Chest width, breast width and implant size (photo)

Although it’s difficult to determine with pictures alone, there are several issues that would suggest it’s better to go a little wider.

1st - you already are wanting something slightly larger
2nd - you feel your chest is wider than 11cm.
3rd - you’re tall. Width also means height. If the implant is too narrow, it’ll also be too short. You’ll lose out on upper pole volume
4th - if the implants are too narrow, you’ll have a wide cleavage gap
5th - you have a small amount of ptosis (droopiness) at the bottom of the breasts. Your implants are going to tend to sit a little lower because of it. Which means you should tend to a wider base width.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Choosing an implant size/style is an important decision which is best made in concert with your surgeon. Ultimately, options are based on a number of factors including:

-Chest dimensions: This point is crucial as the width of your breasts defines the available "real estate" on which the foundation of your augmentation is built. This "foot print" is the absolute limit with which you are dealing. Too "large" is not so much the risk as too "wide." You cannot build a 3 acre mansion on a half acre plot. An implant which is too wide (exceeding the available space on your chest) will generally over hang laterally making it more noticeable and occasionally contributing to discomfort and nerve symptoms (numbness or tingling). This will also contribute to a more unnatural look.
-Tissue quality: This relates to size in the sense that the implant will be suspended by your tissue. Too large an implant may place took large a stress on these suspending tissues leading to healing problems in the short term and bottoming out in the long term.
-Patient desire (what is the look you are hoping to achieve?)

My role as a surgeon is to manage expectations and guide you towards a prudent choice which can satisfy these reasonable goals. Often times, a surgeon can guide a patient toward a size/cc range and patients will make determinations on implant style/profile. Patient seeking more or less projection, or seeking a more pronounced or subtle upper pole volume increase can be guided toward an implant which will help them best achieve their goals. Additionally, technique variations (sub muscular vs. sub glandular) can also aid in obtaining the look you desire.

There are a number of tools available to help guide patient/surgeon decision making including sizers, 3D imaging and goal photos. Each modality can help better communicate your goals to your surgeon and vice versa.

With regards to your photos, your choices are reasonable. I typically do no marry a patient to a single size at the time of consultation, rather a small range. It is important to consider that small number differentials rarely make a difference. 44 cc is nearly equivalent to a shot glass.

Ultimately, it is important to not marry oneself to a particular "cc" as oppose to a particular "look." Communication is key as you and your surgeon create your custom surgical plan.
As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon.

Dear Chillin359,

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

Hello and thank you for your question. Honestly, a formal in-person evaluation would be needed to determine the best treatment. There are several reasons for this:
1) Bra sizes vary based on the clothing store (for example, Victoria's Secret tends to upsize everyone by a whole cup size)
2) Most women do not wear the proper exact fitting bra size for their bodies
3) The exact volume (in cc) needed to change cup size is different for different body types (e.g. 32A to 32D requires a different implant size than 38A to 38D)
4) Be careful NOT to fall into the trap most women do- they see a certain implant size (e.g. 285 cc) or perhaps their friend had a certain size, and they want or request this or another size based on that. Everyone's body is different- 285 cc implants on your friend might look VERY different than they would on you. Be very careful not to make this mistake, because the goal is to find the right size and shape for YOU- for your particular body and your breasts.

Because of those multiple factors, and because it is KEY to fully evaluate your breasts in person to make a full set of precise measurements to select the proper implant for you (incorporating factors like amount of breast tissue, implant type, base width, projection, etc), answering your question really would need a formal personalized consultation- to say anything before that would simply be guessing, which would be both unfair and unhelpful to you.

Your breasts are such a KEY area of your body and your femininity- therefore, you should ONLY trust an experienced aesthetic plastic surgeon. As such an expert, I have had extensive training and experience with complex aesthetic surgeries under a multiple world-renowned experts in the field. I’d recommend for you to setup a formal consultation with me (or another plastic surgeon who is extremely comfortable with aesthetic plastic surgery procedures) for a formal consultation to thoroughly discuss your surgical goals, undergo a formal examination, evaluate all your options (surgical and nonsurgical), and decide on the best procedure(s) and type of anesthesia for your specific case. I hope this helps!

Dr. Donald Groves
Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon

Thank you for your inquiry! At you consultation appointment, you should have the opportunity to try on different implant sizes. We always recommend taking a couple different shirts to see how you will look in your clothes. We would love to sit down with you to discuss your options and answer any questions. Schedule a consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon to discuss your goals.

Breast implant sizing is a very important process. The working breast width (diameter is critical in selecting an implant with proper width. The skin stretch will determine how much projection is ideal. The skin pinch will then determine implant size/position as well. You need to find a highly experienced American Board of Plastic Surgery Certified Surgeon with extensive aesthetic breast surgery experience. Ideally, one with a 3D simulation software that can show the potential result on your direct breasts/tissues.

Hi,
To appropriately discuss implant size and choice, you really need an in person evaluation by a plastic surgeon with good experience with breast augmentation. Opinions and preferences will vary somewhat from one surgeon to another surgeon. Personally I start with the base width of the patient as the starting point for the footprint of the future implant. Tissue characteristics, and desired postoperative size, and patient anatomy all factor in to the proper selection of implant volume as well as profile. I go over all of that all in detail with my patients at the time of their consultation. A sizer system can also be a helpful tool for communication of size desires for your specific body.

With all of that being said, some people refer to base width as this very specific to the millimeter type of measurement which I personally disagree with and feel like it is a little bit more of a range. But I think it is hugely important in picking out the implant. The most common implants I put in are full profile or extra full profile in the Allergan system, as an example. I also think that Mentor makes great implants. Do not know of anything wrong with Motiva, just do not have much experience with them. But I feel like I have a lot of patients with nice natural results with full and extra full profile implants depending on their anatomy. Point being, especially with you being 6'1", there is no reason you should feel confined to a 265 cc implant. And especially not just for the reason that you feel that you need a certain profile. To me, you and your surgeon need to decide on the volume it takes to give you the fullness that you want. And then that volume in a given base width determines the profile (with some flexiblity depending on surgeon preference, etc). Hope that helps.

I would recommend consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon with good experience in this area. He or she can thoroughly review the options with you so that you can make a good and well-informed mutual decision.

Using breast diameter to choose implants usually ends up selecting an implant that is too small. You could easily get 350 ccs

It is really difficult to answer your question as there is a lot that goes into sizing our patients. We perform measurements, evaluate the skin envelope elasticity, look at photos, look at diagrams and finally use the Allergan sizing system to size the patient in the office. We obviously listen and discuss exactly what the patient wants and doesn’t want so that we can deliver the expected results.

Breast Implant sizing involves more than base diameter measurements. Therefore, BD measurements are important but it is not the end all. Every patient/case needs to be individualized.

Your best path to determine what size would work and how big you can be would be to seek out a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options. Make certain the surgeon you choose has great deal of experience in breast implant surgeries.

Hope that helps.

If you are size 32 or 34, each 100 cc of implant corresponds to 1 cup size change. If you are size 36 or 38, each 200 cc of implant corresponds to 1 cup size change. The difference between 265 and 285 is 20 cc, which is 1/5th of a cup size OR 300 is 2/5th of a cup size. These are not significant differences. In your photographs, you are holding the camera in one hand and results in your breasts looking asymmetrical. If your breasts are asymmetrical then you will need different size implants. If the width of your chest wall is limited then you will need a higher profile if you want higher volume.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.