Would you recommend me a round or tear-drop breast implant for a small chest, little/no breast tissue?

That's an easy question. I never, ever use teardrop shaped implants for breast augmentation.  Teardrop shaped implants have a much higher incidence of future problems of all kinds.  They sound great from a marketing perspective, but the reality is that you are better off with round implants.

You will get a different answer from most plastic surgeons you ask depending on their experience and preference. I'm personally a big fan of shaped implant in women with smaller breast or minimal breast tissue. However, most patients wish for more fulness in the upper pole which a round implant will give. At the aesthetic plastic surgery meeting this year a pole showed most plastic surgeons could not tell the difference but when I've seen a round sizer implant in one breast and a shaped in another I think the shape is different and an anatomic implant can even give the lower pole more projection when comparing the same size or CC implant. You can have a great result with either one though. Good luck!

It is difficult to be too specific without pictures.  However, the choice between smooth round and textured anatomic is very clear.  Smooth round wins hands down.Textured implants show more ripples.  Anatomic implants are more firm.  If they rotate, you get a very funny look.  Textured implants are more likely to rupture.  Textured implants can cause pain from adherence to tissue.  Textured anatomics cost more.Smooth round implants are less expensive, have less ripples, are softer, and have a natural shape.  The market speaks volumes about what implants are superior.  Despite all the the marketing done by implant manufacturers to surgeons and patients, the textured anatomics are still a small niche market.  Most of use won't use them.

On average, the shaped implants look more "natural" though a patient's idea of natural may not coincide with a surgeon's idea. Upper pole fullness is not a natural appearance, but is desired by many women seeking breast enhancement. My suggestion--look at the surgeons' photos, and if one has results you find nicer, choose that surgeon. All the best. 

This decision is totally up to you. The teardrop implants are shaped somewhat like a teardrop, so that more of the volume of the implant is at the bottom portion. This is to recreate a more natural looking breast, which has less volume in the upper pole. The traditional round implant gives women that upper pole fullness/natural cleavage without wearing a bra. If you want to look like you did not have implants placed then a shaped implant may be the way to go. Both implants produce great results, so you just have to decide what your end goal is.

Both ways work but it depends on the size you choose, you definitely get more upper pole fullness ( cleavage) with the round implants which for some is the reason to go for implants but i would agree that the most natural results are achieved with anatomic implants

Thank you for your question and at a medical meeting Plastic Surgeons viewing photos were asked to determine who hah shaped implants and who not. Bottom line they could not tell the difference in well performed augmentations.Dr Corbin

I would agree with your second opinion. Breast implants are just pillow volume. They do not really shape the breast or give you whatever shape or position of your breast that you might like to have. The need for shaped implants is really only in breast reconstruction where there is no breast and the entire breast is being formed by the implant. Shaped implants also have the risk of not staying in the proper position for their shape and round implants do not have this risk. If the round implant is properly fitted to the internal width of your breast and is placed in the subpectoral position for the upper part of the breast, you have the best chance of a controlled and natural result without having to worry about the orientation of the implant. It's not impossible to find a patient whose breasts are so wide and low or long and narrow that a shape of implant other than round is useful, but the vast majority of patients will do fine with a properly fitted and positioned round, smooth surface implant. 

Either a teardrop or round implant can result in a pleasingly shaped breast.  If you would like more upper pole fullness, then the round implant will probably be best for you.  If, on the other hand, you don't want too much upper pole fullness, then the teardrop shaped implant may be a better option.  But, I wouldn't loose sleep over the decision.  If you are looking at moderate sized implants in the 280cc to 300cc range, the difference in breast shape will probably be very subtle, regardless of which implant shape you choose.  Best wishes, Dr Lepore.  

You are always going to get differing opinions on this depending on who you ask. It seems younger surgeons are more likely to use shaped implants. Those of us who have been doing this for 25-30 years have seen shaped implants come and go 3 times and good studies show it makes no difference or little difference in the final look but the shaped implants have the possibility of rotating and causing a bizarre appearance sometimes.