What are the differences between round and contoured or anatomical breast implants?
Contoured breast implants (right) are designed to have a more natural shape, especially in breast reconstruction. In breast augmentation, however, especially when a submuscular placement is used, the results are about the same. The muscle and chest wall exert forces on the implant on all sides, rather equally, resulting in a more rounded appearance for contoured breast implants. When round breast implants (left) are held vertically, as they would be in a breast when the body is upright, gravity tends to drag the fill material down to the bottom of the implant, giving it a look closer to a contoured implant than when it is lying flat on a table. (The photographs of the breast implants above were taken with the breast implants lying flat.) Individuals seeking breast reconstruction opt for the contoured breast implant. Round breast implants, however, are the more common choice for breast augmentation as a rounder, more voluptuous breast is generally preferred. Dr. Pittman–Waller prefers t
