Is 375 Cc Equivalent to C or D Cup?

Cup sizes are so variable (yet so universally used) that we must first decide if your 34B cup breast size was on the "small" side of B or on the "big" side of B, and if your request for a C cup was for a "full C cup" (which often is best fit by a D-size bra from Victoria's Secret), a "small C cup" or something in between.

Did you really want to go up only a "little bit" in size so "no one would notice," and did you know that small implants would not have fit your breast base diameter and could have ended up giving you a wide cleavage or implants that moved around excessively in a proper-sized pocket? These are all things that only the surgeon who consulted with you and listened to your goals, examined your anatomy, and determined how to best achieve your desired appearance could explain. As you now know, it's not just choosing a couple of implants and "popping them in." It does take a bit of skill, experience, and surgical expertise to do this "right."

As a general rule, I have found that it takes about 250cc to equal about 1 cup size, so adding 375cc should add 1 1/2 cup sizes to whatever breast size you started with. Even my 250cc "rule" is indistinct; many of my esteemed and experienced colleagues feel that smaller volumes (150cc to 225cc if you read other answers here on RealSelf) are "equivalent" to about one cup size. Thus, if someone who uses a 150cc-1 cup size "rule" answers your question, you would have added 2 cup sizes to whatever breast volume you started with.

At 5'2" and 119 lbs. you are definitely petite, and 375cc implants are not at all unusual for implant choices for many women your size. Of course, what breast volume each individual patient brings to the table is critical to the final result in terms of size, and that takes us back to what 34B really looks like in terms of your exact anatomy, and what your goal was in terms of what a "C cup" means in your mind's eye.

This is why I believe sizing with implants in a bra and stretchy top is helpful (though even this can be confusing since I have also found over 27 years and thousands of breast augmentation patients that I must add 50-100cc to whatever implant size a patient chooses in a bra in order to achieve that "look" when under a patient's muscle).

Photographs of desired goal breast sizes also help me visualize what individual patients are seeking, and final implant size is chosen in the operating room when I have all of this information as well as the tightness of each patient's muscle, skin, and own breast tissue. Having ALL implant sizes and profiles available to choose from in our surgical facility is another critical factor in allowing proper size selection--it's a pretty big bummer to have to tell a patient that the size I found out would have been best was not among the 3 sizes that were pre-ordered. This happens in all too many plastic surgeon's practices, and leads to "wrong size" choice in too many patients, IMHO.

3 days post-op is much too early to be concerned about being "too large." While this may still be true even when things soften, settle, and drop into position, I suspect that you will not feel the same way you do now when your breasts are "high, tight, and swollen." Smaller implants have smaller diameters, and ending up with "perfect" size breasts with wide cleavage could end up being a different sort of unsatisfactory! So for now, be patient and see how things end up after 3-6 months. Even in 3 weeks things will be substantially better! Nobody can guarantee or reassure that you will be happy, but adding 1 1/2 cups to what you  started with doesn't sound too far off base, if at all!

Be patient with your healing and your surgeon! Please let us know how you feel in a few weeks (or months), but more importantly, keep a good dialogue going with your surgeon, who really does want you to be happy! Best wishes, and Happy New Year! Dr. Tholen

In general, the final cup size is determined by what you start with, and what you add to that.  An old rule of thumb, (a rough estimate) is that 300 cc will increase the average woman by a cup size, and 400cc will increase the average woman 2 cup sizes.  Another rule of thumb is that breast implants look overly big, and tight and high for the first few weeks.  Discuss your expectations with your PS, and in general, be patient.  

Hello, Thank you for your question!It usually takes 3 months after a breast augmentation to settle before the final result. If you are still concerned, it may be best to see your plastic surgeon.You can learn more on our social media (Instagram and Snapchat): @realdrsix.
Regards,

Thank you for your question.  While bra sizes are not standardized, a 375cc implant is fairly large, and is unlikely to result in only a single cup size increase.  You can likely expect to have some size decrease as your initial post-op swelling subsides, but I would guess you will remain larger than a C cup going forward.  Pre-op 3D imaging, with a modality such as Crisalix, would have allowed you to virtually "try on" several sizes of implants prior to surgery, and to accurately select that size which will give you the result you desired.

It is not a simple question to answer and here is why: 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 375 cc implant to make her go from a “B” 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 below:

Hello! Thank you for your question. In general, implant size does not correlate with bra cup size. The cup size itself will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer as well as who is doing the actual measurements. Thus, cup size is never a reliable indicator for your breast size. I typically encourage my patients not to communicate her desires in cup size but more on the actual look and appearance. Good communication between you and your surgeon of your expectations is warranted - choosing your surgeon wisely is the first step. Discussion of your wishes and having an honest and open dialog of your procedure is mandatory (e.g, implant type, incision, placement, lift, etc). I have found that photographs brought by the patient is helpful to get a visualization of the appearance you wish for in terms of size, shape, fullness, etc. In addition, your surgeon's pre and postoperative photographs should demonstrate a realistic goal for you. Once this has been accomplished, allow your surgeon to utilize his/her best medical judgment during the procedure to finesse the best possible result for you after preoperative biodimensional planning and fitting the right implant for your breast width. Hope me that this helps! Best wishes for a wonderful result!