Almost every breast augmentation consultation in Dr. Farhad Rafizadeh’s Morristown office reaches the same turning point. The patient has spent weeks thinking about one number — how many cc’s — and is surprised to learn that a second, quieter decision often does more to shape the final look. It is a question that also shows up regularly on his RealSelf Q&A page.
“My surgeon keeps asking whether I want moderate, high, or ultra-high profile implants — but they’re all the same size. What’s the difference, and how do I know which one is right for me?”
It is one of the most useful questions a patient can ask, because profile — also called projection — is where a natural result is either made or lost. Two implants of identical volume can look subtle and sloped on one woman and round and forward on another, purely because of the profile chosen. For patients across Northern New Jersey deciding on a breast augmentation, understanding profile is what turns a size number into a shape you actually want.
Dr. Rafizadeh’s Short Answer
Profile is not about how big the implant is — it is about how far a given volume projects forward from your chest, and how wide its base is. A moderate profile is wider and flatter with a gentle slope; a high profile is narrower at the base and projects more; an ultra-high profile is narrower still and the most forward. Dr. Rafizadeh’s guiding rule is simple: the implant’s base width should match your chest, and profile is then chosen within that width to meet your goal. Match the base to the frame first, and the result looks like it belongs to you.
What “Profile” Actually Means
Every implant of a given volume is a trade-off between two dimensions: how wide its base is and how far it projects. Hold the volume constant and those two move in opposite directions. Spread the volume over a wider base and it projects less — that is a lower profile. Concentrate the same volume onto a narrower base and it projects more — that is a higher profile.
| Profile | Base Width | Projection | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low / Moderate | Widest | Least — gentle, natural slope | Average-to-wide chest; softest, most natural look |
| Moderate Plus | Slightly narrower | A touch more fullness | Natural but not flat — the popular middle ground |
| High | Narrow | More forward, rounder upper pole | Narrow chests; fuller look, more cleavage |
| Ultra-High | Narrowest | Most projection | Very narrow frames or a deliberately dramatic result |
This is why two women can leave with the same 350 cc implant and look nothing alike. The number on the box was identical; the shape that number was poured into was not.
Moderate vs. High vs. Ultra-High — What Each Looks Like
A moderate profile gives the most gradual, natural transition from the collarbone down to the fullest part of the breast. It is the profile most often chosen by patients whose main request is “full, but nobody should be able to tell.” A high profile keeps more volume forward and higher, producing rounder upper-pole fullness and more visible cleavage — the look many patients picture when they imagine augmentation. An ultra-high profile pushes that even further and is reserved for very narrow frames or a deliberately dramatic result.
None of these is inherently “better.” A high profile on a narrow-chested woman can look entirely natural, while the same high profile forced onto a wide chest can look tacked-on because the base is too small for her frame. The art is in the match, which is why Dr. Rafizadeh measures rather than guesses.
Patient Before & After
View Full Gallery →
Both results were built by matching the implant’s base width to the patient’s own chest first, then selecting the profile that met her goal — not by choosing a number of cc’s alone.
What Is a “Moderate Plus” Profile?
Manufacturers noticed that the jump from moderate to high was too big for a lot of patients, so they added an in-between step: moderate plus. It projects a little more than moderate with a slightly narrower base, and in practice it is one of the most frequently chosen profiles because it threads the needle — a touch of extra fullness without tipping into an obviously augmented look. For many North Jersey patients who want “natural but not flat,” moderate plus is the answer.
How Dr. Rafizadeh Chooses Your Profile
The decision is measured, not eyeballed. At consultation in Morristown, Dr. Rafizadeh works through three inputs:
- Your chest base width. This is measured directly. The implant’s base should sit within your natural chest width so the edges do not spill toward the armpit or fall short in the middle. This measurement narrows the profile choices before goals even enter the picture.
- Your existing tissue and skin. Patients with less natural tissue often need a higher profile to get a defined shape, because there is less of their own tissue to create projection. Patients with more tissue have more flexibility.
- Your goal. Subtle and sloped points toward moderate or moderate plus; fuller and more forward points toward high. The goal is chosen within the base width your frame allows — not in spite of it.
Because Dr. Rafizadeh uses only smooth round implants from Motiva, Allergan (Natrelle), and Mentor — and never textured implants — the profile conversation happens entirely within those trusted lines. Profile is also chosen alongside two other shape decisions: over versus under the muscle and silicone versus saline.
Does Profile Change the Size or the Recovery?
Profile and volume are chosen separately, so you can keep the cc’s constant and change only the shape. In practice, though, a higher-profile implant of the same volume often reads as bigger, because more of its volume sits forward and visible. That is worth knowing: some patients can select slightly fewer cc’s in a higher profile and still look full. Profile itself does not meaningfully change the surgery or the recovery — the incision, the healing timeline, and the aftercare are driven by the operation, not by which profile you picked.
Questions to Ask Any Plastic Surgeon in North Jersey
If you are comparing surgeons in Morristown, Summit, Chatham, Madison, Short Hills, or anywhere across Northern New Jersey, the profile conversation is a good test of how individualized your plan really is. Useful questions to ask:
- What is my chest base-width measurement, and which profiles does it allow?
- Are you choosing my implant by volume alone, or by base width and profile together?
- Which profile do you recommend for my frame, and why that one?
- Can I see before-and-after results of patients with a similar chest width to mine?
- If I want a natural slope, does moderate or moderate plus fit me better?
- Can profile be adjusted later at an exchange if my goals change?
A surgeon who selects implants by measurement will answer all of these in concrete terms. A plan built around a single cc number, with profile treated as an afterthought, is the one most likely to end in a result that looks like someone else’s.
Common Questions Patients Search About Implant Profile & Projection
What is the 45/55 rule for breast augmentation?
The 45/55 “rule” is a rough proportion guide: in a balanced result, roughly 45% of the breast volume sits above the nipple and about 55% below, giving a natural teardrop slope rather than a top-heavy look. It is a guideline, not a law — Dr. Rafizadeh uses your anatomy and goals, not a fixed formula, to choose profile and volume.
What is the most popular breast implant profile?
Moderate and moderate-plus profiles are the most commonly chosen because they flatter the widest range of chest shapes and read as natural. High profile is popular among petite or narrow-chested patients and those who want more upper-pole fullness. There is no single “best” profile — the popular choice depends on body type.
Do high-profile implants give more cleavage?
They can, because they project more and add upper-pole fullness — but cleavage depends at least as much on your natural breastbone width and how close your breasts sit to the midline. A high profile will not create cleavage your anatomy does not allow; base width and implant placement matter more than profile alone.
How do you pick the right breast implant profile?
Dr. Rafizadeh measures your chest base width, assesses your existing breast tissue and skin, and listens to your goal (subtle versus fuller). The implant’s base should match your chest width first; then profile and volume are chosen to hit your goal within that width. It is a measured, individualized decision, not an off-the-shelf pick.
Should I get moderate or high profile implants?
Choose moderate if you have an average-to-wide chest and want a natural slope; consider high or moderate-plus if you have a narrow chest, less tissue, or want more forward projection and cleavage. The right answer comes from your base-width measurement at consultation in Morristown, not from a rule of thumb.
What disqualifies you from getting breast implants?
Active infection, certain untreated breast conditions, unrealistic expectations, and being under the FDA-approved age (22 for silicone gel, 18 for saline) are common reasons to wait or decline. Unstable weight, current pregnancy or breastfeeding, and some health conditions may also postpone surgery. A thorough consultation and exam determine candidacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a breast implant profile?
Profile describes how far an implant projects forward from the chest wall for a given base width. Two implants can hold the exact same volume in cc’s yet look very different: a moderate-profile implant has a wider base and projects less, while a high-profile implant has a narrower base and pushes that same volume further forward. Dr. Rafizadeh treats profile as a shape decision, kept separate from the size decision.
What is the difference between moderate and high profile breast implants?
For the same volume, a moderate-profile implant is wider and flatter with a gentle, natural slope, while a high-profile implant is narrower at the base and projects more, creating rounder upper-pole fullness and more cleavage. Moderate suits wider chests and a natural goal; high suits narrower chests or patients who want a fuller, more forward look.
What is a “moderate plus” profile implant?
Moderate plus sits between moderate and high — slightly more projection than moderate with a slightly narrower base. It is one of the most useful profiles Dr. Rafizadeh reaches for, because it adds a touch of fullness while keeping a natural slope, which fits a large share of North Jersey patients who want “natural but not flat.”
Do high-profile implants look fake?
Not automatically. A high-profile implant looks unnatural mainly when its base is wider than the patient’s own chest, or when the volume is simply too large for the tissue to drape over. Matched correctly to a narrow chest, a high profile can look completely natural. The “fake” look is usually a size-and-fit problem, not a profile problem.
Does changing the profile change the implant size?
Profile and volume are chosen separately — you can hold the cc’s constant and change only the shape. That said, a higher-profile implant of the same cc’s often reads as “bigger” because more of the volume sits forward and visible, so some patients can go slightly smaller in cc’s with a higher profile and still look full.
Which implant profile gives the most natural result?
For most patients wanting a natural North Jersey result, Dr. Rafizadeh leans toward moderate or moderate-plus profiles matched precisely to the patient’s own base width, usually with a smooth round implant placed under the muscle. The profile that looks most natural is the one whose base width matches your chest — not a single fixed profile for everyone.
Can I change my implant profile during a revision or exchange?
Yes. Profile is one of the most common things adjusted at an implant exchange — for example, switching from a high profile that projected too much to a moderate profile for a softer look, or adding projection if a first result came out flatter than hoped. Dr. Rafizadeh reviews profile at every revision consultation in Morristown.
Do Motiva, Allergan (Natrelle), and Mentor all make different profiles?
Yes. The three implant lines Dr. Rafizadeh uses — Motiva, Allergan/Natrelle, and Mentor — each offer a range of profiles from low and moderate through high and ultra-high. He never uses textured implants, so the profile conversation happens entirely within the smooth round options of these brands.
Sources & References
- Wan D, Rohrich RJ. “Modern Primary Breast Augmentation: Best Recommendations for Best Results” / “Making Sense of Implant ‘Profile’ in Breast Augmentation.” Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2017. PubMed Central (PMC5459648)
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons. “Which breast implant shape is best for you?” plasticsurgery.org
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration. “Breast Implants — Information for patients and providers.” fda.gov
- American Board of Plastic Surgery. “Verify certification.” abplasticsurgery.org
- Dr. Farhad Rafizadeh, RealSelf Q&A. realself.com/dr/farhad-rafizadeh-morristown-nj
Related Reading From Dr. Rafizadeh’s Blog
Patients researching breast augmentation options in Northern New Jersey may find these articles useful:
- Breast Implant Sizes: Choosing CCs in Morristown, NJ
- How to Determine Your Breast Implant Size in New Jersey
- Natural-Looking Breast Augmentation in Morristown, NJ
- Breast Implants Over or Under the Muscle?
- Choosing Between Silicone or Saline Breast Implants
- Smooth vs. Textured Breast Implants
Bottom Line
A patient stuck on how many cc’s to choose is thinking about the right question but only half of it. Volume decides how much; profile decides what that volume looks like on your body. Match the implant’s base width to your own chest first, then choose moderate, moderate plus, high, or ultra-high to hit your goal within that width — and the result reads as naturally yours rather than borrowed from a photo.
If you are considering a breast augmentation in Morristown, Summit, Chatham, Madison, Short Hills, or anywhere across Northern New Jersey, Dr. Rafizadeh is happy to measure your frame, walk through profile options for your specific chest width, and show you what your result could look like during a consultation.
Ready to schedule a consultation in Morristown, NJ?
Book a Consultation