How many ccs will I lose under muscle? (Photo)

Thank you for the question. In my opinion, it is not possible to accurately determine how many CCs the you would “lose” when undergoing sub muscular breast augmentation surgery. I would suggest that you do not make your decisions based on statement such as: “you will lose 50 cc of volume when breast implants are placed under the muscle”. These statements are simply not reliable enough to utilize clinically. Generally speaking, the best online advice I can give to ladies who are considering breast augmentation surgery (regarding breast implant size/profile selection) is:1. Concentrate on choosing your plastic surgeon carefully. Concentrate on appropriate training, certification, and the ability of the plastic surgeon to achieve the results you are looking for. Ask to see lots of examples of his/her work. Sometimes, it is necessary to seek several consultations before you feel comfortable about your choice.2. Have a full discussion and communication regarding your desired goals with your plastic surgeon. This communication will be critical in determining breast implant size/type/profile will most likely help achieve your goals. In my practice, the use of photographs of “goal” pictures (and breasts that are too big or too small) is very helpful. I have found that the use of words such as “natural” or "C or D cup” etc means different things to different people and therefore prove unhelpful. Also, as you know, cup size varies depending on him who makes the bra; therefore, discussing desired cup size may also be inaccurate. Again, best not to discuss your goals and/or judge the outcome of the procedure performed based on achieving a specific cup size. The use of computer imaging may be very helpful during the communication process. The use of in bra sizers may also be helpful. In other words, use as many “visual aids” as possible during the communication process. I encourage patients to meet with me as my times as necessary, to feel comfortable that we are both on the “same page”. 3. Once you feel you have communicated your goals clearly, allow your plastic surgeon to use his/her years of experience/judgment to choose the breast implant size/profile that will best meet your goals. Again, in my practice, this decision is usually made during surgery. I generally select appropriate breast implant size/profile after the use of temporary intraoperative sizers and viewing the patient's chest in the upright and supine positions.I hope this (and the attached link, dedicated to breast augmentation surgery concerns) helps. Best wishes.

The standard approach to breast augmentation with decades of experience (mine and others) is that implants do better both short term and long term when they are under the pectoralis muscle (which doesn't cover the implant in the lower pole or lateral side). The decision for placement of the implant should be based on experience, not the size of the implant. It is true that the same implant placed above the muscle will LOOK bigger than the same implant placed behind the pectoralis muscle, but implants look better and do better with the added padding and protection of the muscle and the size effects of various implants placed behind the muscle are quite well known. Implants are sized by fitting them to the width of your breast and choosing a forward volume (profile) for the size increase effect, not by choosing a number of cc's and working backwards. Unless your breasts are unusually wide or narrow for your chest, an implant that fits the internal width of your breasts (smooth surface, round, under the pec) will make your breasts look 1-2 cup sizes larger than they started out depending on your choice of lowest to highest profile (forward volume). The number of cc's is found by looking up the proper width/diameter of implant in the profile you choose for the effect. Although not exact, it is a far better way to determine that the implant will fit and what effect it will have than the 3D imaging or using external sizers.