How Many CC's Would Be the Right Size For My Petite Body?

Hi there-

It's amazing how often people ask this question... Understanding the answer requires a bit of background:

Let's first agree that the implant is not going to be sitting in space (as it would be outside of your skin and under a loose bra). Rather, the implant is going to be under your skin, your breast tissue, and maybe even under your chest muscle (depending on your choices).

It is critical to understand that all of these layers (your skin, your breast tissue, and your muscle) are going to affect how any particular implant looks inside of you, by applying a counterforce to the projecting force of the implant. 

Furthermore, your individual skin characteristics, as well as those of your breast tissue and your muscle, are different than these characteristics in any other woman- you are an individual. 

Finally, elasticity and compliance of these tissues is very difficult to predict accurately before surgery.

So, to summarize, your appearance with any particular implant is ALWAYS going to be affected by where the implant is placed, and by the qualities of your tissues and how much resistance these tissues provide- and these variables are nearly impossible to accurately predict before surgery.

Therefore, it is my opinion that committing to an implant size before understanding how that implant will look inside of you is a mistake, and is a big part of the reason that so many women have a second operation within one year of their breast augmentation in the United States.

My best advice to you would be to find a surgeon you like and trust (someone Certified By The American Board of Plastic Surgery) and who's work you admire. Have a nice talk about what you want to look like- and then let them make the decisions necessary to achieve the look you described.

This will require a leap of faith- but maximizes the chances of you ending up happy.

I hope that helps you.

Clear communication with your plastic surgeon is important in achieving the desired goals of the patient.  I like to communicate with patients with “goal” pictures.  During surgery, I use temporary sizers to determine the size/profile that will give the patient the look she is looking for. Trying to predict the size of the implant preoperatively is not ideal.  I think it is too much responsibility for the patient to choose the size of the implant.  Ideally, the surgeon would make that determination once he/she is in the operating room with sizers in and examining the patient in the upright and supine position.  There are many variables that come into play when choosing the correct implant size (how much breast tissue the patient currently has, the shape of the chest wall (concave vs. convex), etc.. It is difficult to determine exact cup size pre-operatively. Every manufacturer produces a variety of bra styles, which may differ in size and shape.

On this site, I do my best to give advice without a physical examination but I want you to know that a physical examination by a board certified physician is always the best way to get the most accurate information.

First of all, realize that 40cc is LESS than 3 tablespoons of volume. You cannot "see" this difference when it is in your body. So when, in doubt, choose the larger size. But how did you even get to the decision between 260cc or 300cc? Have you tried on implants in a bra and stretchy top? Have you shown your surgeon photographs of patients (or nude models) with what you consider to be the desired breast size?

Depending on your present breast size, measurements, and goals (just what IS a small-C anyway? I know what I think it is, but that may differ from what YOU think it is!), you may need something entirely different from one of these sizes. Are other implants available in your surgeon's facility or at the hospital/surgicenter where your surgery will be performed? Does your surgeon use sizers? Just things to be aware of and know the answers to!

In general, I believe that it takes about 250cc to equal one cup size of enlargement, so 300cc adds just over a cup to your present size. If you are a small B now, then 250-300cc is about right. If you size in a bra, it takes about 50-100cc more than the chosen implant volume in a bra to look the same in your body under the muscle. If your breasts are not a small B now, then you may want to "go back to the drawing board" and size, show photographs, and have a more detailed discussion with your surgeon.

Better now, than after surgery when it takes a re-operation to get the "right" size after an "oops!" And, make sure you have discussed fees for revisional surgery BEFORE your operation. For more information, click on the link below, and check out my article (on the About tab on my profile page on this site) titled: "What is the Right Breast Implant Size for You?"