Breast Implants - Pros and Cons of Contoured Vs Round

Thousands of women decide to under the cosmetic procedure of breast augmentation each year. Whether due to heredity or post pregnancy and lactation changes, a small busted woman is at a disadvantage in terms of figure proportion and attractiveness.

A larger bust line makes the waistline look smaller and complements full hips, creating a curvy and proportioned loveliness.

What type of implant a woman decides to use for enlarging her breasts is a very individual decision and one that is best made by the patient in conjunction with her plastic surgeon's expertise. The two choices are round and contoured.

Round implants are shaped a bit like a hemisphere and come in either moderate or high profile variations, depending on the amount of projection that is desired.

Some people feel that these are the most natural looking, especially when placed beneath the muscle. Since this shape is uniform all the way around, there is no chance that movement and shifting will cause any problems.

The texture of this device is often smooth and may be filled with either silicone or saline solution. The cost of these is reportedly less than the contoured shaped. The smooth and rounded type is the choice made by the majority of augmentation patients.

Contoured implants are also called anatomical or teardrop. They are basically shaped like a tear drop, with the majority of fullness at the bottom and a bit flatter at the top portion.

This is similar to the way a natural breast appears, thus the name "anatomical". If the teardrop shape is chosen, it is recommended that the external coating of the device be textured in order to avoid movement, shifting and slippage which would make the shape skewed due to rotation.

The texture is a rougher surface which causes the surrounding tissue to latch on to it more easily than the more slippery smooth type surface.

Some physicians believe that the textured implants are also helpful in reducing the internal scar capsule which is scientifically known as capsular contracture. The contoured and textured devices are reportedly more expensive than the round ones.

Whether to choose the round or contoured shaped implant is a personal decision dependent on both individual preference and body type.

In order to make a wise choice, not only should a woman discuss the options with her trusted surgeon, but also view a wide selection of before and after photos to see what the results actually look like.

By : A_Aaronson