The Perfect Breasts

In today's society, women are subconsciously bombarded with images of larger breasts overflowing out of low-cut dresses.  These images are reflected from magazines, reality TV shows and celebrities with enlarged breasts.  Because of our society's infatuation with large breasts, the tendency toward favoring larger breast volume with breast augmentation may result to a deviation from the natural shape of the breasts.  When the breast is excessively augmented with breast implants, the tear drop shape of the breast becomes more round which is not harmonious and looks unnatural.  But then again, the ideal breast is different for every woman.

Breast Symmetry

• Ideally the perfect breasts would be symmetric.  Although this seldom comes to mind, perfect breasts aren't what one would expect. One study showed that breast asymmetry in women is a commonality amongst the population.
• Nearly 80 % of women have asymmetric breasts.  Breast asymmetry is measured by several parameters, such as nipple areolar complex size & position, breast size/breast mound volume, breast/chest wall shape, degree of ptosis (sagging), and inframammary fold location. With this in mind, when one seeks a breast augmentation, any subtle difference of the breast may become more obvious after surgery.

What is the Ideal Breast Shape?

• The nipple should be pointed outwards and parallel to the ground.
• The upper pole of the breast should be full and not "deflated" as found in a "swooping breast."  The upper pole of the breast typically becomes "deflated" with aging, pregnancy or even with significant weight loss as seen in athletic women.
•  The lower pole of the breast should be fuller than the upper pole of the breast.  The lower pole should also have a round shape.
• The upper pole should have a slope from the upper chest down to the level of the nipple. 

Photograph courtesy of MedIndia.net

Photograph courtesy of dailymail.co.uk

Ideal Breast Dimension

• According to a recent British Study by Dr. Malluci, the proportion of the upper to the lower pole should have a 45:55 ratio 
• The angulation of the nipple should be pointing upwards at a mean angle of 20° from the nipple meridian

• According to the study, the upper pole slope should be linear or slightly concave, and the lower pole should be convex.

With the advent and popularity of larger breasts, like Pamela Anderson in Baywatch, the perception of the perfect and ideal breasts have changed.  Mild to moderate fullness of the upper pole will produce a more youthful and more beautiful breasts as seen after a breast augmentation.  Excessive upper pole fullness due to an overly-sized breast implant will look unnatural, and thus will have an appearance of a more obvious "boob job."

Figure 3:  Ideal Breast Shape with Natural Slope.  Before & After Breast augmentation using the Dual-Plane Technique performed by Houston Plastic Surgeon Dr. Emmanuel De La Cruz MD.

With this in mind, what is the perfect breast?  The perception of the perfect breasts may vary from culture to culture and may vary individually.  The unnatural appearance of an overly-sized breast augmentation may be perceived as more beautiful.  Women who wants a "more natural look" may want the ideal "traditional" perfect breasts with a natural slope.  Regardless of what one perceives the perfect breasts to be, you should communicate with your plastic surgeon the ideal breast shape that you would want to achieve after your breast enlargement.