I'm 5'8 and 140 Lbs, What's my Ideal Breast Size?

             I think the best thing to do is to try sizers in the office to get a sense of how the added volume will affect your appearance.  Find a plastic surgeon who performs hundreds of breast augmentation procedures each year.  Then look at the plastic surgeon's website before and after photo galleries to get a sense of who can deliver the results.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

My first recommendation would be to share this concern with your doctor so together you can choose a size that is right for you.  According to your comment, your doctor recommended you use 380cc when you already have 170cc, at the end you'll have a C cup. I like to have my breast augmentation patients try the implant on in front of the mirror with a tight top on, that way they can get a good idea of the size that is best for them. Best wishes.

There is no ideal breast size.  Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.  I strongly recommend that you try the breast implants on in the office before your surgery so that you can make sure the size is perfect in your eyes!  Good luck.

Breast Implant Size is a combination of subjective and objective criteria.380 cc is a reasonable recommendation. There is not a direct correlation between the cc's of a breast implant and the corresponding cup size, as cup size is an inexact measurement that varies considerably among companies and even within the same company. Online consultants will not be able to guide you as well as surgeons who perform in person consultation.The size of the implants are based on a combination of a patient's goals and objectives and her anatomy. In order to provide a natural looking augmentation, the surgeon needs to evaluate many factors including soft tissue coverage, skin laxity, chest wall width, breast imprint width, the shape of the breasts and relative level of constriction to ensure that the breast implants are appropriate for your body.

Without examining you, I would guess that 380cc would put you in the C cup range.  In order to make an accurate size recommendation, I would need to assess your chest wall and breast mound measurements and characteristics.  Unfortunately, there is not a general rule of thumb or objective criteria to implant selection.

Your plastic surgeon will perform several measurements of your chest wall and breast anatomy and determine a range of implants that both fit your chest wall and reach your desired goals.
The next step is to try on this range of implants in the office with your doctor.   The key to this success is showing your surgeon the body proportion you desire with a bra sizer and allowing your surgeon to guide you to the right implant.   It will be much easier to communicate in implant cc's than cup size when determining the appropriate implant for you.
I wish you a safe recovery and fantastic result.
Dr. Gill

It is very difficult to predict what cup size you will be after your procedure.  Cup sizes are not standardized.  So a D cup in one designer could be a C cup or B cup in another designer.   This is the approach I use to help guide my patients with their implant size selection:

I consider two factors when selecting implants for my patients:

1.Dimensional planning
2.Gel Implant Sizing system

Dimensional planning – The measurements of your chest wall are taken. Also, the breast dimensions including the height, width, and current dimensions of each breast form the basis of dimensional planning. Based on these measurements, the implant size is recommended. This will give you a unique breast implant that is suited for your body frame. However, there are some limitations of what size we can recommend. For instance, some implants may just be too big for a narrow chest wall. Your surgeon can review this with you during the consultation.

Gel Implant Sizing system – During the preliminary breast implant consultation, you will be provided with an option to “try on” a variety of implant shapes and sizes. You can also visualize the possible outcomes of your surgery which helps you to get that perfect size to give you the shape that you longed for. This way your preferences are known and you can then pick a range of implants that will “fit” just right to give a soft natural fuller look.  If you have decided on saline implants, then based on the gel sizer you select, we can guide you to the saline implant that achieves a similar look.
Hope this helps.
Dr. Basu
Houston, TX

This is a very personal decision and must be made by you.  Follow up with your surgeon and try on implants if possible because that really is the best way.  ac

You need to try on different implant sizers to best determine what you like and don't like. Additionally, your PS may offer VECTRA 3D imaging to aide in the sizing process. In my own opinion, which may differ from other surgeons, is that 380cc may be on the small size for you. I only say that (I prefer my patients go smaller than larger) I've done enough of these to tell you I hear more often than not "I wish I was bigger." Again, try on implant sizers and you decide what you like and feel comfortable with. I allow all my patients to choose their size as they have to love them when it's all said and done. 

I believe it is about listening to patients, reviewing guide photographs, and emphasizing proportionality.  I also utilize the vectra system, which helps patients visualize on their body what they have in mind.

It would be nice to have a little more information about your breast dimensions when determining breast implant size.  But at 5'8" and 140 pounds, I would imaging your breast base diameter is in the 12.5 cm range.   In this case an implant in the 339 to 371 cc range should place you into a C cup range.  Spend some time discussing your expectations with your plastic surgeon.  Your job is to show him what you want.  Photographs of your ideal breast shape can be very helpful.