It is very difficult without seeing you in person to know if the implant size you mentioned will give you your desired result. Also, implant size selection depends on your unique measurements, so what may be too small for one woman may be perfect for another. We have a device called the Vectra 3D imaging system that shows you what you will look like with any implant. Our patients are very happy with the choice of implant they make when using this system.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

There is a range of implants that will allow you to wear a certain bra size. Consider the desired look more than the final bra size because breasts can fit into many different bras and, frequently, different bra sizes.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Without evaluating you in person, it is very difficult to say. If you are a very small A cup with little breast tissue, it is possible you could reach a full C. The type of implant, profile, and placement will also determine the final size. Over the muscle is more likely to reach a full C, whereas under the muscle may just get you to a small C. Given your height and weight, you may want to talk to your surgeon about bumping up your size into the 400cc range.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

How to Best Determine the Optimal Breast Implant Size

It is very difficult to determine the exact size and shape implant you will require to best match your ideal breast image without an examination by a board-certified plastic surgeon. Not just any board-certified plastic surgeon, but one with many years of frequently performing breast augmentation surgery, including different approaches, techniques and implant choices.

This is because several measurements not to mention your breast characteristics are needed to determine the optimal implant size to obtain your goals. Without knowing these dimensions it would be difficult to make this determination. For example, the existing base width of your breast will determine, in many cases, the maximal volume per implant profile that you can accommodate. To illustrate: a 100 cc difference may make a significant difference with a narrow base width breast, but much less of a difference if you have a wide chest wall and wide breast “foot print”. Therefore, just because your friend may have a great result with let’s say a 375 cc implant to make her go from a “A” cup to a “full C” cup size does not mean that you will have the same result with the same size implant.

Further, simply placing implants in a bra to determine the size best for you is not always accurate as the bra often distorts the size, is dependent on the pressure the bra places plus the implant is outside your breast and not under it among other variables. Computer software morphing programs that automatically determine the best implant size can be helpful in some but not all cases (e.g. doesn’t work well in my experience with existing implants, sagging or asymmetric breasts). Using “want to be” photos however are useful if simply provided to the surgeon as I will further explain in a bit.

Additional critical decisions will also be made by your plastic surgeon such as: whether your implants will be above or below your pectoralis muscle. These choices are recommended to you based on the look you desire, the amount of sagging you may have, and other deciding factors.

For more than 25 years, I have tried just about every method to best understand and achieve the patient’s optimal goal. The following is what I have found to be most accurate: To start with, I have found it most helpful for patients to bring in photos from my or other plastic surgeons’ websites to illustrate what they would like to look like. This gives me detailed standardized views and information both qualitative (shape, perkiness) and qualitative (size) and allows me to discuss with my patients how I can best achieve their objectives as well as realistic expectations. For example, though I always tell my patients that I cannot make them exactly the same as a photo because everyone has different anatomical constraints. However, these ”ideal” breast photos are brought to the operating room for reference during surgery so that I have the advantage of “seeing through my patient’s eyes” to best achieve their wishes. Even if the photo does not match their height or weight, I and most plastic surgeons are very good at translating the proportionality of the photo to your features.

I personally order more than one set of implant sizes and use sterile implant “sizers” (temporary implants) placed in the created implant pocket during surgery to know in advance exactly which implant would work best for you in both a sitting and lying down position. This also allows me the opportunity to modify the pocket to meet some of the more subtle shape features desired. This enables me to use my full artistic potential to achieve your desired goals.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

There is no hard and fast rule based on height and weight that relates to bra cup sizes. While I tell patients that 200 cc's may equal one cup size larger, most bra fittings these days are based on the width of the breast at the bottom, at the fold, and each manufacturer fits differently. I tell my patients if they are happy with how it looks they should not care what cup size they are. All the drama about cup sizing goes away when you are happy with how the new breasts look both in and out of clothing.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Most likely you can go larger to get a full C.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Every 120-150cc will increase your cup size by about one.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

It should get you to a full C. I will tell you though that cup size also depends on what bra you buy. Companies are not uniform when it comes to bra cup size. You may be a D in one company's bra and a C in another company's. I have even seen two cup size differences between different bras. Ask your surgeon what range of implant sizes (specifically the implant dimensions not the cc's) fit within your chest/breast frame. At 5' 11" you should be able to handle a larger implant without looking too fake.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

It is very important to communicate your size goals with your surgeon. In my practice, the use of photographs of “goal” pictures (and breasts that are too big or too small) is very helpful. I have found that the use of words such as “natural” or “C cup” or "fake-looking" means different things to different people and therefore prove unhelpful. Also, as you know, cup size varies depending on who makes the bra; therefore, discussing desired cup size may also be inaccurate.

I use intraoperative sizers and place the patient in the upright position to evaluate breast size. Use of these sizers also allow me to select the press implant profile (low, moderate, moderate plus, high-profile) that would most likely achieve the patient's goals. The patient's goal pictures are hanging on the wall, and allow for direct comparison.

I have found that this system is very helpful in improving the chances of achieving the patient's goals as consistently as possible.

I hope this helps.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Thank you for your question.

I get asked these questions often from patients who are interested in knowing exactly what volume or cc implant will afford them the cup size that they desire. Unfortunately, this conversation is not as easy as most patients expect because volume or cc's do not correspond to cup size.

To determine cup size, it is important that we look at the patient's pre-operative measurements, breast width and what the measurements are around the rib cage and around the breast at nipple height. Cup size is also highly variable between bra manufacturers, and as many women can attest they are not the same bra size at a department store that they are at Victoria's Secret.

A 375cc high profile, silicone gel implant can make a patient anywhere from a B to a large D (maybe even a DD) depending on how wide the patient's chest is and how much breast tissue a patient is already working with.

I would recommend discussing implant selection with your board-certified plastic surgeon and inquire as to whether or not their office offers any imaging technology to show you what you can look like with a variety of implant sizes. I offer my patients 3D breast imaging using the Vectra system, as well as physical implant sizing utilizing implant sizers.

I hope you find this helpful.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Cup sizes are impossible to predict. They vary from Victoria's Secrect to Nordstroms, etc. Pick an implant that is close to your BWD and you will look good. A HP implant will make you fuller on top than a medium profile.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

The answer is yes, probably. There are several caveats to my answer: First, your current A cup breast volume could be 240 to 310 cc on smallish frame, chest circumference 32 or 34 inches, respectably. Second, you are using a bra from Victoria's Secret or a manufacture who size their breast cups similarly.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

You may need a larger implant than 375 cc's. We have all of our breast augmentation patients come into our office for an implant sizing appointment prior to surgery. This is the best way to decide what size implant you want to have and what profile will go best with your body type. The number of cc's will bring different patients to different sizes postoperatively. Without seeing you in the office, it is difficult to advise what implant size will give you the exact look you wish to achieve.

Published on Jul 11, 2012