Do anatomical implants look bigger compared with rounds despite being the same cc size?

In my experience over 10 years as a coinvestigator for anatomical form stable highly cohesive gel implants or gummy bears, the tear drop shaped implants do appear to be slightly smaller than there round counterparts even though they might be the same size volume.  It is because the tear drop shape is more stable, does not collapse and places more of the implant volume over a larger surface area than does the round less stable counterpart. In our practice, because of the improved appearance of the breast as a final result, shaped gummy bear implants, particularly those from Sientra, have been the most popular implants.  Additionally, the Sientra round based shaped implants have a very youthful yet natural shape for those who have had implants previous and desire an exchange or upgrade.

Hello and thanks for your question.An exam would be needed.Perhaps you would need different implant selection and different pocket creation in order to achieve best results.There are several factors that are very important in determing the shape:-Pre-operative shape-Pre-operative dimension and diameter of the breast-The amount and quality of breast tissue and skin-Implant size, shape and profile-Careful dissection of the pocketIn our office, we use actual implant in the pre-operative period to determine the size.Best Wishes,Dr Sajjadian

Great question, there was recent study that showed if you put a round in one and an anatomical in another most surgeons can not tell the difference. I think if you have zero breast tissue than anatomical may be of value to give you shape but if you have some tissue than all the implants do is give you volume and I would suggest round as they have less issues than anatomic.GOOD LUCK

I would actually say that round implants look bigger than anatomic because round give better upper pole cleavage than anatomic - at least theoretically. Interestingly at our recent national plastic surgery meeting, the audience was asked to determine if 20 breast augment patients shown had anatomic or round implants - the audience was right half of the time (it's random!). There is no scientific data addressing your question, but I would say that similar volume implants - round vs. anatomic - will probably look very similar.

In general, most anatomic implants have their maximal point of fullness lower down on the implant than a round implant of the same size. This will tend to make the upper part of the breast less full with the anatomic implant than a round. I repeat that this is just a generalization. As others have stated, other factors like your chest and breast dimensions, the implant size chosen to fit your dimensions and the characteristics of your tissue have more to do with how you will look than the shape of the implant.

Thank you for the question. These days there are a variety of breast implants available; the variety of breast implant available raise a lot of questions from women considering breast augmentation surgery. Personally, I think that for most patients considering breast augmentation surgery, careful selection of plastic surgeon and careful communication of goals, far outweigh the specific type of breast implant utilized (when it comes to the success of the breast augmentation procedure).Anatomical breast implants were designed to better simulate the natural breast shape; the problem with these implants is that if they shift or rotate, the entire breast will change shape as well. This change in breast shape may require further surgery to correct. Round implants, under the hand, can shift or rotate without changing the shape of the breasts. Overall, I find that beautiful outcomes can be achieved with the use of round saline or silicone gel breast implants for the vast majority of patients.Generally speaking, the best online advice I can give to ladies who are considering breast augmentation surgery ( regarding breast implant size/profile selection) is:1. Concentrate on choosing your plastic surgeon carefully. Concentrate on appropriate training, certification, and the ability of the plastic surgeon to achieve the results you are looking for. Ask to see lots of examples of his/her work.2. Have a full discussion and communication regarding your desired goals with your plastic surgeon. This communication will be critical in determining breast implant size/type/profile will most likely help achieve your goals. In my practice, the use of photographs of “goal” pictures (and breasts that are too big or too small) is very helpful. For example, I have found that the use of words such as “very natural” or "B or C cup" etc means different things to different people and therefore prove unhelpful.Also, as you know, cup size varies depending on him who makes the bra; therefore, discussing desired cup size may also be inaccurate. Again, the use of computer imaging has been very helpful during the communication process, in our practice.3. Once you feel you have communicated your goals clearly, allow your plastic surgeon to use his/her years of experience/judgment to choose the breast implant size/profile that will best meet your goals. Again, in my practice, this decision is usually made during surgery, after the use of temporary intraoperative sizers.I hope this (and the attached link, dedicated to breast augmentation surgery concerns) helps. Best wishes for an outcome that you will be very pleased with.

While your question is important, it is a bit backwards. An implant doesn't by itself produce a certain appearance. It is the combination of the implant and the native breast anatomy that will produce a certain result. Implant style and sizes should be chosen by what is required to produce a certain result. There are many variables to consider and side effects or risks of each style and size also influence what is ultimately used.Robin T.W. Yuan, M.D.

The answer depends upon the profile and the volume of the implant.  In general, the lower pole is fuller in the anatomic.  In the body, personally, I can not tell the difference many times once the patient has healed and the implants have settled.

You ask a very good question and one that shows that you think about breast surgery in an analytical way.  The first thing to note, however, is that there really is no standardization amongst bra types or manufacturers as to cup size.  Thus, even without implants, you may find that in some kinds of bras you will be a B cup, while in others you may be an A cup, and still another you may actually fit into a C cup.  The idea of cup size is more one of proportion than absolute volume.  That is, it is really a measure of the difference between the circumference of your chest just below your breasts and the circumference of the chest at the point of maximal fullness of the breast, say in a young breast, at the point at which the nipple projects out the farthest.  The bra manufacturer then takes this difference and creates an average size cup matching those proportions; the problem is that some manufacturers think of that "average" in different ways.  With regard to breast implants, each manufacturer has different dimensions for width, vertical height in the case of shaped implants, and projection height for a given volume of implant, and those dimensions will vary between round and shaped implants even within the inventory of the same manufacturer.  Thus, it makes sense that, as you suggest, with some anatomically shaped implants, where the maximal projection might be a bit higher than that of a round implant of the same volume, the cup size may be influenced by the type of implant.  The problem is that there are also so many other variables that all add up in the end to produce the "actual," or best fit, cup size that you will be after surgery.  It is really impossible to predict with certainty how a lady's tissues will drape over a particular implant, or how an implant will "settle" and ultimately project in actuality, and this as much as anything else will contribute to the ultimate size of her bra.  It is for these reasons that we actually do volumetric sizing for breast implants preoperatively using specially designed sizers that we can actually fit into a sizing bra and evaluate for such things as proportion and dimension.  That way we don't have to rely on cup size or implant volume as a primary concern, rather we worry only about what looks good on your body, and then whatever cup size that winds up being after surgery - with the understanding that that still may vary between bra manufacturers - is what you will be.  It's a very practical way to approach the issue, and I think the only realistic way to have any chance at accurately achieving our patients' goals.  Your consideration about the differences between shaped implants and round implants is a good theoretical concern, but I don't find that cup size is the major consideration when deciding between shaped and round implants.  Shape is.  For those ladies who want less of an upper pole fullness or roundness, perhaps a more "natural" shape to the breasts, especially those who have naturally small volume breasts and thin tissues, a shaped implant will probably work best, and then it's just a matter of picking size as I described above.  For those who want a fuller, rounder shape to the upper pole and cleavage, a round implant will work best, and again, once that's established, it's just a matter of selecting the size with sizing.  In the end, cup size will be what it will be in both cases, but the reality is that in both cases regardless of the cup size, I will be confident that I will have a happy patient because we have already taken a "sneak peek" with the preoperative sizing, and we have a very good idea of what we will wind up with.

The shape of the implant, and the position is just as important as the size. Rather than focusing on cup size, you should determine the "look" you want. By viewing many many before and after images, you can communicate to a plastic surgeon what  your goals are.