How to Determine the Right Implant Size for Your Figure

With more than 300,000 women reshaping their bust every year, breast augmentation is the most popular cosmetic procedure in the U.S.

However, breast implant revision surgeries are also on the rise. Over half of these breast augmentation revision surgeries are performed because women initially choose the wrong size implant, and consequently need to get the implant size changed.

For this reason, it is crucial to choose the right breast implant size when you first get your breast augmentation. By getting your size right the first time, you will avoid unnecessary revision surgery and complications later on.

There are numerous factors you need to consider when deciding the right breast implant size for you. Here, our surgeons at The Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg outline which factors to take into consideration, and how you can estimate the correct size implant for yourself

Measuring Breast Implant Size

Brassiere cup sizes are unreliable measurements of actual breast size. As such, breast implants are not measured in cup size – they are measured in cubic centimeters (CC’s).

This is because brassier cup volume differs between countries and bra manufacturers – a B cup from one manufacturer may be a different size than a B cup from a separate manufacturer. For this reason, plastic surgeons use the precise and universal measurement of volume to standardize measuring the size of breast implants in cubic centimeters.

Breast implant sizes vary greatly, anywhere from 120 ccs to 850 ccs. The size of the implants you should choose depends on a variety of factors.

Bigger Is Not Necessarily Better

Breast implant surgery is a highly personalized process. In the end, the decision is up to you about the size of your implants, but you should carefully consider these factors:

• your desired aesthetic result
• natural amount of breast tissue
• height, weight, chest, breast and shoulder dimensions
• skin elasticity
• lifestyle

For pleasing aesthetic results, many women are beginning to choose more moderately sized implants that give a full, perky profile without being overly large.

Choosing breast implants that are too large often leads to complications such as the implants becoming displaced or your skin sagging, and in some cases, breast implant revision surgery.

Breast implants that are too large for your frame can also increase the chance that you will experience back and neck pain. They may also lead to postural issues, so the size of implant you choose must be proportional to your frame and musculature.

Visualizing Breast Implant Sizes

Two easy, at-home tests that are very effective in helping you visualize the actual sizes of different breast implants are the rice test, and the water test.

Both tests work because 1ml of rice or water equals 1 CC.

To perform the rice test:

1. Measure out 200 ml of rice

2. Cut out a section of some old pantyhose

3. Tie a knot in one end and fill the pantyhose with the rice

4. Tie off the top end.

This shows you the size of a 200 CC breast implant.

You can manipulate the shape and profile of your jerry-rigged implant, and varying the amount of rice will help you see the difference in breast implant sizes.

The water test is very similar; only you use a balloon with different volumes of water to help visualize the different implant sizes.

Try wearing larger brassieres with different items of clothing and placing your homemade implants into the bra cup to get an idea of how you look and feel with various implant sizes.

Remember that you also need to consider the profile and shape of your implants. This is best done with an on-site consultation so you can see and ‘try’ the different implant shapes and sizes that are available to you.

Deciding on the size of your breast implants takes a lot of consideration. If you’re thinking about breast augmentation surgery in Fredericksburg and whether or not it’s right for you, Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg can help.

In a one-on-one consultation, our board-certified plastic surgeons will consider your specific circumstances, physique, lifestyle, and desired results and recommend the best implant sizes for you.

To book your appointment, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.