How do doctors measure the patients chest wall diameter for breast implants? (photo)

Hello, a breast width of 9cm is a little narrower than my typical measurement but I've seen patients with breast width in this range.  You don't necessarily have to get ultra high profile implants; it depends on the volume of implants you want and whether their base dimension matches your breasts.  Your surgeon can help you pick the best profile.  All the best,

The doctor you saw is measuring the diameter of your breasts in order to determine the width of the implant they can safely accommodate. This can be done with calipers, a ruler and/or a 3 D imaging device such as Vectra 3 D. Patients with a narrow base diameter will use high profile implants to help achieve a desired result. Best to discuss your measurements and goals again with your surgeon.

Hello,Thank you for your question and photo. Each surgeon's measurements may vary slightly but should be reasonably similar. The breast base width is measured using calipers. 9 cm would be very small. There are small moderate and full projection implants which would fit you, not just extra full, but you will see smaller volumes than expected. I recommend that you seek more than one in-person consultation with board certified Plastic Surgeons who specialise in breast augmentation and compare measurements. All the best

Dear Jess, The base diameter of you breasts is measured by you surgeon with an instrument that determines the width of each individual breast. Nine cm's is not unheard of. The volume of the implants should match the diameter of your breasts. An ultra high implants would only be  needed for a larger implant volume. A high profile implant could have the same diameter but the volume would be smaller. A consultation with an experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon should determine the best implant for you.

Thank you for your question.  It is not the diameter of your chest wall that your surgeon is measuring, but the base diameter of each breast.  From your pictures and your measurements/weight/height, it does appear that you have a base diameter approximating 9 cm.  This would restrict you somewhat to high profile implants depending on the volume you are seeking.  High profile implants generally give you greater volume and projection with a lower base diameter.  It is inadvisable to use an implant whose base diameter is significantly larger than the diameter of the breast itself.  

Hi, thanks for sharing your concern and photos with us!
First I want to congratulate you for making this important decision. Deciding to get an aesthetic procedure to change your body and get a new life style is a big step!

Looking at your photos I might say that you´ll be a great candidate to get a breast augmentation with implants. The size of the implant will depend of what you want and what your body support; the results of this procedure are beautiful, giving you and excellent shape of the inner and outer pole of the breast. 

Before all this, of course, you need to get a complete medical evaluation and laboratory exams to check everything is fine. For us your safety, always, is going to be first.

Have a great day!

Dr. JPG

It sounds as if the 9 cm your doctor quoted is in reference to the width of your breast, not your chest wall diameter.  You could measure yourself with a tape measure around the chest wall and the width of each breast too.  In your photo you appear to have a narrow frame and narrow breast.  The width of the breast is used to choose an appropriate width of implant for your breast augmentation.  It doesn't necessarily mean that only an ultra-high implant is possible as the choice of implant also depends on your desire for final shape and cup size.  Discuss this with your surgeon and best wishes!

Plastic surgery is a science but also is an art, plastic surgeons have may ways of doing things, we usually do what it works for us. Math is an exact science, so measuring the width of your breast is something you can do yourself, measuring the circumference of your chest is needed only to determine the size of your bra but is not important for the determination of your implant size.The most important factor in obtaining a good result from your cosmetic surgery is the surgeon you elect to perform it, be sure you choose a board certified plastic surgeon preferably a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Hi jesscoccaro,
I'm sorry, but you just don't look like a 9 cm breast diameter. Measure it yourself from the cleavage side of your breast to outer edge by your arm. That means you are only 3 1/2 inches! You just seem wider by your photos.
A lot goes into deciding whether you should have high profile implants. In small breasts like yours, sometimes a really high profile implant may distort the breast and make it look unnatural.
You appear to be a good candidate for breast augmentation. I recommend that you don't over do it.
Good luck

You must be really tiny, in over thirty years of practice I have seen only one patient with a BWD of 9. Some doctors measure the exact breast width, others measure a width less than the natural breast, artistic surgeons measure the width they want the new breast to be.