Numerous factors can come into play when you’re choosing the right breast implants for the most natural look. Discover whether round or contoured breast implants are best for you.

Breast implants come in a wide array of shapes and sizes, to ensure that you can enhance your looks without creating an unnatural breast shape.

You can choose between two main breast implant shapes: round breast implants, which are perfectly spherical, and anatomical or contoured shape, which are thicker at the bottom of the breast. Each of these implant shapes has pros and cons — and you and your surgeon should discuss the answers to the following questions before you choose the right shape of breast implant for you.

  • How much breast tissue do you have? Round breast implants can look a little fake if you have little breast tissue — especially if you're using the breast implants to reconstruct your breasts after a mastectomy. Placing them beneath the chest muscles may help make round implants look a little less obvious. Your plastic surgeon can help you determine if you have enough tissue to allow the round implants to look more natural.
  • Is your doctor concerned about the implants staying in place? Contoured breast implants, which are asymmetrical, can "flip" in your body, making your breasts misshapen. While this only happens in a fraction of the cases, some plastic surgeons won't use the contoured implants for that reason.
  • Are you concerned about complications? Breast implants with a textured surface can decrease the risk of capsular contracture, a painful and disfiguring covering of scar tissue that surrounds the implant, but may increase the risk of developing rippling or even rupture. Contoured breast implants always have a textured surface, while round implants can be either textured or smooth. Talk with your plastic surgeon to see which she recommends.
  • What is your budget? Usually, round breast implants are less expensive than the contoured type. You may be slightly less likely to develop expensive complications like flipping with a round implant.
  • Where do you want the additional fullness in your breasts? Because the contoured breast implants are fuller at the bottom of the implant, they may make your breasts look fuller at the bottom, while the round breast implants would give you a fuller look throughout your breast.
  • What does your surgeon recommend? When your plastic surgeon reviews your case, she'll be able to discuss your options for implantation. Be sure to review before and after photos of previous patients who have a similar breast size and chose a similar implant shape. You'll have a good sense of how you'll look after the breast implants are place.