The Centre, P.C. - Plastic Surgery Blog

Shape of Breasts after Enlargement - Monday, January 19, 2009

Internal factors that influence the final shape your enlarged breasts include the shape of your rib cage, the shape and size of your chest muscles, the shape and depth of your breast bone, and the relative volume of original breast tissue to the size of the implant. There are many important surface factors, too, like the quality of the skin, such as elasticity, the position and size of the nipples, and the character and position of the existing breast folds. Because these all influenced the initial shape of your breast, you can start by imagining that the shape of your post-op breasts will be similar to the shape of your pre-op breasts. In most cases, the conservation of breast shape is desirable to create a natural appearance following breast enlargement surgery. The curvature below the breast will be increased, and the slope of the top of the breast will be decreased (and, probably, interrupted until the implant fully settles). You can also get an idea of how breast enlargement affects the shape of breasts by looking at our before and after picture gallery.

To maintain the best breast position, and to keep the implant behind your breast tissue, where it looks best, the breast is normally expanded equally above and below your current breast placement, although this can be changed depending on whether your breasts are naturally high or low. Depending on the shape of your chest, especially if it is slightly sunken, breast implants may cause your breasts to move slightly toward one another. Some women think that it's ideal to have cleavage even without a bra, but it is best to avoid removing too much of the tissue between the breasts partly to prevent the occurrence of symmastia (aka breadloafing), in which breast implants touch, and partly to ensure sufficient "lateral chest break." Lateral chest break is the amount that your breasts protrude over the side of your rib cage, and is responsible for much of the effect of implants on your figure when seen from the front.

If you don't like the shape of your current breasts, surgical techniques may be used to give your breasts a better shape after surgery.

If you would like to learn more about how breast implants can affect the shape of your breasts, schedule a breast enlargement consultation at The Centre, P.C. today.