Your Questions

Q: Dr. Eppley, I’m undergoing a breast augmentation in less than a week and I like the look of your case study, breast augmentation in Asian women.  I am exactly her size except a smaller breast base  diameter (10.5). For reference, what profile is the implant you used?  I would appreciate any info you could give me. Choosing between 260 high profile, 280 high profile, or 320 full profile (leaning toward 280).

A: Many patients get hung up when considering their breast augmentation of an implant’s profile which actually has little to no influence on the final breast shape, contrary to popular perception. The only real relevance to an implant’s profile is how it influences the base diameter with the goal of using an implant whose base diameter is no larger than one’s natural breast base width. This is the real role of high projection/profiled implants, keeping the desired volume in a very narrow chest to within the breast dimensions. Almost assuredly with a breast base diameter of only 10.5 cms, any implant volume over 225cc will need a high profile implant to accomplish that important aesthetic goal.

Not to confuse you further, as the implant manufactures do a good job of that in this regard anyway, there is no correlation between any of three manufacturer’s (Allergan, Mentor and Sientra) implants in regards to volume and their profile types.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, my Asian wife and I found your article entitled ‘Asian Breast Augmentation’ very informative and helpful.  Obviously choosing the right implant size depends on many factors that are unique to each woman. But we were both curious to know what implant propfile you used in that particular case as we both thought the results were excellent and very natural looking.

A:  Thank you for your kind comments. Choosing the correct implant size and profile to get any woman’s desired breast look is as much art as it is science. There is no precise scientific or measurement method that can assure any patient as to how it will look afterwards. But there are some general guidelines. The first is to choose an implant’s size  in which the base width of the implant does not exceed the woman’s natural breast base width. Many Asian women tend to be smaller in size with more narrow breast widths. This is very compatible with the general smaller breast size enlargements that most Asian women desire. Breast implant sizes of 300cc to 350cc are very common in this patient population. Smaller perkier breasts are a desired look and for this reason I will almost always a high profile implant, keeping the implant’s width more narrow with greater upper pole fullness. Incision location is also an important consideration due to potential hyperpigmentation from scars. Therefore, I use a transaxillary approach for saline implants and a small (3.5cm) inframmary fold incision aided by the use of a Funnel insertion device for silicone gel implants.   

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana