Round gel breast implants or anatomic gel breast implants: which is the best choice?

BACKGROUND

Since their introduction in 1993, anatomic implants have been popularized by numerous surgeons, but very little literature compares the precise indications, advantages, and disadvantages between round implants and anatomic implants.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed for all the patients who underwent breast implantation by the main author over a 15-year period. The number of implanted patients, the shape of the implants placed, the approach routes, and the placement plane were determined as well as the relationship between the shape of the implant and the approach route. The aesthetic results obtained were analyzed in detail based on the shape of the implant used.

RESULTS

Over a 15-year period, 932 patients underwent surgery for breast implants. During the first 6 years, only round implants were used, and during the last 9 years, both anatomic and round implants were used. A total of 787 pairs of round implants and 145 pairs of anatomic implants were placed. The indications based on the postoperative aesthetic analysis suggest the use of implants according to their shape.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of anatomic implants is suggested for patients with significant differences in chest height and width measurements, for cases of significant mammary asymmetry, for patients with a small breast volume or a prominent thorax, and for breasts with a significant deficit of inferior mammary volume or significant shortening of the breast. The authors recommend round implants for patients with a superior pole deficit or moderate breast pseudoptosis, for patients who have a breast that will cover the implant, and for patients who present with a small asymmetry.