Is 550cc too big? (Photo)

Dear Ms. Errokaa, Thank you for your story, questions and photos. Breast volume (size) is very personal decision. Nothing substitutes for a personal evaluation and a face to face discussion of your options. Many factors need to be taken into consideration than just your desired breast volume.There are many decisions both you and your Plastic Surgeon need to make.Your final decisions should be based on personal consult with a Bd. Cert. Plastic Surgeon who will examine you and go over that which is best for you.  Unfortunately without a exam of your tissue and measurements I can give you general information that I hope you find helpful.The following are some of the topics you may want to discuss and why. General overview of your choices and discussion points:IMPLANTS 1) normal saline fill vs silicone gel fill2) profile: low profile to high profile (choice based on chest measurements)3) shape: form stable vs roundPLACEMENT OF IMPLANTS1) sub pectoral, dual plane + less chance for internal scarring (capsular contracture) + padding from the muscle therefore less chance of implant palpability (rippling) - varying degree of animation upon pectorals major contraction ( breasts moving) - longer immediate recovery2) supra pectoral + in borderline ptosis (breast sag) can provide alternative need for mastopexy + faster immediate recovery - increase chance of internal scarring (capsular contracture - increase potential for breast implant palpability (rippling)ACCESS INCISION1) periarolar2) inframammary3) axillaryBREAST MOUND1) symmetrical 2) equal size3) breast fold locationNIPPLE/AREOLAR POSTION1) normal 2) high3) low4) symmetrical 5) too largeSKIN QUALITY1) stretch marks2) thin skin3) elasticity SIZINGis a very personal choice1)implants come in "cc" sizes not cup sizes2) 30 cc = 1 ounce3) purchase a full bodied, non padded bra and take a nylon stocking and fill until you reach the desired size you desire....measure the volume using a measuring cup and convert to cc's.4) If implants placed under the muscle I usually recommend adding 10% to measured volume to compensate for the flattening affect of the subpectoral placement COMPANIESI personally choose the company that the breast implant base measurements and match to the patients chest measurements. Sientra only makes Silicone Gel filled implants. Ideal only makes Normal Saline implants (with internal baffles). Allergan and Mentor make both silicone gel and Normal Saline filled implants.1)Allergan2)Mentor3)Sientra4)IdealPlease bring several model photos of your desired breast appearance and a list of questions to your consultative appointment and I trust that your Plastic Surgeon is Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and ideally a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (denoting by membership as having met additional criteria and a focus on Cosmetic Plastic Surgery).Best wishes,Dr. R. A. Hardesty, MD, FACSDiplomate and Certified by the Am. Bd. of Plastic Surgerywwwimagineplasticsurgery.com4646 Brockton AveRiverside, Ca 92506(951) 686-7600

Sizing for BA is certainly tricky.  It's dependent on a number of factors including the size and shape of your chest wall, volume of pre-op breast tissue, skin elasticity, muscle thickness, etc.  Just looking at your pictures, I would guess that a 500cc implant would be pretty big on you -- likely bigger than pregnancy breasts.  I use an augmented reality breast visualization software to pick a post-op size in my office called Illusio.  Ask your PS if they have any imaging tools.  Good luck.

size is a personal choice.  the correct implant shape needs to be based on measurements of your breast and chestChoosing your breast #implantsize , implant
shape and profile

It's important to know what size bra you
currently wear. Is it a 32, 34, 36 bra, and, of course, the cup size. The strap
size is important to know because that affects the diameter of the cup and
subsequently the diameter of the breast implant that we choose. We also need to
know your height, your weight, and it's helpful to know your dress size as
well.

In addition, it would be very helpful if you
include photos of yourself. A front view, a side view, and a three-quarter view
are most helpful. This will let us see if there are any breast asymmetries, if
the breasts are narrow, if the breasts are wide, what your chest wall looks
like, and this will also help us make a decision as to the best size breast
implant for you.

In my experience in general, if a woman wears a
size 36 AB bra and would like to be a C cup, which is the average size that
women wear and the average size bra that is sold, she needs a volume of
approximately 350 to 390 cc to make that change. This becomes less if she's
wearing a 34 bra, because it has a smaller strap size and the cups have a
smaller diameter. A smaller diameter implant would then be a volume of
approximately 300 to 350 cc. In the same way if she was more petite, maybe a
double zero or size one and wore a 32 AB bra, then to become a 32C cup she
would only require about 250 to 300 cc.

This is a general number, and of course there
are other factors that will affect this. For example, if she has a chest wall
issue where the chest is slightly sunken, this is called a pectus deformity,
then she would require a little bit more volume to first bring her chest to a
level position and then move forward to the projection of a C cup. This may
require implants of about 50cc more. It's important to examine the patient and
have complete information to make this decision. breast implant
size1.32 a to 32 c
needs about 250-275 cc

2.34a to 34c
needs about 300-350 cc

3.36a to 36 c
needs about 350-400 cc

4.You will be a
double dd or larger with 400