How likely is that teardrop implants will flip?

hello thank you for your question and provided information as well.. based in your question its difficult evaluate you if the case dont have a picture, my recommendation is get  a consultation in person with a plastic surgeon to discuss all about theme.

 Yes, this is certainly a risk.  The implant selection should be based on a combination of your desired size, soft tissue dynamics, breast base diameter and skin elasticity.  I recommend an in-office examination as well as a detailed discussion with a surgeon who you are comfortable with.   Finally, make sure your surgeon is a Double-Board Certified Plastic Surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS), a member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).Best,Dr. DesaiBeverly Hills Institute for Aesthetic Plastic SurgeryHarvard Educated, Beverly Hills & Miami Beach TrainedDouble Board-Certified, Double Fellowship-Trained Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Dear skpoison,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

will not flip is the pocket is dissected correctly.  They are not more natural as you have been led to believe as smooth round implants can create very natural looks as well.  More important is how much native tissue you have to camouflage your implants than the implant shape.  And one company's textured implant IS associated with a much greater risk of developing ALCL.  They are they company that offers a warranty should that occur.  I recommend textured anatomic implants on top of the muscle and smooth round implants below the muscle.  I can send you a handout on augmentation if you request one... you can do this at my website which can be googled.

Pros and cons are briefly listed in earlier answers. I recommend a thorough discussion with a board certified plastic surgeon that actually uses both round and anatomic. They will be able to explain the pros and cons and make a recommendation based on your desires and anatomy.

Thank you for your question.  In my experience a smooth round silicone gel implant can provide for a very natural result.  The perfect implant option for a patient is highly specific and without evaluating you in person, and in the absence of photos, it is very difficult to weigh in on this for you.  Any shaped implant, teardrop included, has a textured shell which allows the capsule to adhere to it in an effort to prevent 'flipping' of the shaped implant.  With very precise pocket dissection the chances of implant rotation or flip should be very low but it can and does happen.  To answer your second question, textured implants have been associated with a higher risk of BIA-ALCL.  Smooth implants have not.  Unfortunately, not much is known about ALCL and we are continuing to learn and study this more.  I would encourage you to discuss your concerns with your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon at another pre-operative meeting or consultation.  Factors such as pre-operative anatomy, quality of soft tissue coverage, and desired result will all play a role in determining the best implant option (size, type, and profile) for you.  I hope that this answer has been helpful.  I wish you the very best!

Dear skpoison:     Thank you for your question. Without photographs and a complete history and physical examination it is impossible to give a precise answer. Please consult with a board certified plastic surgeon with aesthetic breast experience. The Aesthetic Society is a good place to start.  Good luck and I hope this helps!

Hi dear, thank you for your question.Yes they can rotate. However, you can ask for some rounded options to be placed under the muscle for them to not provide a fake look and be more settled in your breast tissue. Also, the size has a lot of impact on the look it will have so you better choose a moderate one according to your frame and desire. Remember to always consult a board certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate your case more closely and determine which options are better for you.Kind regards, Dr. Jimenez Toribio Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon.

Tear drop implants can and do rotate. For this reason, I like to make the breast pocket narrower then the implants. In addition I prefer to place the implants under the muscle using a biaplaner approach. in addition, the tall implants in my opinion will have a lesser tendency to rotate. The reason for this is that the length of the implant is longer then the width. Despite taking all these precocious these implants can still flip. Bia (rest implant associated) ALCL is a fairly new and not fully understood type of cancer. Currently, it is NOT associated  with Smooth implants. It is most commonly associated in MACRO textured implants. Some studies show that the risk can be as high as one in three thousand, but again we are continually learning about this disease. it is less associated with micro textured implants like the Mentor textured implants. Some studies show that it occurs in one in eighty thousand. I hope you find this information useful. Please watch the enclosed video.

Dear Skpoison,Hello and thank you for your excellent question. It is best to answer your question during a face-to-face evaluation, when you can discuss your goals and expectations for the procedure, and you can have a physical examination to evaluate for that procedure. In general, the risk of breast implant rotation or "flipping" is about 1-2%, although the chance of actually detecting that is lower. You are correct in that textured implants have a risk of BIA-ALCL; this risk may be as high as 1:3000. It is essential that you have an in-person consultation to develop a treatment plan that specifically addresses your personal surgical goals, and your body’s anatomy. I recommend that you find a board-certified, or board-eligible plastic surgeon with whom you are comfortable. Be sure to have all of your questions answered during a face-to-face meeting with your surgeon, and review before and after pictures of similar patients whom have had this procedure. If you have any questions, call our office for assistance. Good luck!

Best,

Jon Ver Halen, MD FACS

Harvard educated plastic surgeon

Texas “Top Doc” 2017, 2018

RealSelf100

America’s Top Plastic Surgeons, Consumer’s Research Council, 2010 - 2018