It mimic the natural sloped breast shape.
Size is usually the first thing a patient thinks about when considering breast augmentation, but shape is actually the second (and maybe the most important) aspect of the decision. For a long time, round breast implants were the only model considered, wherein the upper pole (top part of the breast) would be fuller, rendering a “push-up bra” effect.
However, teardrop implants, in medical terms, anatomical implants, have greatly changed cosmetic surgery by offering a silhouette that closely resembles the natural slope of an unaltered breast.
On a human level, we say that the choice between round and teardrop is more than just a matter of aesthetics; it is also about anatomy. This is why a teardrop implant has a small upper part and a bigger lower part, and the result is a smooth line from the chest wall to the nipple. The architecture of this design means that a surgeon will have to use a different approach, and the implant itself will be made using a certain type of silicone technology. Patients who want to understand the science of this shape and who opt for a discreet, natural-looking enhancement will benefit the most from this knowledge.
Engineering a Natural Slope
The main characteristic of a teardrop implant is that it is not symmetrical. A round implant keeps the very same look in any position of rotation, while a teardrop implant only has a single orientation. Thus, the implant follows the natural line of the pectoralis major muscle and gradually it gets thicker as it goes down along the inframammary fold. This is one of the reasons why the “ball-on-a-chest” effect that sometimes happens when round implants are placed on very skinny women cannot be replicated here.
Moreover, to keep this unique shape while being subjected to the pull of gravity and muscle pressure, teardrop implants are generally made of Highly Cohesive Silicone Gel. The gel is nicknamed “Gummy Bear” because it is thicker and more stable in shape than the gel used for the classic round implants. If you were to bisect a teardrop implant, the gel would keep its shape and would not be spread out or leak. This feature enables the implant to push the lower breast tissue outwards and at the same time to raise it, resulting in a natural-looking breast without artificial upper fullness.
Who is best suited for Anatomical Implants?
Teardrop implants are wonderful and excellent when used properly, but they are not a panacea. Usually, the ideal candidate will be someone with a scarce amount of natural breast tissue (hypomastia) or who has a very thin chest wall. If these patients got a round implant, the implant would be visible through the skin and the upper edge or “step-off” would be seen. With a teardrop implant, the tapered upper edge merges with the chest like feathers and thus the “step-off” is eliminated.
Besides that, anatomical implants are the best way to address tuberous breasts (which is a hereditary condition that causes the breasts to be constricted and tubular). The solid and stable structure of the teardrop implant is the perfect fit for a tissue expander that will allow the previously tight lower pole to open and take on a round shape. They are also used very often after mastectomy reconstructive surgery, when the main goal is to create a natural-looking breast from scratch. Instead of choosing an over-the-top surgical style, most women who want to go for a “your breasts but bigger” look will get the most natural results with the anatomical profile.
Rotation Risk and Surface Texture
The distinct shape of a teardrop implant comes with an inherent surgical risk, namely rotation. Round implants can feasibly rotate in the breast pocket yet the result stays unchanged because the implant has no sides. However, if a teardrop implant turns (upside down or sideways), the breast will get all distorted and the bottom could even be flat while the top is bulging.
In order to make sure that this does not happen, most teardrop implants have a textured (Micro-textured or Macro-textured) surface. The texture is like Velcro in that it encourages the growth of the patient’s tissue into the implant capsule, thereby locking in the implant. This “tissue adherence” is important for long-term stability. The surgeon’s job is to make a perfect pocket such that the implant does not have any room to move but is also not under too much tension. This pocket dissection needs to be very accurate, hence placing anatomical implants is less straightforward than placing round implants and the surgeon must therefore be highly skilled in bio-dimensional planning.
Dual Plane Implant Placement for The Best Coverage
When we want to hide the implant even more and ensure an authentic appearance of the slope, the Dual Plane Technique is one of the options that we resort to. Here, only the lower half of the implant sits in the breast gland while the upper half is beneath the pectoralis major muscle. Thanks to this extra layer of muscle covering, the top edge of the teardrop implant becomes totally imperceptible, not even through the skin of the thinnest patients.
This also means that the muscle will be able to keep the top of the implant in place and thus the risk of rotation is minimized while the bottom of the implant is free to naturally expand the lower breast pole. An anatomical shape combined with dual plane placement is the best compromise since you can have the muscle coverage which is safer and the projection of the shaped device which is visually more pleasing. Thus, giving up on the “surgical” look, such a combination perfectly suits those mothers who have lost their upper breast volume post lactation.
Anatomical Implants in Turkey
We at Lin Health Europe Clinic in Turkey, carefully select our partners, being only the world’s #1 manufacturers of form-stable implants such as Mentor and Motiva. We acknowledge that going “anatomical” will always come with a bit of sacrifice – you are getting a great and natural shape with the spot on the gel being cohesive and hence you also get a firmer feel. Your consultation is where we lay everything down so that you can feel and handle sample implants and thus get the feel difference of round and teardrop in density.
We have highly trained doctors in the team who excel at the prevention of rotation problems as well as handling textured surfaces post-operation. Also, by using highly developed sizing systems and measuring with extreme precision your chest width, base width, and nipple position, we make sure that your chosen teardrop implant fits your skeletal frame like a glove. By coming to Lin Health Europe Clinic in Turkey, you are getting the most advanced reconstructive-grade technology in Europe at a very reasonable price. Besides that, you can rest assured that your outcome will not only be beautiful but also safe.
Frequently Asked Questions About Teardrop Implants
No. Teardrop implants are the right choice for women with very little breast tissue or tuberous breasts who want a natural slope. On the contrary, round implants suit best those who want upper pole fullness and cleavage.
Rotation is a potential problem, but it is quite an infrequent one and mainly when the surgery is carried out by a skilled surgeon. The implant’s textured surface is intended to stick to the tissue and keep the implant in the correct position.
Teardrop implants are produced using a very cohesive gummy bear gel that can hold their shape, so they might feel a little bit firmer when touched compared to the softer gel of some round implants.
Nearly all teardrop implants comprise gummy bear gel (form-stable silicone) for shape retention, but round implants can also be made of cohesive gel, so the terms are not always interchangeable.
They are like all breast implants, i.e., not considered to be lifetime devices and may be replaced after 10 to 15 years, although many go for longer without any problems.
Hammond, D. C. (2013). Becker Expander/Implants and Permanent Anatomical Mammary Implants. Clinics in Plastic Surgery.
Maxwell, G. P., & Gabriel, A. (2014). Bio-dimensional planning in breast augmentation. Clinics in Plastic Surgery.
Spear, S. L., et al. (2007). The effect of implant surface texture on the capsule. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Hedén, P., et al. (2009). Long-term safety and effectiveness of style 410 cohesive silicone gel breast implants. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
