What Size Breast Implant Will Look Natural on a Very Slim Woman?

Hello KellyCalli,

It is difficult to say what natural looks like in the eye of the beholder.  Natural to some may look droopy to others.  Another persons' concept of natural could possibly appear fake to still another group of people.  Everyone keys in to certain aspects of the shape of the breast which gives them cues as to it's overall appearance.

For instance, some look at the upper pole of the breast, looking for a soft transition to the chest wall.  Others look to lower pole for a soft curve as it leads to the chest wall, forming a shallow crease. Either a clearly defined (step off) upper pole, or a lack of a crease in the lower pole hints to an unnatural appearance. Other aspects are also important, like overall size of the breast relative to the body, and the width of the breast also contribute to the quality of the breast's appearance.

In general, there are a view important aspects to planning a breast augmentation that will yield the most natural appearance possible.  The implant size may be more important than any other parameter  to achieving either a natural or an obviously augmented look.  Calculation of the right size for you should be performed by your surgeon, who would be looking at your breast width, skin elasticity and stretch, and the thickness of your current breast tissue in the upper and lower poles of your breast.  Another important parameter is the placement of your implant.  Implants placed below the large muscle on your chest, the pectoralis major muscle, will give you the softest upper pole and therefor a natural appearance.  Implant profile is also important.  Flatter and wider implants are more natural than higher profile devices, and saline implants that are properly filled and not overfilled will have a more natural appearance. 

Shaped implants that are given names like 'contoured', 'anatomic', or 'teardropped' will not yield a more natural appearance than their counterpart round implant.  Similarly, silicone gel filled implants are not more natural in appearance, but are more natural in feel.

Have a few consults with surgeons who specialize in breast augmentation and are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  They will probably also be members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery as well.  Find someone you are comfortable with, and you will probably have a great result.

Best of luck!

Based on your frame, I would recommend an implant that is suited to your measurements, somewhere in the 300 cc range.  I would certainly place the implants under the pectoral muscle as this will give a more natural look. I use 3D imaging in my practice which simulates how you will look with different sized implants in place.  This technology makes it easier to visualize which implant looks best on your body. It only takes a few minutes to perform and it really helps take the guesswork out of which implant is the right size for your body.

Consult with a board certified plastic surgeon for a complete exam and a review of your breast implant options.

Best wishes,

Dr.Bruno