Summary

• Breast implants are used in various surgical procedures to alter the size, shape and contours of the breasts
• There are two shapes of breast implants available: round or teardrop (also known as anatomical)
• Round breast implants increase volume equally in the top and bottom halves of the breasts, whereas teardrop breast implants increase the volume of the bottom of the breast more than in the top for a more natural result
• Cadogan Clinic’s team of Consultant Breast Surgeons are experts in all areas of breast implant surgery, delivering the highest standards of patient care and results

What are Breast Implants?

Breast implants are a type of medical prosthesis that is used to alter the size, shape and contours of the breasts. They are regularly used in surgical procedures including:

• Breast Augmentation or Augmented Mastopexy to correct size and position symptoms
• Breast Reconstruction to address the impacts of injury, breast cancer surgery or genetic conditions

Cadogan Clinic’s team of industry-leading Consultant Breast Surgeons are experts in all areas of breast implant surgery, and are overseen by a leadership team rated Excellent by the Care Quality Commission. 100% of Cadogan Clinic’s surgical patients would recommend the clinic to their family and friends.

Depending on the patient's clinical needs, breast implant specifications can be tailored to their personal symptoms and desired outcomes. This bespoke approach is one of the reasons that Breast Augmentation remains the most popular surgical procedure in the UK, representing over 17% of all surgical procedures nationally in 2025, as reported by BAAPS.

All breast implant procedures at Cadogan Clinic are performed with the highest quality silicone breast implants, personally selected by our expert surgeons. Speaking with a Consultant Breast Surgeon is the best way to understand whether breast implants are a suitable way to address your concerns, and what the best options are.

Breast implants are a common medical device that change the shape, size and contours of the breast when surgically inserted during procedures including Breast Augmentation, Augmented Mastopexy or Breast Reconstruction.

What Are the Different Breast Implant Shapes?

Along with size, profile and texture, shape is a crucial consideration when deciding on the right breast implants.

Breast implants come in two primary shapes:

• Round breast implants: The most popular option, round breast implants have a symmetrical shape, which increases volume in the upper and lower sections of the breast
• Teardrop breast implants: Also known as anatomical breast implants, teardrop breast implants have a fuller bottom tapering towards the top, achieving more volume in the lower section of the breast

Both round and teardrop-shaped breast implants are available in different sizes and materials, with different features. Breast implant placement and profile may also influence how different shapes of breast implants affect your final result. 

Your specialist Consultant Breast Surgeon will discuss the different options and combinations available, and how they will each look and feel different.

Breast implants are typically available in round (symmetrical, achieving equal volume across the breast) and teardrop (fuller at the bottom, achieving more volume in the lower breast) shapes, which each create a different result.

How to Choose Your Breast Implant Shape?

With only two options, it can feel as though choosing a breast implant shape should be relatively simple compared with other considerations. While some people may have a strong feeling about the shape of their breast implants, others may require more thought to decide on the best options to achieve their desired outcomes.

Round Breast Implants

There are several reasons why patients choose round breast implants, which your surgeon will discuss during your consultation.

• Enhanced volume: Round breast implants achieve increased volume in both the upper and lower sections of the breasts to achieve the classic round breast augmentation shape
• Increased cleavage: Increasing the volume in the upper half of the breast also pushes the breasts together, enhancing the appearance of cleavage
• Reduced risk of movement: The symmetrical shape of round breast implants means that the breast shape does not change if the implants rotate or move

Round breast implants are typically most suited to patients who:

• Aren’t concerned about addressing breast sagging: Round implants typically increase the volume of the breasts, but do not provide much lift
• Have larger breasts: The patient requires sufficient natural breast tissue to encase the breast implant
• Want a more dramatic result: A fuller and more impactful result is usually achieved with round breast implants

Teardrop Breast Implants

During your consultation, your surgeon will discuss a number of reasons why patients opt for teardrop shaped breast implants:

• Natural appearance: The tapered shape of teardrop breast implants mirrors the natural shape of the breast, achieving a subtle appearance
• Less likely to ripple: To maintain their shape, teardrop implants are made from a firmer silicone, meaning they don’t show rippling through the skin
• Lifting effect: Teardrop breast implants can address minor breast sagging by adding volume to the lower section of the breast, creating the appearance of lift

Teardrop breast implants are usually suitable for patients who:

• Have smaller breasts: Patients who do not have enough breast tissue to achieve their desired size increase with round breast implants may be suited to teardrop implants
• Want to achieve increased firmness: The firmer silicone in teardrop breast implants results in a firmer feeling result
• Are undergoing Breast Reconstruction: For patients who are having Breast Reconstruction following breast cancer surgery, teardrop breast implants create a more natural appearance, especially where only one breast is being reconstructed

When choosing your breast implant sizes and shapes, it is important to bear your surgeon’s advice in mind. As well as considering your concerns and desired results, they will discuss the most effective options for you to ensure you enjoy your breast surgery results for many years.

Generally speaking, round breast implants are typically better suited to younger patients with good natural breast firmness. In contrast, teardrop breast implants are suited to patients who are looking for a natural result or who have limited breast tissue, with mild sagging.

Can Breast Implant Shape Affect Breast Size?

Breast implant shape can cause significant variations in the appearance of breast implant size and profile.

Breast Implant Volume vs. Projection

Breast implant volume and projection are both important factors in the overall appearance that breast implants can achieve.

• Breast implant volume refers to the size of the implants. Breast implant sizes are measured in cubic centimetres (CCs), which means sizing is consistent across all breast implant brands. The higher the CCs, the larger the breast implant.
• Breast implant projection (also known as profile) refers to how far the implant extends forward from the chest wall. Lower profile implants have a wider base and sit flatter, whereas higher profile implants project further outwards, with a narrower base.

When considering breast implant sizes and shapes, it is important to take overall body proportions into account. While a round breast implant in one size may look too large, the same size in a teardrop shaped breast implant may achieve a more proportional result.

Regardless of shape, breast implants with the same CCs will have the same volume. However, the volume distribution will vary:

• Round breast implants distribute the volume evenly across the diameter of the implant, although higher profile implants will have slightly more volume in the centre of the implant than at the edges
• Teardrop breast implants have more volume in the bottom of the implant than the top. 55-65% of the volume typically sits in the lower part of the breast, with 35-45% of the volume sitting in the upper half of the breast

The even distribution of volume in round breast implants means that the volume in the upper part of the breast is increased as much as it is in the bottom. This achieves a larger overall appearance to the breasts.

Because teardrop breast implants carry most of their volume in the lower part of the breast, the upper section doesn’t look as full. Although the overall volume increase may be the same, this typically results in a more subtle appearance which mimics natural breast shape.

It is important to consider both breast implant shape and size alongside your natural body shape and proportion.

• A broader frame with a large chest may suit the even distribution of round breast implants with a low profile, which offers greater coverage of the chest wall
• A smaller frame with a narrow chest may find that teardrop breast implants achieve a more proportionate result by preventing too much volume in the upper part of the chest

These are very general examples, and your surgeon will offer further advice on how to balance breast implant size and shape as well as profile to achieve a proportionate and flattering result based on your concerns.

When choosing breast implant shape, it is important to also consider sizing and projection alongside natural body proportions to find the best combination to effectively address your concerns and achieve your desired results.

Can I Change My Breast Implant Shape?

There are many reasons why people wish to change the shape of their breast implants, and this can be successfully achieved through a Breast Implant Removal and Replacement procedure.

People choose to change their breast implant shape due to:

• Weight loss, pregnancy or breastfeeding causing changes to the skin, affecting previous Breast Augmentation results
• Complications arising from previous breast implant surgery affecting the appearance of the breast implants
• Changes in aesthetic preferences over time, such as moving towards a more natural or dramatic result

Breast Implant Removal and Replacement to switch between round and teardrop shaped breast implants can be carried out by the same surgeon who performed the original procedure, or by a different surgeon, depending on the needs of the patient.

When changing the shape of previous breast implants, it may be necessary to make additional changes to other aspects of the implants such as the size or profile to ensure the space is effectively filled, and that the new desired result is achieved.

Breast Implant Removal and Replacement is a surgical procedure which can involve updating the specification of breast implants, including changing the shape for aesthetic or functional reasons.

Frequently Asked Questions