The ultimate goal of choosing the right size is to have larger breasts that look natural and proportioned. It’s important not to choose implants based solely on cup size but to determine the correct implant size by taking your body measurements and assessing your existing breast tissue.
In this guide, we review the aspects of How To Choose Breast Implant Size, how to choose breast size after mastectomy, how to choose breast size for reduction, and How do I choose a breast implant shape?
How To Choose Breast Implant Size
Whether you’re looking to enhance the size of your breasts or replace a breast that has been removed, choosing the right size is essential. The right size will give you just enough volume without feeling like a Kardashian sister. If you don’t know where to start, here are some tips:
Look at your frame.
There are a few ways to decide on the right breast size for you. The first thing to consider is your frame—if you’re petite, a smaller implant will look more proportionate. If you’re tall and thin, choosing a larger implant will make more sense, as it will give more volume to your frame and help balance out your proportions. If you’re overweight or plus-sized, opting for a larger implant can help balance out any extra weight around the chest area while still maintaining true symmetry throughout the rest of the body (the same goes for men).
The next step is really just preference; there’s no right answer here! You may want an even look across both breasts or just one side depending on what looks best from head-on versus from profile view.
Understand the pros and cons of different sizes.
- Understand the pros and cons of different sizes.
When choosing a size, you’ll need to consider both what looks best on your body and what will be most functional for you. Smaller implants tend to give a more natural look, while larger ones can make breasts look fuller with less volume. The right choice depends on your body type, lifestyle and personal preferences.
- Understand the pros and cons of different shapes.
There are three main breast implant shapes: round gel implants, anatomic gel implants or silicone-filled saline inflatable stylets (a type of breast implant). The round shape can appear natural because it mimics that of an ideal breast; however, some patients may find that this option doesn’t provide enough projection for them personally or their desired result. Anatomic gel implants are shaped like an upside down tear drop and provide greater upper pole fullness than round styles; however, they may require more surgery time because it takes longer to insert them into the pocket beneath your skin during surgery (which requires more incisions than traditional breast augmentation procedures). Silicone-filled saline inflatable stylets take up less space under the skin than other types of implants; however they’re also more likely to leak over time due to their larger surface area relative to other models which makes them less suitable as permanent solutions since they don’t last as long before needing replacement surgery if something goes wrong before then such as infection causing leakage from inside outwards onto outer surface where it becomes visible after healing process is complete so patient needs new set instead if old one fails completely due to bacterial contamination–which happens often due to improper cleaning protocols being followed during handling after surgery daycare facilities aren’t necessarily obligated by law when caring for patients who need help doing things themselves afterwards due diligence requirements should apply here too but rarely do because most people don’t know about these issues until AFTER first use cycle ends
Find out if you need a lift.
If you’re concerned about the appearance of your breasts, it’s important to know that implants can only be placed on top of existing breast tissue. This means that if you have sagging breasts or uneven breasts due to a large difference in size (i.e., one is significantly larger than the other), you may need a lift in order for an implant to look natural and feel comfortable.
If this is the case for you, then don’t worry—lifts can be done at the same time as implants! A plastic surgeon will create an incision under each breast along its natural crease and remove any excess skin before inserting an implant underneath it. Then he/she will close up his/her work with stitches and dressings until they heal over two weeks later when everything has healed properly without complications arising from either procedure performed together on one day (such as infections).
It’s important to understand what will fit appropriately with your body.
The size of your implants should be based on your body type and size. For example, if you’re tall and thin, your breasts might look out of proportion to the rest of your body. You may want to consider a larger implant so that it fits better with the rest of your body. Likewise, women who are overweight may need smaller sized implants in order to achieve an appropriate look on their chest.
how to choose breast size after mastectomy
Picking a breast implant size and style is one of the most important and personal decisions you will make regarding your breast augmentation procedure. While there are a range of implant sizes and styles which can potentially deliver beautiful results for your body type, the right option for you will depend on several specific factors.
To help you choose a breast implant size and style that will suit your unique needs and goals, double board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Jay Orringer, will carefully evaluate the following factors:
Breast Implants Are Not Measured by Cup Size
It is important to understand that breast implants are measured in cubic centimeters (cc’s), not by cup size. There are several reasons for using cc’s as the standard unit of measurement.
First, there is no standard bra size measurement adopted by all manufacturers. Think back to the last time you purchased a bra in your usual cup size, only to find out it did not fit. A D-cup bra from Victoria’s Secret may fit differently than a D-cup bra from Bravissimo.
Second, by utilizing the metric system, cc’s provide for a more objective and standardized measurement system. This way of measuring implant sizes is standard across the country.
There are a wide range of breast implant sizes available. You can choose an implant as small as approximately 120 cc’s and one as large as approximately 850 cc’s. In most instances, Dr. Orringer will recommend a size between these extremes.
It’s Important to Think About Your Lifestyle
Lifestyle factors are particularly important when choosing an implant size, and you should discuss these with Dr. Orringer during your initial consultation. It is important to be aware of how implants may affect your everyday activities.
Implants often weigh less than a pound each, similar to what the same amount of breast tissue would weigh. However, the larger the implant, the heavier it will be.
If you lead a very active and athletic lifestyle, a more moderately sized breast implant may potentially provide a more pleasing outcome, since it is less likely to interfere with your favorite athletic activities. By sharing the nature of your fitness routine with Dr. Orringer, he can help suggest a size consistent with your level of physical activity.
Another lifestyle factor to consider is the way you dress. For example, will your breast size allow you to wear the styles of clothing you prefer? While many implant sizes will look flattering in a low-cut top, very large implants may appear less optimal in more professional clothing.
Contact our Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
During your initial consultation, Dr. Orringer will listen carefully to your personal goals and evaluate your body type, in order to recommend the breast implant size and style, which he feels may deliver the outcome you desire. Call 310-273-1663 today to schedule your breast augmentation consultation. We proudly welcome patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Hollywood, and Newport Beach, Northern California, as well as nationally and internationally.
how to choose breast size for reduction
Women who choose to have breast reduction surgery are typically extremely happy with the results. Most patients feel that they are much more comfortable, fit in clothes better, and can exercise much more easily. For all these reasons, the patient often sees tremendous gains in self-esteem, fitness, health, and appearance.
Choosing a size after surgery depends on each patient’s goals, desires, starting size and shape.
For example, a young, fit woman who is an active athlete who is a D cup starting out, may wish to be a small B cup afterward. And this may suit her frame and sports endeavors. This breast size after surgery may be inappropriate, indeed impossible, for a patient with a much larger size and significant skin droop. For many patients who are exceptionally large, anything smaller than what they have is an improvement, even if that means ending up a D or DD cup size.
It is difficult to predict cup sizes after surgery for a number of reasons. Bra cup sizes are not standardized between manufacturers, so a C cup in one company may be a D in another. So instead of focusing on cup sizes, most plastic surgeons consider skin measurements in centimeters as a better way to size patients. We measure from the base of the neck (what we call the “sternal notch” to the nipple distance). We then measure from the nipple to the bottom of the breast- the “inframammary fold”. Now we have real numbers to compare among patients.
Regardless of a patient’s height or weight, we find that as long as the nipple height is near the height of the inframammary fold, and the distance from the nipple to the fold is not more than 10-12cm, then patients are pretty comfortable with their breast size. With these measurements, a woman’s bra straps do not have to work very hard to keep the breast in a centered position. We would rarely see such measurements in patients seeking reduction surgery unless they were in the active athlete category and wanted the benefit of a smaller size so they could more easily take part in their profession or hobby, such as tennis, gymnastics, golf, or running. ( The “sports reduction”, as I call it, is a fantastic procedure in the right patient).
So if, for example, a patient comes into the office with a starting breast measurement of 35 cm nipple to neck, and 15 cm to the fold under the breast, then we can be VERY sure that our final result will be MUCH more comfortable. If we raise the nipple height to the level of the fold under the breast (24 cm is likely in this patient) and define a distance from the nipple to the fold of 8 cm, then in most cases, this patient will be a small D cup after surgery. For a very wide and heavier patient, the bra size may still be a DD, though a more slender patient may end up with a C cup with these same measurements. but most all patients will end up very happy!
(Dr. Suzman Breast Reduction Patient with 35 cm nipple to sternal notch distance and 15 cm to inframammary crease(left) and result after reduction surgery 24 cm/8cm)
For patients who want to be significantly smaller– some just have suffered too long with very large breasts and want to be as small as possible– more tissue can be removed to make a smaller size. In a larger, heavier patient, this means that the breast will be quite flat and not at all “perky”. Perkiness is not typically a concern of such patients who just want comfort. For smaller and more petite patients who want a very small breast size, this can also be accomplished with breast reduction surgery, though they do run an increased risk of numbness or inability to breastfeed after surgery. Each patient must balance these pluses and minuses of surgery to make the best decision for themselves.
How do I choose a breast implant shape?
Is the popular round breast implant shape the best for your body? Or should you go for the more natural looking (but pricier) teardrop shaped implants? Perhaps you have heard friends or celebrities discussing the two shapes and are wondering which is best suited to your body and/or your lifestyle.
Different women will want different things. This is why it is essential to seek out a qualified plastic surgeon before making your final decision. Following are some things to keep in mind when considering which breast implant shape is best for you.
Your body type matters
The important thing is that the breast implants you choose conform to your own shape and size – nobody else’s. Some women prefer a round shape, while others may want surgery to correct sagging with a more natural teardrop shape. Each type has a different appeal. And remember, what looks good on one woman may look quite different on you.
Implant placement and incision site
There are different types of placements for breast implants, as well as different placements for incision sites. This will depend on your own breast tissue, your body history (whether you will be nursing later, etc.) or where you prefer the surgery incision.
Round breast implants
These are the most common shape of breast implants. After surgery, the projection of the breast will appear spherical. Round breast implants also come in four different types. These range from low to high projection. None of these are better than the other, and personal preference should be taken into consideration.
Round breast implants give the appearance of more fullness at the top of the breast. If you want to correct sagging, and are going for a fuller look, round implants may be a good option. Typically round implants will cost less than teardrop shaped implants.
Teardrop breast implants
These breast implants have a more natural look, in that the bottom is fuller than the top of the breasts. As the name suggests, this gives the breasts a more tear-dropped shape.
Women who want their breast augmentation to look very natural often choose this type. The fullness of the breast is not lost; it is simply concentrated more in the bottom portion of the breast.
Consider your budget
Finally, when making your decision, take the cost of the implants themselves into consideration. Teardrop shaped implants often cost more, as they require a textured surface to avoid rotation and distortion.
Getting breast implants is a great investment in yourself. But it is not a decision that should be made lightly, or in a hurry. We recommend learning as much as you can about the specific shapes, surgery procedures, and types of implants on the market.
It’s also a good idea to consult your friends or partner. Leave yourself open to other’s opinions and suggestions. Especially if they have your best interests in mind.
Knowledge is power and arming yourself with as much research possible is a good thing. The next step is to schedule a personal consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can help you realize your dream.
Remember that plastic surgeons deal with patients every day. They will have a lot of insight for you. They will take your personal health history and body shape into consideration to help you make the best decision for your situation.