I Want More CC's, Why Won't My Doctor Go Bigger?

Hi,

50 cc will NOT make a visible difference. As a general rule;  200cc roughly equals 1 cup size. So, if he is suggesting 450cc implants that will roughly take you up to a full D cup. Now, if your surgeon is placing your implants behind the muscle then he can only put in as big as your muscle will allow. If he is suggesting placing your implants on top of the muscle, then he can fit a larger implant. But, beware, implants behind the muscle retain their place for longer periods of time. Implants over the muscle have only your skin envelope to hold them in place.  FYI- the larger the implant the heavier it is and the sooner it will stretch out muscle, skin and surrounding breast tissue. I hope this helps. Best wishes, Dr. H

I don't think you are going about it the right way - that is focusing on the size of the implant rather than the appearance you want. 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 350 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 below link. In general your plastic surgeon's job is to guide you during this difficult process.

Many factors go into selection of implant size.  there is an interaction between the hard tissues of the body, (chest wall), the soft tissues, (breast), and the implants themselves.  I ask patients not to get hung up on a articular cc.  Bring photos of results you like to your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.  Together you can make a plan for a result that meets your reasonable expectations.

Greetings,

Your plastic surgeon is being cautious, and with good reason. I don't know the exact dimensions of your breast, but, in a nutshell, you can only fit so much into the current skin and soft tissue envelope you have in the breast. Although it may be possible to go bigger than the size he recommends, he may be concerned that placing in implants that large may place you at an increased risk of complications in the future, or just may not look very good right now.

The reality of being a plastic surgeon in Texas is that, often times, patients want to go bigger then I recommend. I often times will place implants larger than my recommendation, but only after having a long conversation with the patient about the potential risks of doing so. The truth of the matter is that the difference in diameter between a 465 cc and 500 cc style 68 HP is only 4 mm (there is no 450 cc); if a 465 is okay, you could probably get away with a 500 as well.

Hope this helps - best of luck.

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