How Many Cc is Needed for 36 to 38C Breasts?

It is no doubt a stressful time.  I see it every day. How much volume to change your cup really depends on the size of your chest and breast base.  Two things to keep in mind: your surgeon can help you decide these questions and you don't have to have the answer right now.  Typically your surgeon will measure the width and height of your breast base and put in as large an expander and they can.  You and your surgeon will watch your breast take shape with each expansion.  When you get to the size you like, you will do 1-2 more expansions so that the final implant will move a bit more naturally.  You can choose as you go along.  Some of my patients really like that flexibility.

It appears that you are opting for implant-based reconstruction of your breasts, for which I wish you the best during your mastectomy and reconstruction...excellent results can be achieved with such.This is a very common question asked during breast reconstruction.  The volume needed to achieve this result will differ amongst each woman.  You must take into account body habitus, height, weight, as well as the projection-type of implant used.  A smaller woman will require much less volume (cc's) than a much larger and taller woman would.  The chest girth in inches (36, 38, etc.) will not change as this is a measure of the chest circumference beneath the breasts.  The cup size (B, C, D, etc.) is measured by the projection from the chest.  Also, this is always variable, as not all bras are made standard and one brand may give a different cup size from another.  Determining this value during your expansion process, if you are having tissue expanders placed initially, may be the easiest way, as you could see the size as it expands and determine for yourself when you are happy with the size in clothing.  Your surgeon would then put in a similar volume upon the exchange of your expanders for the implants.

Your body dimensions and the size you wish to be will assist your surgeon in determining the appropriate implant for you. Cup sizes are not standard and only serve as guidelines to the magnitude of the size change you are looking for. The dimensional approach which measures your breast dimenisons, skin thickness and elasticity are used to determine the right dimensions of an implant. The volume (cc's) is dictated by the dimensions of the device used.

Sandra,
Breast implants come in many shapes and sizes. For a given implant volume, the projection can be normal, moderate or high. It all depends on the shape of the shell and design of the implant. So, you need to look at more than just cc when deciding on an implant.
The considerations you need to include are your breast base diameter, remaining tissue & desired final size. If you have already had the mastectomy, then you may also need an breast expander placed first to help stretch the skin to the desired size. After several months, this can be replaced with the final implant. During the expansion process you can get an idea of what volume you like, since they will be expanding your implant on a weekly or biweekly basis. I hope this is helpful and good luck with your reconstruction.

I have spent alot to time answering this question and it is extremely common but there is no easy answer and it really depends on several factors but primarily your body and the bra design. The size of the implant is the last and most important determinant
YOUR BODY
Your amount of breast tissue, your weight , thickness of subcutaneous tissue, chest circumference, etc
BRA DESIGN
This actually prompted me to research the project and eventually design a product for which I recieved a US patent.
One of the issues is that bra makers/designers tend to deviate from standards. It is kind of similar (reportedly) to fashion designers labeling their clothes with a smaller size than it truly is (a size 4 dress is marked as a size 2 dress) just to make the customer feel better.
The confusion is compounded by the design of the cup. I recently looked at a Victoria Secret's catalog and was surgprised that one bra came in:

Unlined
Lightly lined
Pushup (no Padding)
Padded

Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5



IMPLANT SIZE:
There are many sizing methods including such techniques as the zip lock filled water bags, water filled condoms, rice filled nylons, and silicone sizers.
One device currently available is the B4Bra (b4bra.com) which also uses sizers that are disposable.
Place any of these sizers in a sheer bra and determine what size (in cc) you prefer and relate this to your surgeon.
The difficult problem will be accounting for and compensating for the volume of the removed breast tissue.
In general, it takes about 325-375cc to take the average A cup to a C cup. However, this is only a gross estimate.
Otto Placik MD

I base all of this on the measurements of your body to try to re-create you breast form!  We then can use 3D imaging as well to help evaluate tissue expander reconstruction.  Please find an experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
and member of the Aesthetic Society using the Smart Beauty Guide. These Plastic Surgeons can guide you on all
aspects of facial surgery, breast augmentation and body procedures including
tummy tucks or mommy makeovers!

You will likely have tissue expanders during the time of your mastectomy. Most are based on your breast width. Implants and also chosen in the same manner. Talk to your plastic surgeon about your goals as has been stated. Open communication will be important during this very stressful time in your life.

Choosing Breast Implants for Breast reconstruction is a very patient specific task.. A thorough discussion of the size and shape desired is one consideration, another is the patients chest size, as well as what tissues might be left after the mastectomy.  

Often there is insufficient tissue to place a breast implant immediately and so your options for breast implant size will be greatly dependent upon how much the mastectomy flaps can be expanded ad whether any additional tissue will be brought to the area such as a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap, and whether radiation therapy  will be, or has been performed.  Radiation often leaves the mastectomy flaps  stiff and difficult to expand.

For these reasons I often suggest an autologous tissue breast reconstruction technique.  Thee  procedures include TRAM flap, free TRAM flap, and perforator DIEP flaps which offer the advantage of bringing healthy  tissue to the mastectomy site.

Hello,
Sizing particularly in breast reconstruction is very individual. Review this with your surgeon to get your options explained and help figure your best approach.

It is very normal to be stressed with all you are going through. When I talk to a patient about reconstruction I first try and determine the patients goals as to size. My experience is that most women want to get back to the size they were before the surgery but this is not always the case - some want to be bigger and some smaller. The ultimate choice of implant size is based on the size of the womans rib cage - a bigger chest diameter say 38 or 40 would require a bigger implant to acheive a certain cup size while a smaller chest diameter- say a 32 or 34 - would require a smaller implant. Implants come not only in cc's but also in diferent base diameters which change the projection of the breast implant. This all sounds very confusing but your plastic surgeon should be able to help you understand which implant would be the best choice for you. I sometimes use the weight of the breast that was removed during the mastectomy to give me a guide as to the appropriate size. If the mastectomies were done a while ago I have also found it helpful to have the patient try on a bra in the size they wish to fill and use implants to fill the bra and get a idea of the appropriate size for the desired reconstruction.