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How Big is Too Big When it Comes to Breast Implants?

asked 8 months ago by starlette123 in Oceanside, CA
Latest answer by Scott L. Replogle, MD
Question viewed 443 times
Tags: implant size, too big

I am 5'7"-5'8", 110 lbs and small framed. My current size is 32B. I have a good amount of breast tissue though and measure 13cm across. I would like my end result to be a D cup, but not a full D or a DD. My surgeon suggest the 340cc implant while I liked the 397 sololy due to the fact that I am scared of them looking smaller when underneath the muscle. Will the 397 push me to a full D/DD? Should I try a 375ish implant? I have heard that when compressed under the muscle it looks 50ccs smaller.

19 answers to How Big is Too Big When it Comes to Breast Implants?

Breast implants -- too big?

The size of the implants is an individual decision. Based on your measurements, a 340 or 375 cc implant would not be too big. It is difficult to assess what your final cup size would be without examining you personally.

Donna Rich, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Breast implant size

Hi. You are right. Implants do look smaller under the muscle so it's something to consider when you are trying on sizers. Also, remember that no surgeon can guarantee your final cup size as there is no standardization of cup size in either the fashion industry or plastic surgery. Try not to get hung up on implant size. It's really about obtaining a natural aesthetic outcome for most patients. Many surgeons also use intraoperative sizers as an additional step before placing the final implant... more

Richard Chaffoo, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Breast implant size

Choosing an implant size can be very difficult for both patient and surgeon. It is helpful for you to review a number of photographs of other women's breasts (with implants) with your surgeon to better communicate your goals. I often use implant sizers during the procedure to help decide on final implant size. This can help quite a bit because preoperative "guest-a-mates" are not always correct. You state that you would "like to be a D, but not a full... more

Eric T. Emerson, MD
Charlotte Plastic Surgeon

Choosing implant sizes and correlating with results

I continue to be amazed by the variety of opinion and the misconceptions among plastic surgeons for how breast implants are sized if naturalness, minimizing risk of reoperation, and controling results/expectations is desired. To understand this, think about choosing a dress size from a dressmaker or a shoe size from a shoemaker. You don't get to pick a dress or shoe size and make it work and letting the surgeon decide it based on sizers at surgery (which is no more accurate than sizing... more

Scott L. Replogle, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implants too Big?

I have never understood the desire on the part of patients or physicians (especially physicians) to create unnaturally large breasts. I see 'before and after' photos at plastic surgery meetings and I almost always find myself asking the question: What's the `big' idea? I view breast augmentation as more than a breast enhancement surgery. It is a total body contouring surgery, and the breast profile that one creates with implants should match a patient's overall figure... more

Michael Law, MD
Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon

michaellawmd.com

Big breasts,yes,they're fake,largest breast implants

Size is really up to you. I agree that it is always better to go larger for there is a decrease in breast size after implants over about the first year, probably due to some atrophy of the breast tissue. I try and listen to what my patients want and then decide with my patients the size for them.

Edward J. Domanskis, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

How Big is Too Big for Implants

This is one of the hardest things to sort out with patients. Everyone has a different view of what big and small looks like. We do Vectra 3D imaging, give patients implants to try on and show them various pictures of patients with similar breasts and build to help them decide. Implant placement under the muscle does take away slightly from the projection. Based on what you wrote that implant size does not seem too big at all. That's quite an average size in my... more

Jeffrey Hartog, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

Choosing implant size

If you already have some breast tissue and a skin envelope that results in some mild ptosis do not consider an under the muscle approach: the muscle will isolate the implant from your breast and down the road you will develope a separation of components leading to the "double bubble" deformity. Furthermore, when you flex your pec muscles they will distort your breasts if the implants are under the muscle. Size should be determined in the operating room based on what you and... more

Daniel Greenwald, MD
Tampa Plastic Surgeon

Choosing the correct size breast implant

Choosing the implant that best fits your needs can be done in a number of ways. The first is try on sizers and see what look you are most comfortable with. This is a very accurate method of determining your final result. As a general rule I would recommend going up one size (25cc) to account for some flattening of the implant. Another very popular way of determining what your results will look like is to do 3D simulation on the computer. Not every physician has... more

Robert M. Jensen, MD
Medford Plastic Surgeon

How to pick breast implants.

How to pick breast implant sizes Article by George J. Beraka, MD Manhattan Plastic Surgeon 1) This is the most common type of question on RealSelf. 2) It is the surgeon's job to pick the right breast implants, not the patient's. Implant selection is really pretty technical. 3) Make sure your surgeon REALLY understands the look you want. Mentioning a cup size is not enough. Show your surgeon pictures of breasts you like. 4) Then your surgeon... more

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implant Size

Nobody else can tell you what size implant to choose. There are a variety of techniques to assist in this determination. Cup size depends on many factors. My recommendation: Try different sizes in the office with a non-padded bra and a tight shirt, and go with your gut. You are very thin and already starting with full B, so in my opinion, mid range profile that matches your base width will bring you up to a D cup, high or full profile to full D or DD.... more

Steve Laverson, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

feelbeautiful.com

How big is too big when it comes to breast implants?

The most important factor in determining breast implant size is your breast width. You do not want an implant that is wider than your breast width, in fact, it should be a little smaller. Cup sizes are difficult to assess, since they vary so much between different bra manufacturers. It is better for you to try on different implants. I also like to use the Vectra 3D system, which alows you to visualize different sized implants in your body prior to having surgery.

Frank Agullo, MD
El Paso Plastic Surgeon

www.elpasoplasticsurgery.com

Selecting an implant that is just right

The implant selection process can be daunting because of the factors such as the amount of natural breast tissue, the chest width the height and weight etc. There are numerous rules of thumb that we as surgeons use to select an implant size. Regardless, it is impossible to ACCURATELY determine a cup size before surgery because no 2 bras fit exactly the same, and some bras run small and some run big. The best advise I give my patients is try on the implants (if you can)... more

Beverly Friedlander, MD
Short Hills Plastic Surgeon

Breast implant size.

The implant volume is proportional to the strap size or your chest size. The pectoralis will stretch and a larger implant is not needed. 32 a/b to a 32 c only requires about 275 to 300 cc of volume.. hi profile implants are a more narrow base and will fit your chest better. i would be less concerned about the size of the bra and volume of the implant and more focused on pictures of what you think are attractive size breasts. Jed Horowitz MD more

Jed H. Horowitz, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

When breast implants are too big

If you have had breast implants before, or have considerable experience in breast augmentation I suppose you could 'choose' the 397 over the 375. It is far better to accurately communicate your goals and the look you want. If your surgeon knows what the result is to be, then he can use his experience to get you there. There is no too big and the choices are many if the skin envelope of your breast will accept the large implant. Many patients are afraid of being too... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

www.peterejohnsonmd.com

Breast implant size?

The more breast surgery I do the more I realize that there is no correlation between the size of implant and resulting cup size. This may have to do with several factors including: the amount of breast volume the patient starts with, the shape of the patient's chest wall (concave or convex), the type and model of breast implant selected (saiine/silicone and low/moderate/high profile), bra manufacturer variance in cup sizes, the degree of filling of the... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Implants - How Big is Too Big

I have all breast augmentation patients try on implant sizers with a sizing bra. They are able to look in the mirror and see the effect that varying sizes give them. Most patients can be happy within a range of sizes. Agonizing over 30-60 cc's difference in volume is, in my opinion, understandable but not usually productive. After a patient has selected a size they like I will compare that to her breast and chest measurements. In addition some patients are afraid of being too small and... more

Jon F. Harrell, DO
Miami Plastic Surgeon

www.westonsurgery.com

When are breast implants too big?

When choosing a breast implant, the width of your chest is the limiting and guiding factor. A proper examination is in order. If you say your breasts are about 13cm across... an implant 11-13 cm would be possible to give you decent appearance. The difference between 340cc and 397cc is just a few milimeters, a difference you can't tell unless the two implants are side by side. Best step would be to try out different sizers, and trust your surgeon's... more

Martin Jugenburg, MD
Toronto Plastic Surgeon

www.torontosurgery.ca

Size of breast implants

The most ideal fit is the lowest profile implant that fits the base width of your breast or narrower. This will translate into a certain size and shape depending on your native tissue. As you vary the result by going wider, larger, more projecting, or a different shaped implant, the end result will produce varying side effects, whether that is more roundness, more rippling, disparating in nipple position, etc. You will then need to decide on what side effect or risk you are willing ro accept... more