Which Size of Implant to Choose For Breast Augmentation

Posted on 26 Jan 2016

There definitely is a rule of thumb for choosing the right size breast implants for breast augmentation surgery. Choose the size that makes you feel how you imagined you would feel if your breasts were always the size you wanted. 

When considering breast implant surgery, there are 4 basic questions that need to be answered: 

1) What type of implant (saline implants vs silicone implants) 

2) Placement above or below the natural breast tissue 

3) Location of the scar tissue 

4) Breast implant size and shape (gummy bear breast implants vs round implants)  

Breast Implant Sizing Is Difficult

The most difficult choice is definitely choosing your ultimate breast size. This process should not be rushed into and there are multiple modalities to assist you. Look at multiple before and after photos of other women “who are built like you”. Then trying on sizers in front of a mirror with a variety of different clothing choices is necessary. Your plastic surgeon should also obtain photographs and detailed measurements of your breast/chest to help in determining the right implant style and size. It is also helpful to talk to other women who have undergone the breast implant procedure, but remember that everyone is built differently, and everyone has different expectations. 

A basic rule of thumb is the cup size of larger breast implants increases for every 200 ccs. So, if you are an A cup to start with, a 200 cc implant should make you a B cup, a 400 cc implant a C cup and a 600 cc implant a D cup. Also, remember that bra sizes are not consistent and vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. The choice of implant size should be made not on the final cup size desired, but on the desired appearance of the breasts after the procedure. 

Profile of Breast Augmentation Size Selection

Two groups of women who seem to have the most difficulty in choosing the “right” size are the women who are very afraid of being too large and those who want to be quite large. The former tend to want implants in the 180 to 250 cc range. These are the smaller implants and are often chosen by slim or athletic women who want to look natural and not be seen as having had a breast augmentation. They are usually happy with the results, but are often more likely, after the surgery and living for some time with the implants, to feel that they should have gone bigger, or request re-augmentation with larger implants. 

Women who are comfortable with the larger sizes, 400-500, are usually very comfortable with their choices. However, I have noted that women in this group are also more likely after surgery to wish they had had a larger implant. Whether choosing silicone breast implants or saline breast implants, it is important to realize that trying to place an implant that is wider than the internal breast base diameter is more likely to lead to stretching of the skin, numbness and eventual re-operation. Therefore, it is not recommended. Sometimes women who request a “D” cup find that they could have gone even larger. Since we never want to make someone larger than they wanted (a great source of unhappiness), we have to spend more time and more than one sizing session before coming up with the final decision. 

With such a range, there is not one most common breast implant size. Most women will narrow the size down to 1-2 sizes quickly, though we emphasize not rushing this initial step in the breast surgery process; absolute comfort with your breast implant shape and size is crucial to overall satisfaction with the breast enlargement surgical process. We give every patient the opportunity to go home, think about the pros and cons of saline and silicone gel, and look at the cell phone pictures that they may have taken to review or show someone close to them. 

Call Salem Plastic Surgeon Dr. Neaman for a Consultation

Neaman Plastic Surgery specializes in breast augmentation, breast lift, and breast implant surgeries for patients living in Salem, Oregon. Call 844-338-5445 to schedule your consultation. 

Dr. Keith Neaman 

Dr. Neaman is a board-certified plastic surgeon that specializes in surgical body contouring. He prides himself on being on the cutting edge of plastic surgery. He takes an informative approach to each consultation, and through open dialogue and communication, he helps his patients decide on a treatment plan that meets their needs.