Should I go for 365cc, 385cc, or 415cc? Currently 5'5 105lbs. (photo)

Hi, thank you for your question.You are a great candidate for a breast augmentation using a dual plane approach. Determining the size, shape and characteristics of the implant is tough to do by looking at pictures. This is best done in person with your board certified plastic surgeon. Together, you can come up with the right implants that satisfy your goals without being too big or too small. I hope this helps. Best of luck! 

Hello and thank you for the question and sharing your photos. An in-person consultation is needed to give you a useful advice and I would suggest that you discuss this with your plastic surgeon. Many factors including patient's desired breast size, skin envelope (both quality and quantity) and breast width diameter among others are important in selecting the implant size. Choosing the right implant should be a shared decision between you and your plastic surgeon. In a typical consultation, you try a variety of in-bra sizers and in combination with several other measurements that your surgeon will do, the final implant volume is selected. Use of 'goal pictures' is  also an effective way to communicate your goals with your plastic surgeon. Keep in mind that the difference between those mentioned implants are very minimal. My best advice is that you communicate your goals and aesthetic ideals with your surgeon as clearly as possible and trust your surgeon's skills and abilities to deliver what you are looking for.
Best wishes and good luck,

Pejman Aflaki, M.D.

Johns Hopkins-trained double board-certified plastic surgeon

An ABPS board certified plastic surgeon will be able to guide you to the correct size implant for your measurements and desires.  Measurements of the chest wall and breast imprint width as well as knowledge of all breast implant sizes and profiles should make this process easy. If you want more volume, the implant profile can be shifted from a moderate profile implant to high profile (HP) implant. None of the modalities to approximate final results from breast implants are 100% accurate; they merely facilitate the patient and the board certified PS concurring on the size and type of breast implant which will come the closest to reaching the patient's goal. My patients prefer to try on sizers under garments they typically wear to determine if they fit as expected and help allay some of their trepidation associated with this decision. When you consult again in office with your PS, ask to try on a profile bra with silicone moderate and HP 365cc, 385cc, and 415cc sizers under garments you typically wear so that you have the best idea of whether the garments fit as desired with the implant selected.  You probably will notice little change between the three sizes; you typically do not notice any thing under 50cc increase.   I would recommend that you go with the size that boosts your self-esteem, and fits your anatomy.

Thank you for your pictures and questions. Implant sizing is a personal choice and something your surgeon should be helping guide you through. Almost more important that choosing the implant volume is making sure the implant width matches your anatomy and is not too wide for you. You are very petite and you also have very wide spaced cleavage with eccentric nipple position. This needs to be addressed and discussed prior to surgery as maneuvers to correct this may be fraught with complications and poor outcomes (see another answer I provided earlier today). In my practice, we use a 3-D imaging system (Crisalix) to allow patients to see the different sizes on their individual frame prior to surgery to help them make an educated decision. That being said, keep in mind you are talking about very small changes in volume, 20-30 cc is between 1-2 tablespoons of volume. If your biggest concern is choosing too small, then likely you would be best served by choosing the largest implant as long as it fits your anatomy. Hope this helps!Dallas R. Buchanan, MD, FACSOwner & Board-Certified Plastic SurgeonVIVIFY plastic surgery 

How large you go depends on 2 things, your anatomy and your size desire.You appear to have a narrow breast so you may be limited with the size of implant that you can have placed. I think a 365 or 385 will be good for you. You will be a C cup for sure with those sizes. If you want to be larger than that then a 415 may work for you. In my practice I have patients try on the implants for a rough estimate. That usually helps with the decision making. You also need to trust your surgeon and make sure that the two of you are on the same page for sizing. I hope the has helped.

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.The key to obtaining a natural result is to stay within the parameters defined by your BWD. 
With regards to your specific question, I discourage patients from struggling over such a small volume differential. 45 cc is roughly equivalent to a shot glass and is unlikely to make a significant difference in outcome. If your goal is a natural outcome, conservative sizing is best (especially considering your smaller frame).
As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).
Donovan Rosas MD
Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member: American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons
RealSelf Top 100
RealSelf Hall of Fame

Choosing size for a breast augmentation is one of the more exciting aspects of a  consultation, it’s also a source of great anxiety. There’s no easy clear-cut formula and is very subjective. You have to determine what works best for you.  Try on sizers with a variety of clothing.  When patients are unsure I have them come back and repeat the process.  Take the time necessary to be completely comfortable with your choice.   Good luck  

Thank you for your question and photographs.  Breast implant selection is an exciting, but stressful part of the breast augmentation process as there are so many choices. Unfortunately it is impossible to recommend the best implant style, size or shape without an in-person examination that allows for the measurement of key breast parameters, as well as permits an in-depth discussion as to your desired goals and outcome. It sounds as if it may be wise for you to "try on" several of the implant sizers so that you can have a better visual representation as to what they would look like.  Best wishes

Dear Caring7086,
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

Hello and thank you for your question. You are a great candidate for a breast augmentation.  The size, profile, and shape of the implant is based on your desired breast size/shape, your chest wall measurements, and soft tissue quality.  This decision should be based on a detailed discussion with equal input from both you and your surgeon.  Make sure you specifically look at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.  Best wishes and good luck.


Richard G. Reish, M.D. FACS

Harvard-trained plastic surgeon