Breast width, can it change?

Question

I am very petite with a BW of 10.5 cm. I am wondering, is this something that stays constant throughout life? I am 26 years old and have always been small, but I am just curious- if I were to get implants that would obviously be on the more smaller side to accommodate this diameter, is there a possibility that my body could change so much so that my BW would increase or is this something that stays constant after reaching a certain age?

Jaime S. Schwartz, MD, FACS · Answer

I appreciate your question.If the size of the breasts changes, breast width can also change.  This could happen with changes in weight and  during pregnancy.  Also, a wider breast base can occur when an implant is used that is larger than the base width.

The best way to assess and give
true advice would be an in-person exam.

Please see a board-certified
plastic surgeon that specializes in aesthetic and restorative breast surgery.Best of luck!

Dr. Schwartz

Austin Hayes, MD · Answer

It's a good question. Breast width can change if the size of the breast changes. This could occur during pregnancy, or with changes in weight that affect the breasts. Also, when an implant is used that is larger than the base width it will create a wider breast base..

Thomas S. Taylor, FACS · Answer

Your breasts, and hence your BW, will expand if an implant wider than your existing breast is placed.  Your tissues will stretch.  Many women with implants have a BW wider than what they had before implants were placed. So, if your question is if you are limited to an implant size that will fit within your existing BW, the answer is no.  A larger implant can easily be placed and your breast tissue and skin will expand to accommodate it.  I hope this helps!Thomas Taylor, MD, FACSPasadena, CA

Nana N. Mizuguchi, MD, FACS · Answer

There is absolutely no question that depending on the size and profile of the implants use, the width of you breasts MAY change.  A wide breast implants will make you breasts wider.Best Wishes,Nana Mizuguchi, MD

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Hi There,Breast augmentation wouldn't necessarily be a procedure that would increase your BW. If you want a Breast augmentation, you should seek results for fuller breasts, not for an increased BW. You should definitely see a PS that specializes in Natural looking results if you're seeking a modest augmentation. I've noted my Breast website for reference below. Wishing you the very best!Dr. Daniel BarrettBeverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Lisa Cassileth, MD, FACS · Answer

I guess I would ask you, why do you want to change your breast width? Are your breasts narrower than your chest? That is really the critical question. If your breasts are in proportion to your chest, then don't change them. If you get an augmentation, respect the width you have by using narrower width (HP or SRX) implants. If your breasts look oddly narrow, you can use a wider implant to fake that they are wider. This can lead to problems with being able to feel the lateral aspect of the implant, so I wouldn't recommend you take it up more than 5mm. If you are some kind of narrow breasted wide chested creature, then you can also throw in some fat graft to really change the shape of the breast and not get into the implant showing on the side. Look, don't treat the number, do what works best for your body.

Sean Kelishadi, MD · Answer

Hi Parisa and thanks for reaching out to us.  I understand your concerns.  The main thing you need to consider is that a breast implant is
a round object and has a certain diameter. Your base width on each side of your
chest will determine "how big of a ball" or what diameter implant you
can reliably go up to with a socially acceptable cosmetic outcome. The implant
will "augment" or increase the size of your breasts to an amount
acceptable to you and your surgeon.  Do not be discouraged by your smaller base width. In reality, you are petite and a smaller implant will project very nicely off of your small frame and give you the appearance of very perky, beautiful breasts. A much larger framed individual would need a much larger implant to get a similar result.As for the future, it is hard to predict what will happen to your base width.  If your weight remains stable, you will most likely not change much. However, if you decide to go on a very long sustained eating spree and gain a lot of weight, your dimensions can change. Or, some women's bodies change after childbirth and you may develop changes then. The thing to remember is that if you are interested in a breast augmentation now, you need to pick implants that fit your frame now as you can't predict what you will look like in the future and you can't fit implants other than what fits your current frame.  Just keep in mind that with any cosmetic surgery, revisions may be needed if your body undergoes major changes; in the case of aesthetic breast surgery, some women need lifts or changes in implant size to alleviate changes that may occur after pregnancy, aging, etc.  Make sure to go to a board certified plastic surgeon with expertise in aesthetic breast surgery.  I hope this helps!Sincerely,Dr. Sean Kelishadi

Richard Chaffoo, MD, FACS, FICS · Answer

Yes, the breast width may change with age dependent upon many factors including weight changes, pregnancy, breast feeding, and the overall aging process. Great questions to address to your surgeon who should be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Good luck.

Arian Mowlavi, MD, FACS (license on probation) · Answer

Breast width can be altered with your implant size which will change the buttocks mound size. With a breast width of 10.5cm you will have to limit your implant choice to implants in the 300size range. A consultation will allow us to identify the ultimate implant choice.

Jon A. Perlman, MD (retired) · Answer

The answer to your question is somewhat complex because each person's anatomy and physiology is different. From my experience breast structure changes dramatically with pregnancy and to a lesser degree with weight gain and weight loss. These factors strongly influence the expandability of a breast during breast augmentation and as a result I prefer to make a final implant selection during the surgery rather than based on breast width dimensions preoperatively. A woman you has had one or more pregnancies will probably need a larger volume implant than a woman who is younger and has never had a pregnancy to cause relaxation of the ligaments and tissues of the breast. I've always felt that placing a narrow diameter implant in a narrow diameter breast simply accentuates that shape and that sometimes a wider implant is beneficial aesthetically in allowing for a larger augmentation and a greater base width. Obviously, like anything else avoiding excess in changing any dimension is advisable.Thank you for your question and best wishes for good results.Jon A. Perlman M.D., FACSDiplomate, American Board of Plastic SurgeryABC-TV Extreme Makeover Plastic SurgeonBeverly Hills, Ca.

Breast width, can it change?

Answers (10)

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