Is a 330 Cc or 360 Cc Implant Right for Me?

Question

My PS recommended either a 330 or 360cc implant for me. I'm 5'4, 106lbs, petite, thin frame. I'm a small 32/34b cup. I would like a full c. I dread looking too big for my body. I seem inclined to do 330 because i'm afraid of looking too big. I tried on both implants and kinda felt that the 360 seemed like too much, but my PS says that the implant will get pressed down once its under the muscle. If I do 360, does it lose some of its size once inside? I would hate to have regrets.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question.  As you can imagine, despite your good description of body type and goals, it is not possible to give you precise  advice online. The best online advice I can give to ladies who are considering breast augmentation surgery is: 

	1. Concentrate on choosing your plastic surgeon carefully.  Concentrate on appropriate training, certification, and the ability of the plastic surgeon to achieve the results you're looking for. Ask to see lots of examples of his/her work.

	  2. Have a full discussion and communication regarding your desired goals  with your plastic surgeon. This communication will be critical in determining  breast implant size/type/profile will most likely help achieve your goals.  In my practice, the use of photographs of “goal” pictures (and breasts that are too big or too small) is very helpful. I have found that the use of words such as “natural”  or “full C” etc means different things to different people and therefore prove unhelpful.  Also, as you know, cup size varies depending on him who makes the bra; therefore, discussing desired cup  size may also be inaccurate.  

	3.  Once you feel you have communicated your goals clearly,  allow your plastic surgeon to use his/her years of experience/judgment to choose the breast implant size/profile that will best meet your goals.  Again, in my practice, this decision is usually made during surgery.

	   I hope this helps.

Jeffrey J. Roth, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Cup size can be a funny thing.  It's mostly based on projection.  It can also depend on how much breast tissue you had to begin with. Figuring out the cc's is often based on your base width, (how wide your breast is).  Some Plastic Surgeons will uses sizers at time of surgery, but we are all different.  There used to be standardization, but that went away.  It can depend on what style of bra you wear.  They usually will get to their final position in 6 to 12 months.  One will usually drop faster than the other, and the shape may go through various changes.  Please follow your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon's post op instructions. For example; we like message, but some surgeons will have you wait, or do it in a specific manner. Please let them know your thoughts and concerns.   
Jeffrey J. Roth, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Las Vegas Plastic Surgery

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

It is very difficult to determine the exact size and shape implant you will require to best match your ideal breast image without an examination by a board certified plastic surgeon. Not just any board certified plastic surgeon, but one with many years of frequently performing breast augmentation surgery including different approaches, techniques and implant choices. This is because several measurements not to mention your breast characteristics are needed to determine the optimal implant size to obtain your goals. Without knowing these dimensions it would be difficult to make this determination. For example, the existing base width of your breast will determine, in many cases, the maximal volume per implant profile that you can accommodate. To illustrate; a 100 cc difference may make a significant difference with a narrow base width breast, but much less of a difference if you have a wide chest wall and wide breast “foot print”. Therefore, just because your friend may have a great result with let’s say a 330 cc implant to make her go from a “A” cup to a “C” cup size does not mean that you will have the same result with the same size implant. . Further simply placing implants in a bra to determine the size best for you is not always accurate as the bra often distorts the size, is dependent on the pressure the bra places plus the implant is outside your breast and not under it among other variables. Computer software morphing programs that automatically determine the best implant size can be helpful in some but not all cases (e.g. doesn’t work well in my experience with existing implants, sagging or asymmetric breasts). Using “want to be” photos however are useful if simply provided to the surgeon as I will further explain in the link.

Michael Horn, MD · Answer

In my office I like to use 3D images of each patient to superimpose implants of different sizes to make certain they are comfortable with the size.Also if you place the implant sizes in a bra on yourself, you will get a really good idea about how it will look. Once the implant is actually in, it will look only slightly smaller than it did when placed in a bra. One way the computer imaging helps is that you would see that there is barely a difference between 330 and 360 for example. If you like the way the 330 looks in a bra, get the 360.

Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS · Answer

Yes, your surgeon's recommendation for 330 cc or 360 cc is a reasonable recommendation to meet your objective of moving from B to C cup. Yes, you will lose some projection when placed under the muscle. The size of the implants are based on a combination of a patient's goals
and objectives and her anatomy. In order to provide a natural looking
augmentation, the surgeon needs to evaluate many factors including soft
tissue coverage, skin laxity, chest wall width, breast imprint width,
the shape of the breasts and relative level of constriction to ensure
that the breast implants are appropriate for your body.

Is a 330 Cc or 360 Cc Implant Right for Me?

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Is a 330 Cc or 360 Cc Implant Right for Me?

Answers (10)

Answer: Breast Augmentation Sizing

Answer: Breast Augmentation Sizing

Answer: Implant Size to move from B to C cup

Answer: Implant Size to move from B to C cup

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Augmentation

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.