34B to a 34D...what's the Right Amount of Cc's? (photo)

This really depends on your pre-surgery measurements, including height, weight, breast width, breast height and the distance that exists between the nipple and breast fold, alongside desired cup size. Considering these helps achieve a proportional body enhancement that meets your needs without resulting in an unnatural appearance. 

At size 34 each 100 cc’s of implant corresponds to 1 cup size change.  200 cc implants would take you from a B to a D.  I doubt you would even be able to accommodate 475 or 525 cc implants retro-pectoral.  They would extrude inferiorly and laterally requiring revision.  Small silicone gel implants placed retro-pectoral look and feel more natural, are more stable, less likely to ripple or have complications needing revision. 

 

Best Wishes,

 

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

I agree with your PS's choice of 475 to 525. Silicone is the way to go as well. The 3D animation should be accurate. Good Luck.

Based on your athletic build and level of activities I think that a 475 or 525 is way too big! Bigger is not always better for all breast implant patients. Choose your size and doctor carefully. While I use both saline and silicone with a trans axillary  incision the use of  a silicone implant requires a bit of a longer incision. While I need to examine a patient to give formal advice 375cc  saline or 425cc Silicone would be the largest I would use on you. Good Luck!

Thanks for your question. I would suggest trying on actual implants prior to your surgery. 525 may exceed your goals if you are starting with a B cup. In my own practice I find trying on sizers is the best way to get a sense of how the implants will balance with your frame. A, B and c cup can vary between manufacturers and measurers. It is still not an exact science because implants tend to loose some projection when inside you but I have found this the closest teaching tool.  Best wishes.

Thank you for your question. There is no exact science that correlates cup size to implant size. Though traditionally we say that 150-180cc'c equals a cup size, there are many other factors that affect this. As you know, cup size varies greatly among bra manufacturers, as there is no standard sizing. In addition, all women wear their bras differently, and many are fitted improperly. Determining an implant that will take you from a b-c to a d cup, without going to a DD is difficult.

If you are happy with the 3d animation, and have tried on a comparable implant, you should be comforted. I would share your concerns with your plastic surgeon and get his/her input as well.

Best of luck with your breasts.

Jeff Rockmore

Traditional teaching says that for every cup size you should add about 150cc. Now in practicality we always go a little bigger. Good idea to show your doc a pic of what you are looking for

The assessment of what volume of implant will take you from a B cup to a D cup is a function of the overall proportions of your breasts and chest, as well as the amount of "give" (elasticity) in your soft tissues, and the tightness and thickness of your pectoralis muscle, if a submuscular implant placement is planned.  However, it is important to keep in mind that even what the bra manufacturer calls a size "D" will vary depending on the style and cut of the bra and who makes it.  

In our experience, the aesthetic proportionality of your breasts to the width and circumference of your chest, the width of your shoulders, the circumference of your hips, the distance from your hips to your shoulders, etc., is much more important than the bra size per se.  Hopefully, your surgeon will focus on obtaining a pleasing shape for each breast, and optimizing the symmetry of both breasts, while getting you into a size range that is reasonable for your frame and congruent with your overall desires.  Obsessing about an "exact" bra size or a precise number of "ccs" is usually an anxiety producing and ultimately counterproductive exercise for both doctor and patient.

It is not possible to convert cc's into cup size for a couple reasons.  Firstly, the final volume will be the combination of the volume of the implant plus the amount of tissue you are starting with.  As not everyone is starting with the same amount of tissue, everyone will not have the same final volume with the same size implant.  Secondly, cup sizes are not standardized. For example a size D by one brand may be a size DD by another.  The best way to determine appropriate implant size is by taking various measurements of your breast and chest wall and match an implant to that.  Often a woman wishes to have a larger implant placed than what is ideal; that is fine as long as she is aware of the increased risk of issues later that go along with that such as excessive thinning of the breast tissues, rippling, implant malposition, "double bubbles", etc.  There is definitely a relationship between implant size and complications.

In order to make an accurate size recommendation, I would need to assess your chest wall and breast mound measurements and characteristics.  Unfortunately, there is not a general rule of thumb or objective criteria to implant selection.
Your plastic surgeon will perform several measurements of your chest wall and breast anatomy and determine a range of implants that both fit your chest wall and reach your desired goals.
The next step is to try on this range of implants in the office with your doctor.   The key to this success is showing your surgeon the body proportion you desire with a bra sizer and allowing your surgeon to guide you to the right implant.   It will be much easier to communicate in implant cc's than cup size when determining the appropriate implant for you.
I wish you a safe recovery and fantastic result.
Dr. Gill