This breast implant guide will give you extensive information on how to choose breast implants that will give you the perfect result. What determines your final result? There are several factors to take into consideration which includes:
- What does your breast look like
- What plane are we using (under muscle, above the muscle or dual plane)
- What shape of implants are we using (teardrop, round or special teardrop)
- Size of the implants
In this post, we will go through each of these areas, use 3D imaging to demonstrate the results that you can expect from different implants/breast shapes and other factors such as the plane we’re going to use.
Further down this post you will find 4 videos of Dr Beldholm explaining in his own words the following:
- Different Breast Implant Shapes and Sizes
- How to Create Great Cleavage
- Different Planes In Breast Augmentation And Indications
- Dual Plane Method in Breast Augmentation
And at the end of the post we will finish off with a couple of case studies of actual patients, 3D imaging and how these compare to the real results!
Download our guide: “How to Choose a Breast Implant”
How does your own breasts determine what result you’ll get?
One of the most important factors in your final look is how your breasts look like now. There are several different factors that need to be taken into consideration.
How big are your breasts now?
A cup to B cup breast
If you have small breasts from an A cup to a B-cup, then your final shape of breast will be determined mainly by the shape of the implants. You will also most likely need to put the implants under the muscle to avoid having a visible implant or seeing the edge of the implants.
When you have small breasts to start out with, it is very important that we use implants that are wide enough for your chest. If the implants are not wide enough then you will end up with a wide gap in the middle and poor cleavage.
C cup to D cup breasts
If you have more breast tissue, then the final result of your breast augmentation will be a combination of your own breasts and the size and shape of implants that we put in. If you have larger breasts, then we usually don’t have to worry as much about the cleavage. However, other issues such as double fold and droop become more important.
Bigger than D cup breasts
In my experience, when you get to this size it is not so much the size of the breasts that are important but how perky they are. Many women that I see with bigger cup sizes are looking more to have the upper volume restored rather than getting bigger breasts.
Where is the volume in the breasts?
The key thing that many, if not most women, want went they come and see me is fuller, perkier and bigger breasts. Most do not want massive implants, but implants that are in proportion to their body. Most women after pregnancy have lost the fullness in the upper pole (upper part of the breasts become empty) and if there is volume left then it is the lower part of the breast making them look saggy and empty.
These images are generated by Dr Beldholm’s 3D Imaging program. This software produces optimal results and the actual result may vary.
This photo shows a young woman with A cup breasts. Notice that there is very little fullness and slightly pointy breasts (this is referred to medically as tuberous breasts). After putting in 400cc breast implants, her breasts are perky having a very round look. Because she has very little breast tissue before her operation, the final result is mainly determined by the breast implants that we have put in. A good guide to choosing a breast implant is to know that every 120 to 150 ml of breast implant is equal to one cup size. In this woman, we are looking at approximately a D cup in size.
These images are generated by Dr Beldholm’s 3D Imaging program. This software produces optimal results and the actual result may vary.
This woman has had children and we can see how empty the upper part of the breasts are. I would normally use a wide teardrop in this type of breasts as this gives a very good, natural result. However, for illustration purposes we have inserted a 400 cc implant exactly the same as in the initial women. The result is similar but as she has a bit more breast tissue, we are looking to a DD result and the final result is going to be slightly more natural as there is breast tissue to cover the implants.
These images are generated by Dr Beldholm’s 3D Imaging program. This software produces optimal results and the actual result may vary.
This woman on the other hand is a D cup. However, even though she has a larger breast size, most of the volume in the breasts are in the lower part of the breasts and it is quite empty in the superior part. Putting in the same implant as for the other 2 women does not produce the same result. In this case, the final result would be more towards the E to EE cup size. However she would still have saggy breasts and if we wanted to fix this we would have to do a breast lift for her.
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What implant shape should I go for?
This is one of the most common questions that I get asked by women.
There are three broad shapes available:
- Round Breast Implants
- A round based teardrop implant
- A wide based teardrop implant
Teardrop implants vs Round implants
The way to think about the differences between these two implants is where the volume is located? Do you want more of a full look up top like a “fake” look or do you want more of a natural look to the breast? The other thing to consider is, if we are going to put the implants above the muscle or under the muscle. If a round implant is inserted under the muscle then the muscle will push on the upper part of the implant and create a more teardrop shaped implant. The bigger the round implants are, the more “fake” they will look. As a general guide, if you are going for a round implant that is more than 400 ml in size, then it will look very round especially if you have small breasts to start with.
These images are generated by Dr Beldholm’s 3D Imaging program. This software produces optimal results and the actual result may vary.
This photo demonstrates the difference between round and teardrop shaped breast implants. Both implants are 400 ml implants the only difference between the implants is the shape. As can be seen on the middle picture the round breast implant is more prominent in the superior aspect of the breast whilst the teardrop shaped implant on the right is more of a natural shape.
These images are generated by Dr Beldholm’s 3D Imaging program. This software produces optimal results and the actual result may vary.
This photo is a composite photo of a teardrop shaped implant vs a round breast implant. The lower shaded area represents the position of a teardrop shaped implant. As can be seen on the photo, the volume from this implant will sit lower on the breast vs the round where the volume sits a bit higher.
Under the muscle versus above the muscle
The shape of the final result is not the most important consideration when deciding to go above or below the muscle. When going above the muscle, the implant will have more volume on the superior breast area, however, this is not a big difference.
Benefits of going above the muscle
- This is my preferred method as it creates a more natural moving implant.
- I can get a cleavage that is much better
- They look more perky and the nipple can be lifted up higher
- I don’t have to divide the pectoralis major muscle which means that there is less pain after the operation and usually quicker recovery
- With the polyurethane breast implants, the risk of rotation or bottoming out is minimal
Negatives of going above the muscle
- The main negative with above the muscle is potentially seeing the edge of the implants. This happens if there is not enough breast tissue to cover the implant. If you are a B cup or smaller, you are not suitable for this approach. Also if there is not enough breast tissue then you may feel the implants as well. There may be a visible edge or other issues.
- There is an increased risk of rotation and bottoming out as the tissues are not as firm as under the muscle.
Benefits of going under the muscle
- Going under the muscle will cover the implant with muscle, meaning that there is less chance of feeling the implant or seeing an implant edge. It also create a more natural shape if a round implant is used.
- In my experience, I find that there is less risk of movement or rotation of the breast implant after the operation.
Negatives of going under the muscle
- The breast does not tend to move as naturally as the implant is “stuck” on the ribs.
- It is harder to get good cleavage with the implants
- The implant does not provide as much lift to the breasts
These images are generated by Dr Beldholm’s 3D Imaging program. This software produces optimal results and the actual result may vary.
This photo demonstrates the differences between a round implant under the muscle and above the muscle. As can be see here, there is really very little difference in the final shape.
These images are generated by Dr Beldholm’s 3D Imaging program. This software produces optimal results and the actual result may vary.
This photo is a composite of above vs below the muscle. The tiny shaded area on the superior aspect of the breasts represents where the breast implant sits if inserted above the muscle.
Choosing your implant size
Choosing the right size for your frame and the cup size that will suit you can be very difficult. That is why I suggest a range of methods so that you know that you have selected the right implant.
- Using 3D imaging to actually see what it will look like on your own body.
- Using implant sizers in a sports bra. This is a tried and tested method that I have used for close to a decade now. Even with the 3D imaging, there is nothing that can actually beat feeling and seeing a real implant. I find that even though the 3D images are technically more accurate, most women prefer to actually see and feel the actual implants.
- Rice bag sizers at home. 1ml of silicone equals 1g of rice or water. This means that you can weigh up an equal amount of rice, wrap it in foil and use it in a sports bra at home to get a feel of the size. e.g. if you are looking at having a 400ml implant then you can weigh up 400g of rice and make a “home” sizer out of this.
These next series of pictures show the same patient with different implant sizers from 200ml to 600ml round implants
These images are generated by Dr Beldholm’s 3D Imaging program. This software produces optimal results and the actual result may vary.
Conclusion about breast implants
I hope this guide has given you some ideas as to how you can select and choose the right implants for your body.
In summary the main questions that you should ask yourself are:
- What result do I want?
- Natural
- Fake or a full look
- What cup size do I want to be?
These questions will help decide what implant you should go for.
I hope you have found this guide helpful and I’m always here to help.
Dr Beldholm.