Expectations vs Reality for Breast Augmentation - is this accurate?

I do not use Vectra for the very reason you site. The Vectra predicted results may not be accurate and the judgment and experience of your plastic surgeon, in combination with your input which is critical, is what will hopefully result in the outcome you are hoping for. "Cleavage" can mean different things to different people. Your anatomy is such that you breasts are actually fairly close together on your chest, but the volume of breast tissue does not allow for an obvious curvature medially to accentuate your cleavage and this can be accomplished to some extent with Moderate profile implants, and to a greater extent with Moderate plus or even High Profile. For any given breast implant width, the higher the projection, the higher the volume. For example, a 12.2 cm diameter Moderate Classic Mentor implant has a 255 cc volume and 2.9 cm projection. A Moderate Plus 325 cc implant has a 12.3 cm width and 3.8 cm projection. A 400 cc High Profile implant has a 12.2 cm width and a 5.0 cm projection. The word "natural" can also mean different things to different people and it is critical for you to share photos of women's breasts you find to be beautiful and hope to be able to achieve. Trust your plastic surgeon to guide with the implant selection process. Make sure that your surgeon's sense of aesthetics seems to align with your own based on his or her Before and After gallery. Best of luck to you.

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. You are a great candidate for breast augmentation. The Vectra is useful as a guide but it’s not precise in its final result. I think that you will look close to your goal with adequate cleavage. Now, some of that may be limited by your body’s anatomy but nonetheless, I believe you will have an amazing result.

After I measure and discuss goals with my patients, we then look at pictures of women (my patients) with similar measurements with different size and style breast implants. They also get to see what they would look like when the breasts have fully dropped and fluffed and in clothes. You get to see actual results and the surgeon's experience and not a virtual idea of what can be achieved. Women tell me that this process is very helpful in determining what size and style breast implant is right for them. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee. Philadelphia, Pa., USA

Good afternoon,
I think your expectations are quite reasonable, and I would make the final determination of implant size and profile based on measurements I would take of your BWD. Just based on everything you have presented I'm feeling 325-375cc, Mod Plus or High Profile.

Your nipple-areola complex is widely separated and you have very little cleavage. The technique I recommend is a mini lift. Using a circumareola incision, your breast tissue is reshaped, elevated higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage. At the same time, fat transfers or small implants can be placed totally submuscular.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Based on these photos and cup size, I would suggest augmentation in the range of 250-300 ml; that will give you 1,5 to 2 cup sizes up. Considering that you have relatively narrow chest, high profile implant would be my suggestion. Good luck.

I'm not a big fan of Vectra, but I will say it's not too bad of a prediction based on the wide spacing of your breasts.

The Vectra seems to have produced a lot less upper pole fullness that I would expect, however, given a 300cc implant. IN that way, the "wish pic" might be more accurate. Notice that the "wish pic" patient has breasts that face forward and are quite a bit closer together than yours.

Surgeons can "remodel the house" but you cannot change the location of the house on the hill.

Dear Meghan0808,
breast implant type and sizing selection is a complicated process and requires a detailed consultation that includes a discussion of your goals, a detailed examination, and a lengthy discussion. But the decision will always start and end with the patient. When it comes to sizing, we have all of our patients find 3 photos of their desired breast size. We ask for naked breast photos because clothing can obscure the true size (push up bras). Next, we consult with patients and go over the photos and take detailed breast measurements during a physical exam. Next, we using a sizing algorithm to determine a range of implants that will work based on the exam and the measurements.Lastly, during the operation, we use silicone sizers in the operating room to see how the size actually looks in the breast. We sit the patient up in the operating room, while asleep of course, and compare the sizer result with their desired look photos. If it is too small, we start the process over with a slightly larger implant. We don't stop until we get the perfect match.Of all of my breast augmentation patients, every one of them has been happy with their size due to this detailed and meticulous process. You don't want to invest time and money into a result that is either too big or too small.You should discuss your concerns with a board-certified plastic surgeon and make sure that your surgeon understands your goals.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

The base of your breast cannot be moved. Implants will give you more fuller breasts but still be your location and shape. I think you should get good results.

Meghan,
There are some things to consider. Your right breast is lower and faces more laterally. Postoperatively, it may have the same orientation, just rounder and larger.
I feel that the computer results are not accurate. You should have much better results than the computer generated ones and closer to the wish pic.
Best wishes
Dr. Taranow.