How Smaller Will Breast Implants Be Once Under the Muscle?

Question

I am having breast augmentation surgery next week. I'm 5'3, 135 pounds, currently a 36B and wanting a full C. I chose silicone implants and 480CC. I'm afraid it'll be too big. Is that too big for a full C? I've had friends that have done it said they wished they went bigger.  How much smaller will it be once the implant is under the muscle?

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

There are reasons to place a breast implant below the muscle and reasons to place it above.  These will be discussed by your plastic surgeon.  480cc is large, particularly with you stature but most women wish they had gone with larger implants when queried a year or so after the operation.  The average implant is around 300cc, though.  480 might put you in the D cup are which is fine if that's what you are after.  Sounds like you might want to discuss size again with your surgeon.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Placing impants submuscularly does not necessarily make the breasts look smaller, it just gives them a more natural look and keeps the implant more supported under the muscle. To determine cup size is very difficult and could depend on the manufacturer of the bra. I woud suggest finding pictures of what you would like to achieve size wise and shape to explain to your plastic surgeon.

	Your board certified plastic surgeon shoud be able to determine which size implants to use to fulfill your goals. Once in the operating room sizers may be used to determine actual sizes needed. You may need different volumes to achieve symmetry as well. For more information regarding size and breast augmentation, please check out my website and compare before and after photos of pateints. Good luck.

Farbod Esmailian, MD · Answer

Very difficult to say what size you will be after surgery and cup size is very different depending on the bra it self.  But having said that you will likely be more than one cup size larger with that size.
What you need to do is talk to your plastic surgeon, do the "rice test" (explanation is found on my website) or try out sizers and see what look you are going for.
Go for a look, given that the implant fits your body and they see what bra size you wind up being, no vice versa.

David Bogue, MD · Answer

480cc implants are very large implants. At your stature, these will be larger than a full "C" and more likely in the "D" cup size. Remember that although the number is consistent among bras (simply the circumference of your chest), the cup size varies considerably between manufacturers. Placing these implants under the muscle doesn't change the size or shape of the breast, but rather provides more tissue between the implants and the skin to hide the edges of the implant.

Michael C. Edwards, MD, FACS · Answer

Every patient is different in how their tissues will respond to a given implant placed above or below the muscle. I have all of my patients size with the actual size/style/type of implants they will have at surgery. I tell them all that they will be a little smaller than what they see but the more breast tissue they have before surgery, the greater the difference in what they will achieve. In other words, if a woman has minimal to no breast tissue to speak of, what they see with an implant in a sports bra is pretty predictive of their results. As your plastic surgeon to allow you to size with 480cc implants and look at yourself in the mirror. I also recommend that you bring someone along with you whose opinion you trust to give their input. Best of luck.
Dr Edwards

How Smaller Will Breast Implants Be Once Under the Muscle?

Answers (10)

Answer: Implant size and muscle position

Answer: Implant size and muscle position

Answer: There is no formula to predict this

Answer: There is no formula to predict this

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

How Smaller Will Breast Implants Be Once Under the Muscle?

Answers (10)

Answer: Implant size and muscle position

Answer: Implant size and muscle position

Answer: There is no formula to predict this

Answer: There is no formula to predict this

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.