Trouble deciding cc's - any advice?

Dear susangro2570,
breast implant type and sizing selection is a complicated process and requires a detailed consultation that includes a discussion of your goals, a detailed examination, and a lengthy discussion. But the decision will always start and end with the patient. When it comes to sizing, we have all of our patients find 3 photos of their desired breast size. We ask for naked breast photos because clothing can obscure the true size (push up bras). Next, we consult with patients and go over the photos and take detailed breast measurements during a physical exam. Next, we using a sizing algorithm to determine a range of implants that will work based on the exam and the measurements.Lastly, during the operation, we use silicone sizers in the operating room to see how the size actually looks in the breast. We sit the patient up in the operating room, while asleep of course, and compare the sizer result with their desired look photos. If it is too small, we start the process over with a slightly larger implant. We don't stop until we get the perfect match.Of all of my breast augmentation patients, every one of them has been happy with their size due to this detailed and meticulous process. You don't want to invest time and money into a result that is either too big or too small.You should discuss your concerns with a board-certified plastic surgeon and make sure that your surgeon understands your goals.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Have you tried on sizers? These are implants in the sizes suggested that you can fit into your bra to see how you may look after surgery. If you are concerned of looking too big, you can certainly pick one of the smaller sizes since the lift should be sufficient in giving you upper pole fullness. Implants would only be necessary to make your breasts even rounder.

After I measure and discuss goals with my patients, we then look at pictures of women (my patients) with similar measurements with different size implants. They also get to see what they would look like when the breasts have fully dropped and fluffed and in clothes. You get to see actual results and the surgeon's experience and not a virtual idea of what can be achieved. Women tell me that this process is very helpful in determining what is right for them. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee. Philadelphia, Pa., USA

Frankly, if your surgeon isn't using either in-office sizers or 3D simulation software, you should cancel surgery. Having a surgeon guess an implant size, or in your case guess a few sizes and ask you to make the final decision without any idea how those implant sizes would affect your appearance, is unacceptable in 2024. Actually, it was unacceptable in 2014 too. This is risky behavior, and it increases your chance of wrong size surgery that will necessitate an unplanned reoperation.

Using breast width almost always chooses implants that are too small. You could easily get 300 cc’s and not be too large

I have found the best way a patient can evaluate and choose implant size is trying on implants sizers in my office with a camisole top that has a elastic self. If you don't have access to implant sizers you can measure out the cc's you are considering, using rice in a measuring cup, and place it in a plastic baggie then try it on in the camisole. It is a crude method but it will give you an idea how it will look after surgery.

if you are already a D at 110 pounds, I would suggest going with the smallest size or even smaller and placing the implant behind the muscle for better upper breast fullness. Go back and ask to try on 150-200 cc's. Each 150 cc's will increase your cup size by 1. Maybe you should just have a lift?

With 25 years of experience, I can honestly say the following… the bigger the implant, the bigger the problem. That said you want to be proportionate and being a petite size I would recommend that you stay in the 255cc range since you already have larger breasts.

It’s not appropriate for us to tell you what size implants to use.
Implant selection is best done together with your provider.
Each plastic surgeon will have their own way of guiding patients through the implant selection process.
Different providers do this differently. Some do it better there than others,
My personal preference is to work with pictures. I usually have patients review before and after pictures to get a good idea of what the patient is hoping to achieve.
Once I have a good understanding of what the patient’s ideal outcome is I use sizers during surgery to determine what size implant will give the ideal outcome.
I typically have a full selection of implants available to choose from during surgery, and will choose the implants based on what size gave the outcome consistent with the patient ideal appearance.
Sizers are temporary implants used to determine what size implant should be selected.
They are placed in the implant pocket and inflated to determine what size implant will give the desired outcome.
There are three variables that determine the outcome of breast augmentation surgery.
The first is the patient candidacy for the procedure. The second is the choice of implants in regards to size type and shape. The third variable is the surgeons ability to place the implant in the correct anatomic location.
Best,
Mats Hagström MD