Breast Augmentation: Q&A

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Assurance for Conservative Breast Augmentation Results?

I am really nervous about my Breast augmentation on July 17. I am a 32A and I only want to be a B cup. I am so scared that he will make me bigger than what I want. Is there any way other than bringing in all my pictures, and telling him I only want a little bigger? Thank you.

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breast size

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14 Doctor Answers | Asked by Chloe_Conway in St. Louis, MO

Doctor Answers (14)
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Conservative breast augmentation

You are right to be worried about the eventual size of your breasts. The trend in our practice is toward more conservative sizes. Women are now savvy to the damage that large breast implants can do to the muscle, the skin, sensation, requirements for further surgery, rippling, visibility of implants etc. You may want to discuss in detail the intended size of the breast implant, and specify that size with your doctor prior to the surgery. Usually the surgeon will have samples of implants... more

Being involved in the decision

I don't often have my patients bring pictures. What I do is allow them to place the implants to be used in a sports bra, pull on a t-shirt, and look in the mirror. I encourage them to bring a friend they trust or their spouse and the only promise I can make is that you will not be bigger than what you see. I've done it this way for the past 12 years and wouldn't do it any other way. I on rare occasion have a patient come back at 6 or 12 months and say they wish they were "a... more

Use sizers or breast implant sizer to help in selecting proper size

I would suggest you "preview" your implant by using a breast implant sizer kit or by using the rice test. By using sizers, you will have a better impression of the final result.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Breast implant size

I spend a lot of time with patients going over the size that they want. It is critical to figure out what the patient desires. After doing an accurate assessment and reviewing volumes and types of implants I have the patient go home and see if the volume matches up with what she requested. A "baggy test" with water or rice is a good way to confirm the patients desire.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

I like the rice test for breast implant sizing

I think a great way for patients to get an idea of what they would want in terms of size of breast implant is to use the rice test. Take a ziplock type bag and find a medicine cup like the ones you get with Children's Motrin. The medicine cup is one ounce or 30cc's. Breast implant size is measured in cc's. Fill the bag with rice and remember how many medicine cup-fulls were used. For example, ten cup-fulls is 10 x 30cc's = 300cc's. Mold the bag around your breast and put on your bra. Wear... more

Some pointers

Certainly be secure with your discussion with your surgeons, but also look at the rationale for whatever is being done. You both have to understand what "small" and what "a little bit bigger" is. Bring in a padded bra that produces the result you want. Your surgeon can do some measurements on it. Find out what the best, most natural fit is for your particular breast. First measure the width of your breast. The most natural implant will be no larger than the diameter of... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

4 reviews

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

It sounds as though you may not trust your surgeon...

It is very important that you feel comfortable with your surgeon. You need to make sure they are listening to you and understand your concerns and desires. I typically have 2-3 visits with my patients prior to doing any cosmetic procedure. It is vitally important that your surgeon knows you want a small increase. You should also realize that when patients are unhappy after breast augmentation, it is usually because they wish they had gone larger. Maybe some of that bias is coming into... more

Make sure they are listening to you

As long as your surgeon has shown you photos of conservative results to demonstrate that they know how to do this, and as long as he or she is truly listenting to you, just go ahead with trust and confidence...

Bigger is not always better?

Dayna, I must first ask why you are fearful of your surgeon making your breasts too large. Was something said or alluded to by the surgeon that concerned you? We usually take painstaking efforts to give our patients what they wish for, even if it's a small enhancement from an A cup to a B cup. That being said, most patients that demand a small enhancement end up wishing they had gone a little bit larger. Your surgeon should respect your wishes and goals and if not, then you should seek... more

Communication is key

There are some limitations when it comes to breast augmentation. Mainly, as the implants get bigger, the diameter increases while the projection increases slightly. One of the main things is to get the proper diameter to fit each half of the chest/breast. Therefore, in order to size you correctly, the breast size may wind up larger than you want. One way to minimize this is to consider low profile and even silicone implants. Bring pictures, but also try implant sizers on with a bra in... more

Be open with your doctor

I see patients all the time that tell me their plastic surgeon made them too big and bigger than what they wanted. Bring pictures and tell your surgeon that you only want a B. If he or she doesn't listen or doesn't seem to care then you need to find a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon that will give you what you want. I do many revisions and do smaller implants for patients.. who are moms and just want a B cup. If that is all you want then that is what you should be paying for. You are the... more

Your surgeon can use a disposable breast implant SIZER during surgery.

Hi! You are right to worry. A very common theme that we hear about at RealSelf is patients who are upset because they were made too big. You are on the right track communicating clearly with your surgeon, and showing her or him pictures of what you want to look like. Without examining you, I would guess you need 200 cc breast implants, certainly not much more. In Manhattan, we use disposable breast implant sizers during breast augmentation surgery to see which implant looks best, before... more

The key is trust and communication with your surgeon

Your concerns are very common, in particular because we are flooded in the media by images of women with very large augmentations-- this causes a concern among many patients that if they have the same procedure, they'll end up looking just as large. The best advice I can give you is that if you trust your surgeon and communicate clearly with him your wishes, you will likely get the results you want. Most patients get a very clear feel for their surgeon after one or two visits, and if you... more

Breast Implants

This is really a matter of the sense of trust you have in your plastic surgeon. You seem apprehensive so it might make sense for you to postpone surgery and consult with a few other doctors first. You can find other American Board of Plastic Surgery certified plastic surgeons in your area by going to www.plasticsurgery.org.