How big will 450cc make me? I’m getting BA in 4 days and I chose 450cc silicone implants. (Photos)

Hello,
Who cares about a bra size???? Tomorrow the manufacturers of bras could change their system (as they have done over the decades, just like all clothing manufacturers) and your current, pre-surgical bra could be a 105Q. Why do you, and so many other women care about the unimportant, and are blind to what really matters, how you look. You've sized in the mirror, as your photos will attest.  If you like it, then that's the implant that works (assuming that it is within your anatomic capacity, as determined by biodimensional analysis, something that includes more measurements than just your BWD).  Whatever bra you wear will not be known until after surgery, because bra sizes and implant volumes have NO CORRELATION, and anyone giving you some recipe to equate cc's for cup size is giving misinformation. Best of luck!

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.

I appreciate your question and thank you for sharing your photos. The best candidates for a breast augmentation with implants are women who want a significant increase in volume, usually a cup size or greater, so it sounds like you are on the right track. Unfortunately without an in-person exam, I wouldn't be able to give you an accurate assessment of how large your breast augmentation would be with 450cc implants. But here is an idea of how I achieve accurate sizing for my patients. In my practice, I have a system for taking exact measurements of my patient's chest wall during the initial consultation. Proper sizing for your implants is important to creating the most realistic looking breasts possible. We use a precise measurement system with 3D imaging to determine your perfect size, without going too small or too large, so that your breast augmentation will fit your body’s proportions and complement your figure. The result is breasts that you could have been born with.Once we have determined the size of the chest wall, we can choose the profile based on what you want or need to achieve. If you are seeking a natural look, then the diameter of the implant should be equal to or, more ideally, smaller than the width of your breast. The breast width is a measurement of how wide your breast is at the base, which should be measured at the level of the nipple. Choosing an implant that is smaller in diameter than your breast width will avoid the "side breast" fullness that is often associated with a more artificial appearance. Other than that, you should choose the implant based on volume, not on the dimensions of the implant. Bringing photos to show your board certified surgeon can help to finalize your decision, but please understand that these are of other people’s bodies and your results will probably be different.
Breast implants may be placed in several ways depending on your individual body type and needs. Placement options include sub-glandular (beneath the glandular tissue, but above the pectoral muscle), or sub-pectoral placement (beneath both the muscle and the glandular tissue). If you were my patient, the advantages of each type of implant placement would be fully discussed with you during your initial consultation, and the proper treatment plan will be determined.

Once again, the best way to assess your situation and give true advice about the sizing of your implants would be an in-person exam. Please see a board-certified plastic surgeon that specializes in aesthetic and restorative breast surgery.
best of luck!

Dr Schwartz

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon 

#RealSelf100Surgeon

#RealSelfCORESurgeon