This is totally subjective and based on the "look" you are hoping to achieve. Please consult with your plastic surgeon and bring photos of the breasts you like. This will allow the surgeon to make a recommendation to help you with sizing/projection.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

There are so many other factors to consider: What size cup are you now? What's your height and weight? Lifestyle? How much coverage would you have to appear natural?

Published on Jul 11, 2012

This is something that should have been discussed between you and your plastic surgeon. If you are unsure what size implant is appropriate for that breast width diameter, I'd recommend you return to your plastic surgeon for another consultation. You will want to make an informed decision before undergoing breast augmentation surgery.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Base width is a very antiquated form of choosing a breast implant. A narrow breast width is typically in need of expansion to fit properly on the chest. There are a multitude of implant shapes and profiles; therefore, it all depends on the existing breast shape and volume, desired volume and chest width to base width ration. If the desired base width is 11 cm, then the profile needs to be decided on, which may entail a higher profile implant.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

It's important to know what size bra you currently wear. Is it a 32, 34, 36 bra? What about the cup size? The strap size is important to know because that affects the diameter of the cup and the diameter of the breast implant that we choose. We also need to know your height, your weight, and it's helpful to know your dress size as well.

In addition, it would be very helpful if you include photos of yourself. A front view, a side view, and a three-quarter view are most helpful. This will let us see if there are any breast asymmetries, if the breasts are narrow, if the breasts are wide, what your chest wall looks like, and this will also help us make a decision as to the best size breast implant for you.

In my experience, in general, if a woman wears a size 36 AB bra and would like to be a C cup, which is the average size that women wear and the average size bra that is sold, she needs a volume of approximately 350 to 390 cc to make that change. This becomes less if she's wearing a 34 bra, because it has a smaller strap size and the cups have a smaller diameter. A smaller diameter implant would then be a volume of approximately 300 to 350 cc. In the same way, if she was more petite, maybe a double zero or size one and wore a 32 AB bra, then to become a 32C cup, she would only require about 250 to 300 cc.

This is a general number and, of course, there are other factors that will affect this. For example, if she has a chest wall issue where the chest is slightly sunken--this is called a pectus deformity--then she would require a little bit more volume to first bring her chest to a level position and then move forward to the projection of a C cup. This may require implants of about 50cc more. It's important to examine the patient and have complete information to make this decision.

Breast implant size:

1. 32A to 32C needs about 250-275 cc
2. 34A to 34C needs about 300-350 cc
3. 36A to 36C needs about 350-400 cc

Published on Jul 11, 2012

An 11 cm breast is 250cc, but it can go up by 120cc or down by 90cc, depending upon the fill and laxity of the breast envelope. This is an objective answer based upon the article by Tebbetts and Adams. You will undoubtedly hear different answers to your questions, but that is the definitive answer from their article, which is the gold standard for implant sizing. It is of course also important that your width is really 11; it can often be measured incorrectly.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Patients and doctors alike talk about BWD as though it is the only measurement that matters. In fact, not only is it not, there are others that matter more. One study looked at the actual measuring of BWD, and found it to vary greatly from one person measuring to another. It is therefore a more subjective measurement, and should only be performed by the surgeon who has experience with his/her own measuring system. Anterior pull skin stretch and nipple-to-fold distance under stretch are two measurements that really tell the story about your soft tissue capacity for a given implant. Go visit a surgeon who knows biodimensional measurements.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

It all depends on what you want and what your chest is able to accommodate. Discuss with your doctor and show pictures of your goals.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Ultimately, careful communication of your goals (in my practice I prefer the use of goal pictures and direct examination/communication in front of a full-length mirror, in bra sizers, and computer imaging) as well as careful measurements (dimensional planning) will be critical.

Generally speaking, the best online advice I can give to ladies who are considering breast augmentation surgery (regarding breast implant size/profile selection) is:

1. Concentrate on choosing your plastic surgeon carefully. Concentrate on appropriate training, certification, and the ability of the plastic surgeon to achieve the results you are looking for. Ask to see lots of examples of his/her work.

2. Have a full discussion and communication regarding your desired goals with your plastic surgeon. This communication will be critical in determining breast implant size/type/profile and will most likely help achieve your goals.

In my practice, the use of photographs of “goal” pictures (and breasts that are too big or too small) is very helpful. For example, I have found that the use of words such as “natural look” or "C or D cup" etc. 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. Again, the use of computer imaging has been very helpful during the communication process, in our practice.

3. Once you feel you have communicated your goals clearly, allow your plastic surgeon to use his/her years of experience/judgment to choose the breast implant size/profile that will best meet your goals. Again, in my practice, this decision is usually made during surgery, after the use of temporary intraoperative sizers.

I hope this helps. Best wishes for an outcome that you will be very pleased with.

Published on Jul 11, 2012