If you have made the decision to undergo breast augmentation surgery, you are now faced with two critical decisions; what type of material to use for the implant (saline or silicone implants) and what size and shape you want from the breast implants. After speaking with several doctors, I discovered that there really is no such thing as a right or wrong size breast implant; it all comes down to the preferences of the patient. I also discovered that choosing a “B”, “C” or “D” cup is not the correct way to choose the size of a breast implant. Although an implant the size of a “C” cup is a certain size, it does not need to be a “C” cup for all women.
Here are some ways we recommend choosing your breast implant size:
- Look at photos of other women’s breasts and show them to your plastic surgeon. Once you find a picture of a woman’s breast that you think will fit your body well, showing it to your plastic surgeon will be the best way to communicate what you want. Many surgeons will include the image in the room as they complete the breast augmentation so that they can match as closely as possible.
- Try different sizes at your plastic surgeon’s office. If you don’t know what size breast implants will fit your body, try them at your surgeon’s office. You can add the implants to your bra and see how they feel.
- Do the rice test. Breast implants are measured by the volume of cubic centimeters of the implant, not by the size of a bra. One thing that women should consider is the weight of the implant in the body. To get a good idea of the weight of an implant is to perform the rice test. Use a measuring cup and fill a zip lock bag with rice and place it in your bra. 1/4 cup equals the weight of a 59 cc implant, 1/3 cup equals 80 cc implant, 1/2 cup equals 118 cc, 2/3 cup equals 180 cc and 1 cup equals 235 cc implants. After a day or two of using the rice bags, you will have a great idea of the implant size that is best for you.
Remember that the size of the implant is not the actual size of the breast. The implant is only one component of the actual size of the breast. All women have a different body type and natural breast tissue. Showing a doctor a photo of the breasts that you would like is one of the best ways to get the results you want.
Choosing the shape of your breasts is a little easier than the size of your implant. You really have two options for the shape of the breast implant; a round shaped implant and a teardrop implant. A round shaped implant is circular in shape however the implant is viewed. From all sides it looks like a semicircle and is symmetrical. A teardrop implant was created to represent a more natural looking breast and is larger at the bottom of the implant than at the top.
One of the easiest ways to choose the shape of your implant is the amount of breast tissue your body already has. If you have more than 2 cm of natural breast tissue, it is recommended to use the round breast implant because you will be able to have 1 cm of natural breast tissue over the implant, which will naturally take a teardrop shape after the procedure is completed. If you have less than 2 cm of natural breast tissue, it is recommended to use the teardrop breast implant to make the breast look more natural when the implant surgery is completed.
At the end of the day, your plastic surgeon will recommend a size and shape for your breast implants, but the final decision is yours. It is important to remember that there is no right or wrong implant size or shape, it is all personal preference. It is important to choose the right plastic surgeon so that you can be sure that the procedure will be successful and that you will feel better about yourself for years to come.
