Women looking for a breast augmentation surgery may opt for any of the three basic implant profiles, including moderate or moderate “plus” profile, high profile, or low profile.
One of the biggest factors that determines which implant is best for you is how wide or narrow your frame is at the chest. For example, a higher profile implant will often work well for a woman who has a more narrow frame but still wants to see a noticeable increase in her breast volume. Because the high profile implant has a narrow base, it allows for a wide range of implant sizes that will still rest naturally on a narrower chest, without appearing unnaturally wide. By the same token, a narrow implant may not look natural on a wider-framed patient. Depending on the placement and volume, a higher-profile, narrower-looking implant sometimes allows too much space around the implant instead of creating a smooth, rounded contour that aligns well with the patient’s natural shape.
High-Profile Implants
These types of implants for breast augmentation are available in both saline and silicone and have increased forward projection. One benefit of this profile of breast implants is that their reduced lateral width helps a bit to minimize the risk of rippling along the implant edge. The silicone gel high profile implants in particular are great for revision procedures after capsulectomy, where the implant’s firmness helps compensate for lost breast tissue with a more natural feel, while the narrower profile can minimize the risk of rippling along the cleavage.
Moderate-Profile Implants
With a full and rounded, but typically less dramatic look, moderate profile implants add volume and dimension at a more gentle angle that allows for wider breasts with plenty of options for volume. Depending on the patient’s size, this implant profile can still allow for noticeable adjustments to breast volume, but compared to a high profile implant they can create a more natural curve and cleavage for women with a wider chest frame.
Low-Profile Implants
Compared to moderate profile implants, low profile breast implants have less projection per measurement of base diameter. This can be a plus for many patients who want subtle gains in projection, but still want to see a general increase in volume (for example, increased cleavage); or for patients who have good projection to begin with and just want to increase the breast breadth and fulness overall.
Moderate Plus Profile Implants
Moderate plus saline and silicone implants are not as wide as the moderate profile implants. With a mid range of anterior/posterior projection, moderate plus profile implants are best for women who don’t seek too much upper pole fullness, nor look for too much lateral width. These work well in cohesive gels and are useful for women who are narrow along the thoracic cavity.
For more information about implant options and other considerations to keep in mind when you’re planning your procedure, please see my practice’s breast augmentation options primer.
Dr. David Kaufman earned a bachelor of science degree from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, graduating with distinction, the highest academic honor. As an active duty naval special warfare officer, he served our nation for four years, including duty in Operation Desert Storm. He then attended Harvard Medical School, receiving his medical doctor degree in 1996. From there, he entered and completed postdoctoral surgical training in a combined general and plastic surgery residency at Stanford University Medical Center.
A board-certified plastic surgeon and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Dr. Kaufman’s diverse surgical experience and skill enables him to choose procedures and techniques to best suit each patient. Consider him and his practice, Kaufman Plastic Surgery, if you are looking for a plastic surgeon in the Sacramento area.
