When it comes to breast augmentation, there are many options available. One of the most popular is the A to C cup breast augmentation, which is also known as an “anchor lift” or “modest plus” procedure.
This procedure can increase your breast size by two or three cup sizes. It does this by adding volume to the upper part of your breasts and removing excess skin in order to give them a better shape and contour. In this guide, we review the aspects of a to c cup breast augmentation, fat transfer breast augmentation, full c cup bra, and What are CC sizes for breast augmentation?
A to C cup breast augmentation is ideal for women who want larger breasts but aren’t ready for a full C cup size yet—it can help you get there over time with multiple procedures if necessary!
a to c cup breast augmentation
Don’t settle for “okay” breast implants—find the implants that fit your body and lifestyle! In my 16+ years as a board certified plastic surgeon, I have helped countless women achieve their dream breast augmentation results. Through thousands of personal consultations, one thing has become clear to me: ideal breast augmentation results start with helping patients choose the right breast implants.
It usually takes around 200cc to increase the breast by one cup size, but this also depends on what brand of bra you wear as each can be manufactured differently. In general, this is the amount of cc needed to increase cup size: A cup to B cup: 250-300cc. A cup to C cup: 300-350cc.
Breast Augmentation Size Chart – Implant Sizes And Cup Sizes
A breast implant is a popular prosthesis that can help improve your self-confidence and change your life. Choosing the right breast implant to get the right breast size, however, can sometimes be very confusing.
Implant size and breast cup size are two very different things. Silicone implants are measured in cubic centimetres (cc), while the final breast size for a bra is measured in cup size.
To make things easier, plastic surgeons use implant size charts to estimate which final cup size each implant volume will achieve. Other factors, like implant profile, implant shape, and your natural anatomy can also affect the final size of your breasts after breast enhancement.
10 Must-Know Tips for Choosing Breast Implants
The decision to undergo a breast augmentation is very personal and often takes courage and conviction. Use that assurance to educate yourself so you can be a partner with your plastic surgeon in the choice of your new implants. By doing this, you can avoid postoperative disappointment and the potential for additional surgery.
In an effort to help all patients, here are 10 things patients should consider when choosing breast implants.
1. Don’t Think About Bra Size
The most common request I hear during a breast augmentation consultation is “I’d like to be a ‘C’ cup.” And, although I have come to interpret this as “I’d like my breasts to look like they fit my body,” that may not mean you’ll be a “C” afterward. All bra manufacturers size differently and therefore bras from different manufacturers will fit differently. You may be a 36 C in one bra and a 34 D in another. So don’t worry about the bra size. If you end up as a “D” cup but are happy with the appearance of your body then the bra size is irrelevant. Work with your surgeon to determine the implants that give you the look you desire.
2. Know Your Body
Height, weight, body frame, shoulder width, hip width, buttock, and starting breast volume all need to be taken into account when choosing an implant. In general, as all of these areas increase in size (except starting breast volume) the larger the implant necessary to maintain proportion. A woman 5’3″, 110lbs with a small frame will typically need a far smaller implant than a woman 5’10”, 145lbs with a large frame. It’s not easy to stand in front of a mirror and take a very critical look at your own body. But doing so will greatly increase your knowledge and appreciation of your body and therefore your ability to choose the correct implant.
3. Personality and Social Perception
Whether you’re an outgoing, Type A personality or a quiet, shy, Type B personality there’s an implant that will enhance your body while maintaining the real you. It is important that you convey to your surgeon how you want to be perceived by the public. Breasts that are exceptionally large (even disproportionate) may be perfectly suitable for women in certain professions. But implants that create breasts that are proportionate will allow clothing to fit well, make you look great in a swimsuit or cocktail dress, all without diminishing your credibility at the office.
4. Exercise and Sports
If you’re the type that likes to seriously sweat at the gym, run or bike extensively or do any kind of serious sport, then you have to consider the trade off between larger breasts and performing your activities at your current comfort level. This isn’t to say that breast augmentation will limit your activities. But, larger breasts will feel different, need more support, and frankly if too large, could be cumbersome during workouts. You need to have a frank discussion with your surgeon concerning this. A smaller or lower profile implant may be necessary to achieve your goals.
5. Implant Style
All three FDA approved implant manufacturers (Mentor, Sientra, and Allergan) make low, medium or moderate, and high profile implants. As implants move from low profile to high profile, the amount of projection increases and the base diameter decreases for any given volume. For example, a high profile 400cc implant will have a greater projection and narrower base diameter compared to a 400cc low profile implant.
These implants can either be round or shaped (also called anatomic, contoured, or tear drop). Specially shaped implants are used in breast reconstruction; there is no need for them in cosmetic breast augmentation. Shaped implants provide shape when there isn’t any, but have the potential to rotate causing problems. Additionally, shaped implants (and some round ones) have textured surfaces, which have been associated with breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). The risk is very small, but something to be aware of.
In most cases, smooth, round implants can achieve a beautiful, natural enhancement. Additionally, a majority of patients will be appropriately enhanced with the medium profile implants.
I have found that high profile implants tend to suit shorter, smaller framed women with a narrow base width. Conversely, low profile implants are great for upper pole fullness in augmentation mastopexy, or to add fullness without the added projection in women with adequate breast tissue.
6. Don’t Get What She Has
Another common comment is “my girlfriend has 400’s so I think I should get the same because they look great on her.” But the operative words here are “on her.” Even though you and your friend may seem similar in terms of body size there are too many other factors that must be considered to make such a blanket statement. Think of this process as the ultimate in customizing, so be open to needing a different size or style implant.
7. Use Implant Sizers
Sizers are silicone gel implants that can be used in the office to give patients an idea of what they can expect after surgery. Wearing a tight sports bra while trying on sizers gives better compression and thus a slightly more accurate idea. However, sizers tend to sit lower in the bra than breast implants, so your surgeon needs to guide you while trying them on. They aren’t perfect but they do give a good estimate of postoperative size.
8. Bring a Friend to Your Consultation
I tend to spend a lot of time, during all of my consultations, educating patients on all areas related to breast augmentation. Because there is a lot of information to digest, patients don’t always hear or remember everything that I tell them. Having a friend or relative with you during the consultation increases the amount of information that is attained. In addition, these friends, if they understand your desires, can lend another set of eyes that can help determine the best implant.
9. Don’t Be Afraid to Visit Your Surgeon More Than Once
At the initial consultation, patients and I will decide on the correct implant together. If there is doubt, it can usually be clarified at the preoperative appointment. Occasionally, patients have difficulty visualizing the postoperative appearance of their breasts, even with the sizers in. They’re simply not accustomed to the new look and have difficulty determining if the implants they have chosen are exactly what will give them the appearance they have envisioned.
In these cases, I have the patient see me for an additional appointment or more until they are confident in the choice of implant. Although most surgeons don’t do this, don’t be afraid to visit your surgeon on a separate occasion. Bring different outfits so you can see the full effect the surgery will have.
10. Don’t Let Your Surgeon Tell You What Size You Should Have
I have found through my work with websites like RealSelf.com that patients are often left out of the decision-making process or simply allow their surgeon to determine the correct implants, only to be disappointed with the outcome. Determining the correct implant must be a collaborative effort between patient and physician. Use your surgeon as your guide. Use his knowledge, sizers, and experience to come to a conclusion that is appropriate for you.
fat transfer breast augmentation
In addition to more traditional surgical procedures for breast augmentation, the UPMC Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery offers structural fat grafting. This technique uses fat from your own body to enlarge and uplift the breasts instead of silicone or saline implants. In the procedure, your doctor harvests fat from one or multiple areas of your body with liposuction and moves it to your breasts. Structural fat grafting can create a natural, long-lasting result with minimal incisions and limited scarring.
Is Fat Grafting for Breast Augmentation Right for Me?
Because fat grafting uses fat from the patient’s own body for breast augmentation instead of silicone or saline implants, there is less chance for rejection. This means that the procedure is open to many candidates. It can be especially useful for people unsatisfied with their breasts who also have excess fat.
Before the Procedure
Before undergoing structural fat grafting for breast enhancement, you will meet with the surgical team to learn about the procedure and see results from past cases. You will discuss your medical history and goals for the procedure.
The surgeon will examine you, and a team member will photograph your body. These photos will be used to create a custom plan for your surgery.
The plan will detail how you want your breasts to look while also improving your body by harvesting fat. The team will create a color-coded blueprint, which shows the locations of:
Procedure Details
Using the color-coded blueprint, our team will mark your body, showing where they will harvest and place fat.
The procedure begins with harvesting fat from your body, either from one location or multiple. If one area has a particularly large amount of excess fat, that might serve as the only harvest site. Body areas that the team will consider include:
The surgeon will use manual liposuction for fat harvesting, removing it by hand. After the harvesting, the team will use a centrifuge to refine and concentrate the tissue by removing blood, oil, and water. The team then uses the refined tissue to carefully sculpt each breast, creating a natural look.
Your doctor will place tiny amounts of the fat at a time, making thousands of passes through small entrances in the lower fold of the breast and areola.
The procedure takes between three and five hours.
Type of Anesthesia
Most structural fat grafting takes place under general anesthesia. In more minor cases, doctors can use local anesthesia with sedation.
Recovery from Fat Grafting
Your recovery from structural fat grafting depends mainly on how many donor sites your doctor used for fat. You will likely experience bruising and swelling in those areas for at least a week. Your breasts may be bruised and swollen, but in most cases, you’ll experience little or no pain. Soreness can last for approximately two weeks after the surgery.
You may be able to return to work in about a week. Most bruising and swelling should go away within about three weeks, but minor swelling can linger for up to six months.
You should walk as much as possible beginning the day after surgery and can return to light exercise in 10 days to two weeks. You should not put pressure on the breasts. You should sleep on your back and avoid excess lifting or upper body activity.
Anticipated Results
In general, each surgery can increase your breasts by one cup size. Any enlargement beyond that would usually require additional procedures.
Structural fat grafting can last longer than traditional implants, which may need replacement over time. While fat is an easily damaged tissue, the structural fat grafting method injects fat to give it access to a blood supply, which makes it last. Whatever growth remains after about four months after surgery will be permanent.
The procedure also allows the surgeon to more easily shape your breasts than with silicone or saline implants.
full c cup bra
In addition, with increasing implant size, more cubic meters of the volume is required to achieve a full cup size. This means that you would need a larger implant cup than a B cup to get from B to C cup. Read more information about breast augmentation.
As many patients with small breast augmentation will tell you, an experienced cosmetic surgeon can create a padded bra that can improve breast symmetry so that your breasts look and feel natural. Plastic surgeons need to remember that women want natural – seemingly – and that there is a difference between natural-looking and saggy breasts. Many customers know that it is worth going just one cup size higher, but some opt for a breast enlargement Perth. B-cup to C-cup, you will still look natural even if you have gone up only one cup size.
Breast Augmentation B to C Cup
B-cup to C-cup, the dimensions of your breasts change, but their shape and shape changes with the size of your breast.
Of course, too much of anything can do harm, by definition, and very large breasts are undesirable for most women. There is not the perfect breast for everyone, as every woman has preferences in terms of size, shape, feeling, etc.
How Many Cc Is a Full C Cup?
The issue of implant size is inherently delicate, as some women consider breast size to be an implant that comes from a discrete volume measured in cubic centimetres (300 cc equals 10 ounces). A 300 CC implant can produce a breast with a diameter of 3 cm and a circumference of 2.2 inches. To achieve your objective in having a C cup, you would need 350-400 cc.
This may include stimulating the enlargement by placing the implant in the patient’s bra, measuring the specific dimensions of her existing breasts to select an implant that matches these dimensions, and checking previously enlarged breasts that she finds attractive and shape. Measurements have shown that nipples are only a few millimetres higher on average during breast enlargements and implants.
Women with lower nipples are best treated with breast tightening at the same time, as are women with higher nipples, as are women with larger breasts.
The actual size of a breast implant, measured in cc, is really not a good indicator of what a breast augmentation will look like or what the cup size will be. The final breast volume represents the combination of breast tissue that was present at the beginning and is implanted, which explains why two women with implants of the same size may have different breast sizes. If the breast envelope (existing breast tissue) remains unchanged, the implant fills the breast envelope.
The augmentation effects of an implant can vary from patient to patient depending on the size and shape of the implant, the type of implant and breast size.
What Type of Breast Implant Is Best?
Gummy bear breast implants are one of the options available for breast augmentation. The term “gummy bear” is actually a nickname for these teardrop-shaped, gel-based implants. They’re known to retain their shape better than other types of breast implants made from saline and silicone.
Small C Breast Augmentation
While most plastic surgeons measure breast implant size in cc (cubic centimetres) of fluid volume, most patients seeking breast augmentation in Boston want to know how to achieve a certain bra cup size for breast augmentation. As bra manufacturers and retailers can label the same bra with different cup sizes, it is important to estimate the size of your breast implants and cups with a non-padded bra you wanted to wear before breast augmentation. For example, a 400cc implant may be required to achieve a C-cup breast volume, while a 200CC implant may be required to achieve a C-cup breast volume after surgery.
Breast Augmentation a Cup to A D Cup
The following breast implant size measurement methods can be used to estimate the size of your breast implants and the number of breast implants needed to increase your cup size.
This is not an exact figure determined by scientific research, but an estimate based on anecdotal experience and personal experience with breast implants.
There are several reasons to discourage fixation on a certain number, but one of the most important is that it is not always a good indicator of a patient’s actual cup size. For example, a petite patient with an implant size of 1 cc (1.5 mm) or less will have a larger cup than patients with a larger stature. However, it can take more than a cc of volume to get a full cup – size increase when you go from cup A to B, which means you probably have to go to cup B to C and need more volume than you probably would have needed when you go from cup A to B. Once you have reached an implant size, you can ascend to any of these implant sizes.
Second, there is almost no consistency in bra size, and many people have no idea what the cup size of a bra means, especially if they were wearing a bra of the wrong size at the beginning. For example, if you fit into a cup A, B, C or C, you probably do not fit into one of the implant sizes.
Thirdly, it is often difficult to summarize all the factors involved in breast enlargement in a single letter. In collaboration with a plastic surgeon, you will go through a number of factors that affect the final shape and size that work for your goals and what your body can cope with. Your breast size is only as good as the bra that fits you, not the size of your implants. It may be considered small to be an A-C or even D cup, and a D-DD cup is average. A 34B is bigger than a 32C, but smaller than a 32D, as you go from that and the comparisons of other band sizes. Please visit betterhealth.vic.gov.au for more information.
Is the C Cup Considered Small?
36C’s are a little wide, but C’s are normally a small-to-medium cup size unless the woman is underweight or slim. Typically, 36C’s are usually only going to be tiny tits on an overweight lady, but not always. Yeah yeah, 36C looks small, but 32C looks nice and perky for a smaller lady.
What are CC sizes for breast augmentation?
Breast implants are sized using the measurement of cubic centimeters, typically shortened to “cc.” But since so many of us only have to wrap our heads around what a “cc” means when choosing breast implants, decoding implant sizes requires a bit of education. Dr. Schlesinger has your back! Continue reading to get a board certified plastic surgeon’s answers to your questions about how this measurement is used, the limits of measuring breast implants by volume, and how to figure out the right size of implant to get the look you want from your breast augmentation.
What does cc in breast implants mean?
A cubic centimeter, or cc, is a very small amount of volume. For comparison, there are about 237 cc’s of volume in a U.S. liquid measuring cup. Breast implant volume is measured in the number of cubic centimeters of liquid or gel filling (either saline or silicone gel) inside the silicone shell of the implant.
The number of cc’s are often used as a shorthand to describe the size of implant—i.e. “a 350 cc breast implant.” As common as this measurement is, the implant cc volume only gives you a partial understanding of a breast implant. Implants also come in a variety of fill types, diameters, profiles (level of projection), and shapes, which are equally important choices you make when selecting an implant.
What cc’s of breast implants are available?
Breast implants range in volume from about 100 to 800 cc, with some variation among different manufacturers.
How can I use cc’s to pick a bra size?
It is often said that about 150 cc – 200 cc in breast implant volume is comparable to a single cup size increase. However, if you are taller than average or have a wide build, the number of cc’s needed to give you a cup size boost will likely be greater, as the diameter of the implant necessary to achieve that look will be greater and the volume spread more thinly.
While you may use this estimate in order to approximate cc to cup size, this is not a scientific equivalency: cubic centimeters are a volume measurement that cannot be directly equated to bra cup size because many other qualities of the implant profile and width, as well as your natural features, strongly influence the final appearance of your augmented breasts. (See “How do I choose an implant size in cc’s?” below for more information about what we take into consideration.)
Cubic centimeters, or cc’s, are a volume measurement that cannot be directly equated to bra size.
Further complicating the ability to equate cc with bra size are the size variations among brands of bras (they are not standardized), the varying volume of each cup size based on the band size, and the different bra sizes that a woman may comfortably wear (for example, someone who wears a 36B may also, in many cases, also fit comfortably in a 34C.) Whether or not the oft-repeated statistic that 80% of women wear the wrong size of bra is actually true or not, bra size is not standardized to begin with.
How Many Cc Is Considered a Full C Cup?
The answer to this question depends on your underbust measurement, how much breast tissue you have to begin with, and the look you have in mind when you picture a C cup. This is why it is so important to consider all the nuances of your anatomy and goals with your board certified plastic surgeon. During your consultation, you will be able to try on breast implant sizers, handle real implants, and ultimately select the implant volume and profile necessary to achieve your desired look.
How do I choose an implant size in cc’s?
While many believe they can look online for ideal results and choose the same number of cc’s, the complexity of implant sizing means it is best to put the question of cc’s aside in your early research, instead focusing on your overall goals. Only after communicating how you want to look after breast augmentation in consultation with your plastic surgeon—using photos and breast implant sizers as guides—will you be able to select the ideal implant size for your body.
In my consultations, I help my patients select a breast implant to achieve their desired look based on the following factors:
During our consultation, you will also make a number of other decisions about your surgery besides implant volume, including:
In many cases, we will settle on a select range of implant sizes that seems right, and I will choose from this set once I have accessed the breast pocket and made my final assessment during surgery. Since most women have some degree of existing natural asymmetry, I take care to assess each side individually and choose an implant with a smaller or larger number of cc’s to compensate.
Will my breasts look bigger after they “drop and fluff”?
It is likely that your breast size will appear larger to you after your implants have settled, or “dropped,” about 6 months (sometimes longer) following surgery. Here’s how “drop and fluff” happens: Immediately following surgery with under-the-muscle implant placement, the chest muscle (pectoralis) is constricted in response to the outward pressure from the new implant. This constriction causes newly-augmented breasts to appear slightly higher on the chest, with a tight, stiff appearance. As the chest muscle relaxes, implants will gradually drop lower on the chest and “fluff out,” taking on a more natural shape.
This is a completely normal part of the healing process, and most patients feel it is well worth getting implants under the muscle, since this placement tends to lead to breasts that feel like a natural part of your body.
What is the average cc size for implants?
The most commonly chosen breast implant volume is in the range of 350 cc to 550 cc.
Does it matter how many cc’s are in my breast implants? Can I go as big as I want?
Yes, the volume of your implant matters. First, it should be calibrated to achieve your desired look. Second, the larger you go, the more important it is to consider your anatomical details and any potential limitations. For example, if you have thin skin and/or thin natural breast tissue, a higher-volume implant may cause rippling, and in these cases, I will recommend a lower cc range.
Beyond cc’s, implants also come in a variety of fill types, diameters, profiles, and shapes, which are equally important choices you make when selecting an implant.
The width of your implant is equally important to prevent a visible “rippling” appearance. I will match the diameter of the implant to (or just under) the width of your breast base to prevent rippling along the edges. Finally, we will also consider the profile (low, high, or moderate profile) to determine how much projection and upper pole fullness your final results will have. All three of these factors—width, profile, and volume—are critical in implant selection.
Will my implants seem bigger (or smaller) if I lose weight?
Weight gain or loss will not affect the size of your implants, but it will change how your results look in proportion with the rest of your body. A major fluctuation in weight can dramatically affect the way that your results look—and how happy you are with them.
To prevent these issues, I encourage my patients to undergo breast augmentation only when they are at a stable weight that they are happy with. Many women find that their weight fluctuates within a small range throughout their life; this is something I will take into consideration during our consultation, and which may not affect your happiness with your results. But if you are unhappy with your weight or find that it is difficult to sustain, I recommend waiting to undergo breast augmentation until your size is stable.
Choose renowned breast augmentation specialist Dr. S. Larry Schlesinger for an experienced aesthetic eye
To get answers to all of your breast implant questions, call 808.597.8835 or contact us online to schedule your Honolulu breast augmentation consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Schlesinger. With over 30 years of surgical experience, he has helped countless women find the perfect implants to help them look and feel their best.