I'm 5'7, 150 Pounds with Very Little Breast Tissue. Is 500cc, HP Too Big? My Doctor Suggests This.

Question

It's 2 weeks until my surgery and I've finally chosen the doctor I want to go with. I went in thinking 400cc silicone, subpec, MP but my doctor was insistent that would be too small for my body. I'm 5'7, 150 lbs, very little breast tissue- I have hips and that was the one thing they pointed out and recommended I go much larger. They suggested I go 500cc HP. I feel HP looks so unnatural. Will they eventually mellow out and not look so top heavy? Thoughts? Opinions?

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

Photos would help.  Your height and weight and 500 cc HP implant sounds very appropriate based on my experience.  Further discuss your concerns with your PS.

	Dr. ES

Sultan Hassan, MD, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

I agree with the bulk of what the other two dr's have stated, apart from being a little careful with being sold based on seeing gallery photos. If you think about it, in a commercial world you are not likely going to be shown a surgeons moderate results, more likely their very best! The danger is surgeons becoming salesmen! Beware. I perform around 350 cosmetic breast augmentations per year and do not show photos routinely! I do show photos of what complications can occur and look like. I prefer to let patients speak to other patients who have had surgery. Deciding on implant size is based on clinical assessment of your chest wall, breast, build etc, and relies on a good clinical assessment. If you're unsure get a second opinion.

Ralph R. Garramone, MD · Answer

It is not possible to give accurate online advice regarding best implant size and style.  The best online advice I can give to women who are considering breast augmentation surgery is:    

	1. Choose your plastic surgeon carefully.  Concentrate on appropriate training, board certification, and the ability of the plastic surgeon to understand and achieve the results you are looking for. Before and after photos should be made available either at the consultation or on the surgeon’s web site.  Remember, however, these will be chosen for good results.  Photos are marketing materials.     

	2. Have a complete discussion regarding your desired goals with your plastic surgeon. This communication will be critical in determining what breast implant type, size and profile will most likely help achieve your goals.  Bringing photographs of women who have the look you are interested in and some that you don’t like as well are helpful.  I do not believe that photos are helpful in determining implant size.  Terms such as “natural” or “D cup” or “perky” etc. have different interpretations and are therefore not helpful.  Also, as you know, cup size varies with the manufacturer and the chest size, which makes discussing desired cup size problematic.     

	3.  Once you feel you have communicated your goals clearly, allow your plastic surgeon to use his experience and judgment to choose the breast implant type, size and profile that will best meet your goals.  In my practice, this decision is made prior to surgery using a specially designed set of implant sizers so the patient has a very good idea of how they will look after surgery.  Most of all we want you to like the way you look after surgery and after surgery when you start buying bras you will find what size fits best.

	4.  There are quite a few questions on this site dealing with a description of body size and shape and bra size, requesting assistance with implant size.  Everyone’s body is different and choosing a size implant is ideally based on the size and shape of the breast, and the tissue characteristics of each individual patient, as well as their desired goals.  Many women may not be able to achieve the results they want without using an implant that is simply too large which often results in problems many of which require additional surgery.

	Thank you and best of luck.

Kelly R. Kunkel, MD · Answer

Choosing which breast implants to use may be the hardest decision to make, once a surgeon has been selected. It is important that your surgeon understands your goals. If you are looking for much larger breasts that may have an augmented look, the 500 cc high profile implant may be exactly the right implant. In women with broad hips and shoulders, I often choose moderate profile implants. They are a bit wider for a given volume than the high profile implants. I think the width helps create a little more harmony between the chest and the hips. I personally rarely use 500 cc implants, but that's a decision that a woman can only make with the input of a surgeon who has seen her and has listened to what she is trying to accomplish. If you have questions and concerns, you should absolutely visit with your surgeon again before the day of your surgery. Don't wait until the day of the surgery and change everything at the last minute. Matching the right surgeon and the right breast implants to your physical findings and goals can create absolutely wonderful results!

Todd B. Koch, MD · Answer

Without photos, measurements or an exam it is not possible to provide an accurate recommendations.  The recommendation of your plastic surgeon sounds appropriate.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

After being examined and reviewing a patient's goals, I usually then select animplant volume and shape based upon their anatomy. I will then ask paitents to try it out at home..I suggest the same for you and discuss it with yorur.

Eric Egozi, MD · Answer

This is often difficult to answer via the web as has been mentioned. However, I will give my best answer using generalizations. A 100cc difference is (in general) about 1/2 cup size. Approximately, 150-200 cc is a cup size. At your height it is probably closer to 200cc, so 1/2 that is ~1/2 cup size different. So if you are an "A cup" then 500cc is ABOUT a large C to small D cup. No one can be certain of the cup size until you have the implants placed but this is a good generalization. This is where communication with your surgeon is key to make sure you both have the same "vision" in mind.

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 “D cup” 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 (and the attached link) help.

Jourdan Gottlieb, MD · Answer

It is difficult to make a useful recommendation based on inadequate information, and without photos and some idea of breast size and breast measurements, there is not enough here. 

	I would suggest trying on implants to see how they look on you, and if the 500's look to big to you, then they are too big for you.  If you haven't had another opinion, think about getting one. If you have, what were the other recommendations?

	Best wishes.

I'm 5'7, 150 Pounds with Very Little Breast Tissue. Is 500cc, HP Too Big? My Doctor Suggests This.

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