If I'm a size 18 cup size, will 435 cc bring me to a DD cup?

After choosing the right
surgeon for your breast augmentation surgery your goals are the most
important factor.

I try to change the way my patients think
about sizing their implants during our consult. Most people walk in
thinking cup size. When they leave I hope they are thinking
"person size". A 300 cc implant will look totally different on a tall
person compared to a shorter person. A 300 cc high priofile implant
has a totally different shape than a 300 ccc low profile.

Todays implants have specific
dimensions. Each manufacturer has a high, moderate and low profile
version.

I like to have my patients try on the actual
implants in a sizing bra, we keep samples of each size solely for this purpose
in each of my offices.

The width of the implant to me is the most
important starting point. Too wide and a person will look top heavy, too
narrow and the result will look like two torpedoes. I like to see the
width fill the chest nicely and have an implant who's diameter balances the
outer curve of the breast with the curve of the hip. Some women have this curve
naturally, in others the diameter of the implant will create this balance.

Once we have the diameter of implant that
balances the hips with the chest we can the change the cup size by looking at
High, moderate or low profile-- mainly changing the cup size.

Its always good to to bring a friend or
relative for another opinion, and some different shirts or blouses to try
on as well. I always encourage my patients to size as many times as they like
before surgery. This is a big decision and you want to get it right the first
time.

There is no way to guarantee that a certain sized implant will result in a specific cup size after the surgery. You should return to your surgeon with a DD bra and try the implants on and see how the combination of the implants and your breast fills that size bra.

The best
cosmetic result in any particular breast augmentation patient depends on a
variety of factors, including: Your individual anatomy, realistic expectations,
a thorough discussion with the plastic surgeon about the options, and an
understanding of the pros and cons of any particular implant choice. Proper
sizing is not just about the number of cc’s. The thickness of your tissue,
breast dimensions which include the width,
height, and projection, as well as chest wall width all need to be considered
when choosing an implant. Trying on implant “sizers” of various shapes and
volumes while wearing a tight t-shirt, bra, or bathing sit at a preoperative
visit will help you and your surgeon choose the optimal implant.

There are no manufacturers' standards for cup sizing in the bra industry. The
cups of a 32 D and a 38 D are significantly different. Cup size varies from
manufacturer to manufacturer and even within styles from any particular
manufacturer.

Keep in mind that following the advice from a surgeon on this or any other
website who proposes to tell you exactly what to do without examining you,
physically feeling the tissue, assessing your desired outcome, taking a full
medical history, and discussing the pros and cons of each operative procedure
would not be in your best interest. I would suggest you find a plastic surgeon
certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and ideally a member of the
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) that you trust and are
comfortable with. If you are seeking a plastic surgeon out of the United States, he or she should be a member of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS). You should discuss your concerns with that surgeon in person.Robert Singer, M.D., FACS 
La Jolla, California