What Cup Size Will 400/425cc Make Me If I'm A 34B Now?

It is very difficult to predict what cup size you will be after your procedure.  Cup sizes are not standardized.  So a D cup in one designer could be a C cup or B cup in another designer.   This is the approach I use to help guide my patients with their implant size selection:

I consider two factors when selecting implants for my patients:

1.Dimensional planning
2.Gel Implant Sizing system

Dimensional planning – The measurements of your chest wall are taken. Also, the breast dimensions including the height, width, and current dimensions of each breast form the basis of dimensional planning. Based on these measurements, the implant size is recommended. This will give you a unique breast implant that is suited for your body frame. However, there are some limitations of what size we can recommend. For instance, some implants may just be too big for a narrow chest wall. Your surgeon can review this with you during the consultation.

Gel Implant Sizing system – During the preliminary breast implant consultation, you will be provided with an option to “try on” a variety of implant shapes and sizes. You can also visualize the possible outcomes of your surgery which helps you to get that perfect size to give you the shape that you longed for. This way your preferences are known and you can then pick a range of implants that will “fit” just right to give a soft natural fuller look.  If you have decided on saline implants, then based on the gel sizer you select, we can guide you to the saline implant that achieves a similar look.
Hope this helps.
Dr. Basu
Houston, TX

Thank you for your question. Unfortunately, cup size following breast augmentation surgery is not an exact science as there is no standardization of cup sizes between manufacturers.  Different manufacturers have different cup volumes and as the chest size increases so does the cup size,  which is to say that a 38 B cup is larger than a 34 B cup.  To further complicate matters the final cup size will also be influenced by your rib cage shape, breast width, shape of your breast, laxity of the skin, bulk of the pectoralis muscle, etc. You can see how this can get quite complicated. As a general rule of thumb with a 34 size bra each cup size is around150 cc. So if you are truly a 34 chest ( as measured around your chest just under your arms but above your breasts) you should expect to go up three cup sizes with 400 cc implants. 

So what is the best way to determine breast cup size?

There are many different approaches to this dilemma.  Some surgeons make the decision at the time of surgery by placing different implants into the patient to determine the appropriate size. The only problem with this is that the patient is not actively involved in the process and has to rely on preoperative  photo review of other patients to determine the size. This can be  difficult as no two patients  breasts are exactly the same size and shape.    I prefer  to have my patients actively involved in sizing before surgery.  I have patient obtain a underwire bra of the size they would like to be.  They then come into the office and we try different size implants to determine what will fill the bra appropriately.  When the final size has been determined an additional 30 cc is added to account for the bra itself.  Using this technique I have found that patients satisfaction with the size of implants  has been very significantly improved.