Breast Implant Types: Round vs Teardrop, Silicone and Placement

Medically reviewed by Mrs Elena Prousskaia, Consultant Plastic Surgeon on the GMC Specialist Register. Last updated 18 September 2026.

In this guide

This guide is part of our complete guide to breast augmentation surgery in Bristol. You are welcome to return to the main overview for procedure details, our Bristol facilities and recovery timelines.

Shape: round or teardrop
Material: cohesive silicone gel
Implant surface
Placement: over, under or dual plane
Bringing it together
Breast Augmentation Bristol Before and After
Why choose Elena
Frequently asked questions

Key takeaways

The main choices are shape (round or teardrop), material (cohesive silicone gel) and placement (over, under or dual plane).
Elena uses cohesive silicone implants with a textured surface, selected to suit your body and goals.
Placement affects both the look and your recovery, and the dual plane technique suits many patients.
Elena plans the right combination with you at consultation for the most natural, lasting result.

Making the choice with you

Choosing an implant is one of the most personal parts of planning a breast augmentation, and it is something Elena does together with you. This guide explains the technical choices in detail, the shape, the material and where the implant sits, so that you understand the options before your consultation. For guidance on choosing a size and on what the cost includes, see our companion guide to breast implant types, sizes and costs.

As Elena often says, we plan your surgery together, following a long conversation and examination in the clinic. There is no one size fits all, and the right combination depends on your body, your existing breast tissue and the look you would like.

Shape: round or teardrop

The shape of your implant sets the overall silhouette of your breasts, and both main options can give a beautiful result in the right hands.

Round implants are full and symmetrical across the whole breast. They give noticeable fullness in the upper part of the breast and tend to create a fuller, more enhanced look with more cleavage. Because they are the same shape all the way round, a round implant that rotates slightly makes no difference to the result, which makes them very reliable.

implant-shape-round-teardrop

Teardrop, or anatomical, implants are shaped to follow the natural slope of the breast, with less fullness at the top and more towards the bottom. They suit patients who want a softer, more understated result. Because they are shaped rather than symmetrical, their position matters a little more, though modern textured surfaces help hold them in place.

Which suits you comes down to your frame, how much natural tissue you have and the look you would like, and Elena will show you examples of both on bodies similar to yours.

Material: cohesive silicone gel

The implants Elena uses are filled with cohesive silicone gel, which feels closest to natural breast tissue and gives a soft, natural result.

Modern cohesive silicone gel holds its shape even if the shell is damaged, which is why it is so widely preferred. Elena only uses high quality implants from trusted manufacturers and has never used PIP implants in any of her practices.

Implant surface

Elena uses textured-surface implants. A textured surface is designed to adhere gently to the surrounding tissue, which helps the implant stay in position, and it suits the shaped implants often chosen for a natural result. Elena only uses high quality implants from trusted manufacturers and will explain her choice for you and why.

Placement: over, under or dual plane

Where the implant sits shapes both your result and your recovery, and there are three main options.

Placed over the muscle, behind the breast tissue, the implant usually allows a quicker, more comfortable recovery and can suit patients who already have a good amount of natural tissue. Placed fully under the chest muscle, it tends to give a more natural upper slope and reduces the chance of the implant edge being visible, with a slightly longer recovery. The dual plane technique, which many patients are best suited to, places the implant partly under the muscle and partly behind the tissue, combining a natural upper slope with good fullness lower down and reliable long term support.

Placement	In short	Recovery
Over the muscle (subglandular)	Behind the tissue, above the muscle	Usually quicker
Under the muscle (submuscular)	Beneath the chest muscle	A little longer, often very natural
Dual plane	Partly under the muscle, partly behind the tissue	Moderate, suits many patients

Elena will recommend the placement that gives you the most natural and durable result for your body, and explain clearly why she suggests it.

Bringing it together

Shape, material, surface and placement are not separate decisions but parts of one plan, and the art is in combining them for your body and your wishes. At your consultation Elena will examine your breast shape, tissue quality and skin, discuss the look you would like, show you examples, and then recommend the combination that will give you the most natural and lasting result.

Breast Augmentation Bristol Before and After

Breast augmentation before and after, side view, a Bristol patient of Mrs Elena Prousskaia

Results vary from patient to patient and cannot be guaranteed. Photographs show real patients of Mrs Elena Prousskaia and are published with their written consent.

Seeing real results often helps more than any description. Our gallery shows breast augmentation results from Elena’s own Bristol patients, so you can get a sense of the natural, balanced outcomes she aims for and the range of shapes and sizes that are possible. Every patient is different, and the images are shared with kind permission to help you picture what might suit you. You are welcome to browse the breast augmentation before and after gallery, and Elena will show you examples relevant to your own frame and goals at your consultation. You can also explore the procedure in full on our breast augmentation treatment page.

Learn more about breast augmentation here

Elena performs breast enlargement in Bristol at North Bristol Private Hospital. You can read the full overview, including sizes, cost and recovery, on our breast augmentation Bristol page.

Why choose Elena Prousskaia for your breast augmentation?

Breast augmentation surgery in Bristol with Mrs Elena Prousskaia

Selecting the right implant is a decision Elena makes together with you, matched carefully to your body, your existing tissue and the look you would like. Elena Prousskaia is a consultant plastic surgeon with extensive breast surgery expertise, combining advanced training with a gentle, patient-centred approach.

With over 20 years of aesthetic and reconstructive experience, Elena has completed advanced microsurgical breast fellowships in Italy, Spain, Belgium, India, Japan and London, sits on the GMC Specialist Register, and is a member of BAPRAS and EBOPRAS. In Bristol she operates at North Bristol Private Hospital.

The best next step is to arrange a consultation, where Elena will talk you through the implant options and plan your surgery together.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between round and teardrop implants?

Round implants give fullness across the whole breast, including the upper part, for a fuller look. Teardrop implants follow the natural slope of the breast for a softer, more subtle result.

Which implant feels the most natural?

Silicone implants feel and move much like natural breast tissue, and placement under the muscle can add to a natural look and feel.

What is the dual plane technique?

It places the implant partly under the chest muscle and partly behind the breast tissue, combining a natural upper slope with good lower fullness. It suits many patients, particularly those with less natural tissue.

Are textured implants safe?

Guidance varies between countries as the research is limited, and no regulator has advised removing textured implants already in place. Elena will discuss the options and her recommendation honestly.

Which placement is best for me?

Elena will recommend the placement that gives you the most natural and durable result based on your anatomy and goals.

Book a consultation in Bristol

North Bristol Private Hospital, the Bristol base of plastic surgeon Mrs Elena Prousskaia

When you choose Mrs Elena Prousskaia for your breast surgery in Bristol, you are in expert hands. Elena operates at North Bristol Private Hospital, an accredited facility offering the highest standards of care in calm, private surroundings.

From your first consultation through to your recovery, you will have a treatment plan tailored to you and clear, compassionate support at every step, with your follow up appointments included in your care.
To discuss your implant options and arrange a breast augmentation consultation in Bristol with Elena, please book online, call 0800 8021 886, or use our contact form. In Bristol, Elena performs breast augmentation at North Bristol Private Hospital.