How Anatomic are Anatomic Breast Implants

There are many choices that the prospective breast implant patient has to make. Aside from who will be the surgeon, the patient has to think about what size implant she wants, what style, location (above or below the muscle), and which incision. The following discussion explores one of the most basic decisions concerning the implant style: Round or Anatomic?

Implants come in two basic styles - round or anatomic. These refer to the shape the implant has when you put it flat on a table; as will be discussed, it's a little more complicated when you consider what it will look like in the woman. A round implant is exactly that: when placed on a table, it is round when viewed from the top. You can rotate it as much as you want in any direction and it will still look the same. From the side it's the same idea - an equally curved dome that looks the same regardless of how you rotate it. Not so with the anatomic or "teardrop" implant. This implant was originally intended for use in breast reconstruction patients (i.e., after a mastectomy). The natural breast, of course, is not round. Instead, it is conical or teardrop-shaped, with a gentle slope at the top and more of the breast in the lower half. The teardrop implant, therefore, most closely mimics that shape and is ideal for total breast replacement. Unlike the round implant, the anatomic implant has only one correct orientation and must be lined up exactly right; if it is rotated even a few degrees it will not look right.

What about the typical cosmetic breast enlargement patient? While there are different opinions and preferences on this matter, two recent studies have shed some interesting light. At first glance, the anatomic implant makes the most sense and, indeed, it is the first choice of many surgeons. However, aside from the fact that it only comes in a textured form (and for many reasons, many patients and surgeons prefer a smooth implant - which is a topic for another time), on closer examination it may not prove to the the best choice. First of all, most patients who have even a little breast tissue already have more of it in the lower half of the breast (i.e., a little sagging). Adding more volume to that part of the breast actually compounds the "problem" rather than compensating for it. So a round implant, that has relatively more of its volume in its upper half (than an anatomic implant) actually does a better job of putting more where you need it more, assuming you'd like more of a balance.

What about that round, ball-like look that everyone hates? Well, first of all, you normally get that when you have too big of an implant for the space in question; i.e., when a woman has chosen an implant that's a little too big for her chest. It's hard not to "go for it" when you're choosing an implant size, but it may be well worth being a little conservative in this regard. After all, it's much easier to make yourself look a little larger for selected occasions than it is to make yourself look a little smaller. One woman who felt she had gone a little too big later told me that she looked great in evening wear and lingerie, but for just hanging around the house in sweats, it was a bit much. Secondly, not everyone hates that look; some people actually like it (assuming it's not too extreme).

There's more. The above discussion is based on the implants shape when they're sitting on a table. What happens in a real-live woman? This question was addressed in two recent studies* and the impressive results confirm what many surgeons have believed for a while. In a patient, a round implant often behaves more anatomically than an anatomic implant! A number of women with implants were examined radiographically (i.e., using x-rays) in both the standing and lying positions. They found that when women are standing, the implants are similar. The anatomic implant assumes an anatomic (teardrop) shape. This is not surprising, but what is surprising is that so does the round implant! When a woman is standing, gravity works on the implant to pull a little more of it down and, from the standpoint of x-rays both implants are relatively teardrop-shaped and therefore anatomic.

So what happens when a woman lies down? Well, the anatomic implant remains "anatomic;" i.e., it maintains its teardrop shape. The problem is, you don't always want that when you lie down. Natural breasts fall to the side when a woman lies down, so, ironically, the anatomic implant is less anatomic when a woman is lying down. And what about the round implant? Because it has less of a framework than the anatomic implant (which is what keeps it anatomic), the round implant can, once again, respond to the forces of gravity and more closely mimic the natural breast. They found, quite remarkably, that the round implant falls to the side much more than the anatomic. [In fairness, is should be pointed out that, with time, some women have had "dishing out" of their round implants (i.e., the become wider and flatter with time) to a greater extent than the anatomic implants do. Anatomic implants, however, because they're textured and have more of a framework, remain stiffer than many round implants, particularly smooth ones.

In sum, therefore, when you use the term "anatomic" you may need to be prepared to define it carefully. Do you mean anatomic on a flat surface like a table, or in a woman? In view of the above, one could definitely argue that the round implant is actually more anatomic than the anatomic implant!

* Hamas R. The Comparative Dimensions of Round and Anatomical Saline-filled Breast Implants. Aesthetic Surgery Journal July/August 2000

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Recent coverage on ABC's 20/20 and in the Orange County Register has pointed out the dangers involved when unqualified practitioners attempt to practice plastic surgery.

The Nov. 3 20/20 segment highlighted the weekend workshops that non-plastic surgeons -- including dentists, ophthalmologists, even psychiatrists -- are using as justification to practice a variety of specialized procedures they have no prior training in, such as liposuction and breast enlargement. 20/20 sent an ob/gyn undercover participant, who witnessed firsthand the diverse group trying to get quick experience in a cash-positive, new specialty. As 20/20 pointed out it is, unfortunately, legal in the U.S. for any licensed medical doctor to call him or herself a "cosmetic surgeon." The certificates received from these quick classes are deceptively "official" looking, and patients should beware being lulled by a prospective surgeon's quantity -- not quality -- of beautifully framed documents. (The non-M.D. cameraman who attended got a certificate, too.) "Weekend courses are superficial at best," says CSPS President Michael F. McGuire, M.D., who was on the panel for the 20/20 segment. "I rotated through neurosurgery when I was an intern, but I certainly didn't think that was adequate to prepare me to practice neurosurgery. And that was several months of training -- this is one or two days."

In related news, the November 5 edition of the Orange County Register featured a story about dentists illegally performing procedures such as facelifts and liposuction. According to the article, as many as 70 percent of California's 400 oral and maxillofacial surgeons do facial plastic surgery for which they are unlicensed and untrained.

Only plastic surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) have been trained to perform plastic surgery on the entire body. ABPS certifies that the physician has graduated from an accredited medical school, has completed at least five years of additional training, has practiced plastic surgery for two years, and has passed comprehensive written and oral exams.

Patients considering plastic surgery should look and ask for the ABPS certification, and ask the surgeon how many times he or she has performed that surgery, and how recently. They should also ask if the surgeon has hospital privileges to do the surgery they are planning, and whether the surgery center is accredited or licensed.

The California Society of Plastic Surgeons urges patients to do their homework when choosing a surgeon for any type of cosmetic surgery. For help, call CSPS at 800-722-2777.

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