Exactly How Large Will a 325 Cc Silicone Implant Make Me from a B Cup? (photo)

Thank you for your question.  I think it is important to make clear that there is no way to accurately predict exactly what cup size you will wear after a breast augmentation procedure.  Implant volume does not correspond to cup size.  Additionally, cup/bra sizes do vary greatly between manufacturers.  My best advice would be to speak with your surgeon in great detail with regards to the cosmetic result that you are looking for.  Some patients bring along some 'goal' pictures to better illustrate the desired cosmetic goal, which you might want to consider.  I believe that sub-muscular implants do much better long term than sub-glandular ones do and that the muscle coverage afforded by the chest muscle will actually afford a patient a much more natural look and feel with less risk for palpable or rippled implants.  I hope you find this helpful and best of luck!

Thank you for your question and for sharing your photo. Size of the implants can be very personal choices that a patient makes. In many cases, patients can go from a A cup to a D cup or larger. In our practice, I begin by asking whether you are looking for more projection or perkiness and whether you mind have some of the breast tissue push outwards on the side. In addition, I ask you to try on different external sizers to give you a sense of what your breast may look like and the feel of extra volume in the breasts. In addition, I take details measurements of the breast including the base diameter of the breast. Your volume range and the breast shape preferences helps me the further guide you in your implant selection and to give you guidance on what the breast might look. I would visit with some board certified plastic surgeons in your area to discuss your options and goals in more detail.

Hello! Thank you for your question. In
general, implant size does not
correlate with bra cup size. The cup size itself will vary from
manufacturer to manufacturer as well as who is doing the actual
measurements. Thus, cup size is never a reliable indicator for your
breast size. I typically encourage my patients not to communicate her
desires in cup size but more on the actual look and appearance. Given
your desires, a breast augmentation, with an implant or fat grafting,
would be an ideal procedure that would meet your expectations. Breast
augmentation is now the most popular procedure performed in plastic
surgery today. One tolerated very well by women with minimal downtime
and high patient satisfaction. Good
communication between you and your surgeon of your expectations is
warranted - choosing your surgeon wisely is the first step. Discussion

of your wishes and having an honest and open dialog of your procedure is
mandatory (e.g, implant type, incision, placement, etc). Your height,
weight, breast width, and body habitus will make a difference for which
implant style/projection to choose. Implant
profile will also make a difference on the projection, which will
influence overall breast/cup size. I have found

that photographs brought by the patient is helpful to get a
visualization of the appearance you wish for in terms of size, shape,
fullness, etc. In addition, your surgeon's pre and postoperative
photographs should demonstrate a realistic goal for you of results.
Sizers are helpful during an in-office consultation. Once this has
been accomplished, allow your surgeon to utilize his/her best medical
judgment during the procedure to finesse the best possible result for
you after preoperative biodimensional planning and fitting the right
implant for your breast width. This is the most important determinant
for the sizing of implants, which will provide the optimal result and
most aesthetically-pleasing result for you.Consult with a
board-certified plastic surgeon well-versed in breast procedures who
will examine and discuss with you the various options and factors to
consider and help you decide which one will be the right one for you.
Hope me that this helps! Best wishes for a wonderful result!

While we cannot predict an exact final cup size, a 325 or 350 cc implant sounds about right.  25cc is a very small difference, therefore, if those are the options, your Plastic Surgeon gave you, I would recommend going with the slightly larger size.  As far as placement goes, I do most of my implants subglandular because the breast do look more natural afterwards.

Your question has many parts to it: First, without adequate examination and measurements, for example your base diameter of your breasts, and amount of breast tissue you have (Bra size is a estimate at best) it is impossible to tell from your picture from afar with clothes on the size difference you will be with a 325 cc implant.  Also realize there are three different profiles to choose from (different projections.  I prefer using your "want to be " photos, together with your existing photos and refer to them while I am doing surgery. I always have on hand a selection of different sized implants to choose from and use a sizer, temporary implants, to try out and see how close I can come to the photos you picked out before selecting the implant. We are now using     a three dimensional photographic system that will give you an idea of what you would look like before hand with different sizes, shapes, saline vs silicone, and  if subglandular submuscular position

Regarding your question about whether the implant should be above or below your muscle depends on the size of your existing breasts, the degree or absence of sagging (ptosis) and the look you are after. In general for non sagging breasts most of my patients prefer the look  and feel of submuscular implants plus there is less chance of rippling. 

 

Larry Nichter, MD, MS, FACS

Pacific Center for Plastic Surgery