Yes, sizers at consultation are only an estimate of results. Generally when an implant is placed under the muscle it will appear somewhat smaller due to compression.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

The final look will appear to be about 10% smaller than the look that one sees when she is using sizers in the office. Therefore, patients routinely go up to the size larger than she chooses in order to achieve that final look.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

It depends on how developed the pec muscle is. In most women, unless they do weight-training, it is quite thin and submuscular placement doesn't make much difference. Implants should almost always be placed under the muscle! I don't recommend silicone due to the fact that they cost a lot more and they leak, necessitating MRI monitoring, which is expensive. Read FDA report on failure rates.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Here is what to consider:

Sizers will tend to look larger than implants.
Implants are covered by tissue, sizers are not.
You may need a larger implant, so return to your board-certified plastic surgeon for a second fitting
The right implant depends on your chest measurements, your goals, height, weight, skin looseness, breast fullness and proportions – as well as implant placement and profile
Implants over the muscle tend to look fuller than implants under.
The final bra size truly depends on bra style – a woman can be a B, C or D, depending on the bra.
To go from an A to a C will usually take more than a 260 cc implant. Check with your surgeon to be sure that you are on the right track.

Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

The sizer just gives an approximation. I am using a unique imaging software that gives a quite accurate representation of the shape and size of different implants from the different manufacturers.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Choosing the right implant size and shape is not a simple proposition. You must rely on surgeon's extensive experience and skills to pick the right size to achieve the desired breast shape and size. After operating on thousands of patients, it is clear to me that putting implants into the bra is not the most accurate method of predicting breast size after the surgery. In my practice, we use photos to discuss the patient's desired postoperative appearance. Then, during the surgery, I use special temporary implants (sizers) to decide the final implant size to achieve the desired breast size. Using this approach has produced consistent results regarding the final breast size.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Sometimes placing the implants under the muscle can flatten them out and they can look smaller.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Good morning,

Your doctor is correct. A 400cc implant sizer in a bra preop will look smaller than a 400cc implant placed under the muscle. We usually use a 10% conversion factor. So, in this example, if you loved the 400cc sizer preop in a bra, I would use an implant in the 450cc size range to achieve the same look!

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Thank you for your question. It sounds like you have had your surgery... if so, be patient. It takes time for everything to settle and for the swelling to subside to see the final results.
It may be months before you see the final outcome.
Best wishes for a great recovery and an outcome that you will be pleased with.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Yes- implants do look smaller once placed under the muscle- the muscle compresses the implant and while the volume of the implant does not really change, the projection of the implant outward from your chest wall is less.

Published on Jul 11, 2012