Round or Teardrop Implants for Breast Reconstruction
Many women who undergo breast reconstruction surgery decide to get implants to help restore their appearance. The best thing about breast implants is that they come in different sizes and shapes, which allows for a great deal of customization. On the downside, some patients don’t know where to start when it comes to picking implants. That’s where Dr. Ravi Tandon can help. He’s helped countless breast reconstruction patients throughout the New Orleans, LA area achieve great outcomes from their surgery.
There are two kinds of implant shapes available: round and teardrop. We would like to consider the differences between each implant shape and why one may be more ideal for your needs. Let’s first discuss the basics of the two types of implant shapes before getting into the advantages and disadvantages of each.
About Round Breast Implants
Round breast implants are the most common types of breast implants available today. In fact, when you think about breast implants, you probably have the image of a round breast implant in mind. These types of implants are dome shaped, and have different levels of projection based on their profile; higher profile breast implants are far rounder, while lower profile breast implants are more spread out.
About Teardrop Shaped Breast Implants
Teardrop shared breast implants are implants that have more of a sloped or tapered appearance. If you look at the image above, you can see the difference between round and teardrop implants. They are a bit more ovular, elongated, and asymmetrical, which is meant to mimic the natural sloping of a breast, with more volume at the bottom than at the top.
The Pros and Cons of Round Breast Implants
We often use round implants at our New Orleans practice when performing implant-based breast reconstruction surgery. The primary advantages of round implants include:
- A fuller look and appearance to the breasts
- More affordable than teardrop shaped implants
- Symmetrical in appearance from all angles
That said, some disadvantages of round breast implants include:
- May not be ideal for a patient’s aesthetic needs or goals
The Pros and Cons of Teardrop Shaped Breast Implants
Teardrop shared breast implants are not better or worse than round implants, though they do have some unique pros and cons. The primary advantages of teardrop shaped implants include:
- Natural sloping shape to the breast
- Ideal for creating a natural contour
Some disadvantages of teardrop breast implants include:
- Asymmetrical appearance to the breasts if the implants rotate
- More expensive than round breast implants
- Firmer texture than round breast implants
Developing the Surgery Based on Your Needs
Given the pros and cons of each type of breast implant, it’s important that we tailor the surgery to meet the needs of the patient. During the consultation process, we can discuss the reconstruction procedure and what type of implant may be right for you.
In addition to discussing implants for breast reconstruction needs, we can also talk about flap-based reconstruction methods, which can also yield excellent results. Our goal is to help you make confidence choices about your appearance.
Learn More About Breast Reconstruction Surgery
If you live in the New Orleans area and would like more information about your breast reconstruction surgery options, be sure to contact a skilled cosmetic and reconstructive surgeon. Dr. Ravi Tandon is here to help. You can reach our practice by phone at (504) 455-1000.