AA cup (i think) and want to be full C or small D - do I have enough breast tissue for 425 cc? (Photos)

Pioneering681300,
Thanks for your question. This is dependent on the width of your chest wall (one side) and the amount of projection you desire. Biodimensional planning of a breast implant usually means that an extra-high implant will be less than 12 cm (implant maker dependent), and a high implant will be around 12 cm. The wider your chest, the more volume you can accommodate. These are all considerations that your surgeons takes into account to choose the best fit for your body type. Hope that helps.

Question:
Is 425cc a good implant size for my body type?
Answer from Dr. Sean Hill, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon at Lone Star Plastic Surgery – Frisco, TX:
Great question — and one I hear often during consultations. Whether 425cc implants are the right choice for you really depends on your individual anatomy, goals, and lifestyle. The same implant can look very different on two people with different frames.
⸻

Hi, Thank you for your injury. We would love to sit down and talk with you about your concerns. The size of the implant should be tried on and measurements taken to see what would benefit your desired size. Schedule a appointment with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to help you reach your goals.

If this is a range that was recommended by your board certified plastic surgeon, then 425 should be safe for you. Surgeons generally take a variety of measurements, assess your health and discuss your goals before they determine a size range that is safe and can achieve a satisfying outcome.

Dear Pioneering681300,

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, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Pioneering681300,
When deciding what size implant you want, it's important to have an open conversation with your plastic surgeon. You should have an opportunity to use a sizing system or a simulation to "try on" various sizes. There are websites where you can look at other women with your build and see what their results look like with different size implants. Implants have different profiles which affect the projection and appearance. How much skin stretch you have will also play a role in the size that can be placed. Many surgeons will also use intraoperative sizers to "try on" sizes during surgery to pick the size that gives you the best results.
Dr Stein

Might be ok; Choosing the right size and profile breast implants for you. After I measure and discuss goals with my patients, we then look at pictures of women (my patients) with similar measurements with different size and style breast 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 size and style breast implant is right for them. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee. Philadelphia, Pa., USA

Patients often think in terms of cup size when considering augmentation. Unfortunately, devices are sized in terms of milliliters (cc) of volume. This can lead to some confusion when sizing. Additionally, it is important to remember that cup size itself is not standardized with variations from one manufacturer to another. Unfortunately, as many women can attest their cup size in an industry leader such as VS is not necessarily transferable to another brand.
Another point which is often under appreciated is that of anatomy and starting point. Any implant will add volume to the volume which is already present. The implant is additive. A particular volume will not necessarily confer the same cup size to different patients (often times it will not even confer the same cup size to different breasts in the same individual...remember they are "sisters" not "twins").
A general rule of thumb is that 125cc can represent somewhere between 1/2 to a full cup size increase. Smaller volume differentials (25-50cc) are typically less consequential representing a volume change of less than a shot glass. However, I have found these numbers, at least anecdotally, to be of little help. Patients often present with notions/goals which do not correlate with these sorts of sterile volumetric assessments.
When sizing patients, there are a number of useful tools including:
-3D imaging (has the added benefit of offering a volumetric analysis of the pre-operative breast)
-Breast sizers (rice bags)
-Goal photos
I also recommend that patients commit to a particular look rather than a cup size. Once a patient settles on a look that pleases them the overall cup size increase becomes less relevant.
With regards to your specific question, I would recommend respecting your breast width when selecting an implant and consider higher profiles to deliver greater volume in a more limited footprint. I would not worry about small differential (50ml is nearly equivalent to a shot glass) as this is unlikely to make or break a result.
As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).

It ultimately depends on your breast measurements and the profile/base width of implant used. Based on information provided here being that you are 5'8 with what appears to be good quality breast tissue, the range of implants recommended for you will most likely work. Sizers can be placed in surgery as well to make sure the implants will fit, if you are leaning toward the higher range of the sizes.

It’s very natural to have this concern, especially when starting with a smaller cup size. At your height and weight, a 425 cc implant can still look beautifully balanced if the implant dimensions match your chest width and tissue characteristics. The key is not just volume, but proportion, how the implant’s base and projection fit your frame.
If your surgeon offered options between 375 cc and 425 cc, it likely means all sizes are anatomically safe for you. A 425 cc implant placed under the muscle usually provides enough soft-tissue coverage for a smooth, natural look. If you’re unsure, reviewing your sizing photos or 3D simulation can help you visualize the difference before surgery.
Ultimately, implant choice should reflect both your anatomy and your aesthetic goals. Trust that within this range, you’re deciding between good and great, not right or wrong.
Dr. Sibel Atalay, MDBoard-Certified Plastic Surgeon