Choosing breast implant size

Obtaining the desired size in the breast is fundamental to meeting your expectations. I would like to share some observations and advise you how we help you to choose the correct implant size.

First, how NOT to determine the implant size!
Friends have different body shape, chest dimensions, skin support, and breast size, and may not be relevant to your decision !

For the same reason using images of models/actresses/singers or indeed pictures of some one else and their implant sizes is not an accurate guide - how do you know what their breasts and chests looked like before their operation?

Computer simulation - computers cannot yet predict how you tissue will react around any given implant, and though they are great for noses and faces, they are NO Assistance for breasts!

It is all too easy to get hung up on discussions about cc’s and implant sizes. The secret is to focus on showing your plastic surgeon the proportion you want, using your own body to demonstrate.

Here’s how we determine an implant size in the Jewel clinic.

The first step is the most important: you have to decide what size bra you want your new size to be. Start by trying on different sizes of non-elastic bras and importantly non breast shaping or push up bras.
eg: Berlei Sports, Style 135J
(Remember that the number will not be changed by surgery, only the cup letter), fill the bra with tissues or other padding material, until you see the proportion that is right for you.

Bring that bra to the office, along with any photographs that you feel illustrate aspects of the appearance that are important to you. Pictures provide assistance to communicate, but again pictures are a very poor way to decide on implant size.

There, using that same bra, we will put various implants into the bra until it just fills out the look and bra you chose. Then, after measuring the insert and adding in factors for the implant shape and position, I will translate the measurement into the implant size that will produce a similar affect. Only then, does the number of cc’s enter into the picture.

Please note that there are no standards for measurements for a bra size - that is, not all 34C bras are the same size. So just find the particular one that you look best in! Buy that bra. (There is certainly nothing wrong with experimenting at home with the “rice or water in a “balloon” method at this point; but there is no point to getting bogged down with the question of how many cc’s.)

We often hear women ask “what size implant should I get to be a D?” This question can only be answered with examining, measuring and testing.

It is good to trust the doctors to do their best for you; but it is not good to leave questions of your personal preference and taste up to them, nor to leave this important decision until you are “on the table”.