What's the difference between standard profile and low-profile/high-profile?

How the profile of your implant affects the overlook look.

Your DNA determines everything about your anatomy, from the curviness of your hips to the length and width of your torso — and, of course, the size of your breasts. You can’t change bone structure, and your implants also have to work with the things about your anatomy that can’t be changed. One of these is the base diameter of the breast, which can be thought of as like the foundation of the breast. If the implants don’t match the base diameter, a number of problems can occur, such as rippling if the implant is too wide or too much separation between the breasts if too narrow. Matching the desired implant size (volume in cc’s) to the dimensions of the breast is where implant profile comes into play.

Know Your Profile
You’ve probably heard that implants have various profiles. Profile simply refers to how far the implant protrudes from your chest wall. Remember, cup size is about fullness, but that fullness can be created in various ways, and it can take various shapes. That’s important, since women’s frames vary greatly.

The moderate profile is just what the term implies: an average, natural look for many women. If you have an average base (or chest wall size), then the standard profile implant may be perfect for you. It may also work perfectly well even if you have a narrow frame, depending on the look you’re after. However, there are other options.

The High and the Low
A low-profile implant is designed to stick out less. It’s flatter and wider, and the fullness comes more from the width. Low-profile implants make more sense for women who have wider frames (but not much sense for women who have narrow frames, since the breast will extend too far to the sides). The downside of the low-profile implant is that it can look too flat.

By contrast, high-profile implants offer more volume on a smaller base. The fullness comes more from how far they stick out than how wide they are. High-profile implants have a narrower base, which means they are more cone-shaped. They are a good option for women who want more fullness, but have a rather narrow chest. The downside is that they don’t always look as proportional as standard or low-profile implants, especially if the implants are larger. High-profile implants can start to look “fake,” and many women don’t want that look.

Your plastic surgeon will be able to guide you in choosing the right profile, depending on the size you want and the base diameter measurements. Typically the size choice will come first, then your anatomy will dictate which profile type works best. Matching the base diameter of the implant to your body will help ensure that the cleavage looks right, neither too close or too far apart.

No matter which implant profile you choose, it will be available in either silicone or saline. The profile also doesn’t impact the type of shell, so you can have either a smooth or textured shell. You can also choose the shape of your implant, but that decision needs to be made hand-in-hand with the decision about smooth or textured.

Frequently Asked Questions Reviewed by Dr. Richard Baxter in Seattle, WA. To learn more about Dr. Baxter, please go to www.aboutplasticsurgery.com/doctor-profile/richard-a-baxter-md-facs-227.