I'm 5'7" 195 pounds. I have size 37ddd breast. What size cup will I have after anthem blue cross insurance pays for the surgery?

It is very difficult to determine the best size you will need (recommended based on your photos) or 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 300 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. The same process goes for just filling in the upper part of your breast without becoming much larger. 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 including silicone vs saline implant
 #breastimplant

Cup sizes aren't standardized, and they cannot be guaranteed, since depending on where you shop you will be given various sizes.  More important is measuring the breasts and planning the surgery based on your own architectural breast measurements.  Be sure to discuss with your board certified plastic surgeon exactly what your goals are, and how reliably they can be expected to be achieved.

I never promise a post op cup size.  You and I both know that bra size is extremely variable, depending on where you shop.  During a breast reduction enough tissue must be left to provide blood supply to the nipple and the skin.  Your surgeon should be able to give you an idea of what size you will be using photographs.  That being said, getting a DDD cup down to the C cup range is usually possible.  Good luck, Jane 

Medical insurance companies generally require that a certain amount of breast tissue be removed for a functional or medically necessary breast reduction. Using a standard formula based on your height and weight this would be about 700 grams or 1.5 pounds from each breast. I show my patients breast implants approximating the weight of breast tissue to be removed. Breast size, shape and symmetry cannot be guaranteed after breast reduction. Patients who do not feel comfortable with the proposed amount of breast reduction have the option of paying out of pocket and having less breast tissue removed. 

Cup size can not be predicted accurately after a breast reduction because the reduction volume does not always match up to cup size changes.  You would have to be seen in person to give you a range.

Thank you for your question and this question comes up often when dealing with insurance companies.  There is no firm answer because each company has its own criteria for what they will cover.  You will need to speak with your insurance company to see what they will require and I would speak to your plastic surgeon who will tell you if this is appropriate for you and if it is realistic.  I sounds like you are a candidate and I hope you can qualify for the procedure.

Thank you for reaching out! Unfortunately it is really difficult to say exactly what cup size you will end with after your reduction. The amount of tissue removed can not be exactly determined. I would suggest you bring in a couple of photos of the size of breast you would like to end up with. Also be sure to visit a few experienced board certified plastic surgeons. best of luck! Dr. Kim

Most experienced surgeons, after an examination, could give you a very rough estimate of the range of sizes you MIGHT be after surgery. We do not make cup sizes, we create proportions. But we can pretty much guarantee the increase in comfort and the improvement in your life will be dramatic after your surgery.