for projection and voluptuousness and fullness.  Also remember that during your consultation you should be an active part of the decision.  Finally, seek the advice of a board certified plastic surgeon when making this important decision.  There are many other doctors now "pretending" to be plastic surgeons so buyer beware.

The best implant for you is the implant that fits your body the best. You are highly unlikely to notice 4 cc difference but you will notice a difference of a centimeter which may be the case in the change in implant profile (moderate vs high). Ask your doctor about the implant that's best for you. Good luck.