Drs. Bruno and Brown are often asked how to choose the best breast implant size by their DC breast augmentation patients.
The first thing that is important for our DC breast augmentation patients to consider when choosing a breast implant size is to understand that bra cup sizes vary wildly from retailer to retailer and are not an exact measurement of breast size.
Breast implants are measured by exact volume in cubic centimeters (cc’s), so while a cup size might give you a ballpark range of the overall breast size you are trying to achieve, they will not help you choose an exact breast implant size.
Try to put the idea of C cup and D cup out of your mind while you consider your options. Also, remember that your natural breast tissues will contribute to the overall size of your breasts after implants have been placed provided your implants are not part of a breast reconstruction procedure.
Choosing the Right Breast Implant Size For You
A great place to start your journey to understanding breast implant sizes is with the types of breast augmentation.
There are two main ways we achieve the breast augmentation results you desire:
- Fat Grafting
- Implant Augmentation (Silicone, Saline, and IDEAL)
(Click here to see before and after images).
There is a slight variation in size availability for saline and silicone breast implants, however, in general, breast implant volumes range from about 120cc to 800cc. In choosing a breast implant size, it also helps to remember that your skin must stretch to accommodate the implants you choose, so if you have poor skin elasticity or are prone to stretch marks, your cosmetic results may be best if you choose implants that will not put undue stress on your skin.
Breast Implant Profiles
In addition to different volumes, breast implants also come in five different profiles: low, low plus, moderate, full and extra full projections. The implant profile affects the projection of your breast implants, and although they are not directly related to the implant size, they can affect how large or natural your breasts appear. The greater the profile of your breast implant, the greater the height of your breast side wall.
Many patients who desire more upper pole fullness, or cleavage, and are less concerned that their implants look natural choose higher, fuller profile implants, as do patients with very narrow breasts.
Tools to Help You Choose a Breast Implant Size
There are many tools Bruno|Brown can provide you with to help you visualize how different breast implant sizes would look after surgery.
Although none of them offer an exact representation, they can still give you a general idea of the look and proportions implants would create.
Implant sizing is helpful to some patients as they struggle to imagine how they would look with larger breasts. Our sizing kit allows us to determine the overall desired volume and an approximation of how you will look after surgery. We do our sizing with a personal fitted t-shirt to see a general idea of the effect breast implants would have.
A measuring tape can also be a great help. Having your surgeon take measurements of your chest wall dimensions will help you get a better understanding of your existing body proportions and how they would change with different breast implants. Your surgeon will provide you with appropriate context and a brief anatomy lesson during this stage of the decision-making process.
One of the best resources available to patients choosing a breast implant size is their surgeon’s gallery of breast augmentation before and after photos. Looking at before and after photos of other patients who share a similar build, existing breast size and desired breast size can provide some of the most useful direction to women considering implants. Review as many before and after photos as possible as you make your decision.
Input From Your DC Plastic Surgeons
Drs. Bruno and Brown will certainly help guide you throughout the process of choosing your ideal breast implants. However, keep in mind that decisions about your implants, including their size, must ultimately rest with you. Be sure to choose a surgeon who makes you feel comfortable asking questions and gathering all of the information you need to make an informed choice. While Drs. Brown and Bruno have spent many years helping women in Chevy Chase, Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. choose their breast implants and can offer you invaluable input, you must feel confident in your decision to ensure your expectations for breast augmentation are met.
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