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

It is very difficult to determine the exact size and shape you will require in order to get natural-looking implants without an examination by a board certified plastic surgeon.  In general however for a slender woman submuscular silicone implants are preferred. The size and shape are more difficult to determine. This is because several measurements not to mention your breast characteristics are needed to determine the optimal implant size to obtain your goals. Without knowing these dimensions it would be tough to answer your question. For example your native base width of your breast will determine in many cases the maximal volume per implant profile that you can accommodate. To illustrate a 100 cc difference may make a significant difference with a narrow base width, but much less of a difference if you have a wide chest wall and wide breast “foot print”. Additional critical decisions will also be made by your plastic surgeon such as: whether your implants will be above or below your pectoralis muscle. These choices are recommended to you based on the look you desire, the amount of sagging you may have, and other deciding factors. I always find it helpful for patients to bring in photos from my or other plastic surgeons’ websites to illustrate what they would like to look like. I bring these photos to the operating room for reference during surgery so that I have the advantage of “seeing through my patient’s eyes” to achieve their wishes.I personally order more than one set of implant sizes and use sterile sizers placed in the pocket during surgery to know in advance exactly which implant would work best for you. Software morphing programs can be helpful in some but not all cases (e.g. doesn't work well in my experience with existing implants, sagging or asymmetric breasts).My advice is to accept advice from your board certified plastic surgeon after a formal consultation and examination with measurements.. If still confused don't hesitate to get a second opinion.

Hello!  Thank you for your question!  Given your description and wishes, a small implant may be the right one for you. The most important determination for the correct implant size is the width of of your breast. Choosing one that fits your breast perfectly would be the ideal one for you. Although there are a few smaller sized implants available, an evaluation and examination by a plastic surgeon of your breast characteristics, breast width, and skin/soft tissue laxity are very important in picking the right implant to meet your desires.  Consideration for the gummy bear implant is also a thought. Photographs of what you envision for yourself may be helpful during your consultation. Consult with a surgeon who will discuss the various options, implants, incision location, implant placement, etc. Good luck and best wishes for a terrific result!

There is no way to guarantee a particular bra size. Bra sizing varies greatly between bra manufacturers and a C in one bra will be a D in another. What matters more than the assigned bra size is the way the implant looks on you. The best option for your body and aesthetic goals can be determined in a thorough implant sizing session.Implant sizing depends on several factors. One of the most important factors is your breast width. Generally, your surgeon will measure your breast width, and then provide you with a range of implant sizes appropriate for your native breast size. There are more nuances to it than just what I've described, but this approach works for most women.I usually have my patients bring in a large bra and a tight t-shirt to do sizing. I'll then choose 3-4 implants that I feel are appropriate, and have my patients place them in the bra under the tight t-shirt. My patients can then look in the mirror and get a good sense of what they will look like with the provided implant sizes. My patients like this approach and get a great idea of how they will look.By using this technique, your surgeon can outline a range of appropriate implant sizes that will be aesthetically pleasing, and you make the final decision.I hope this helps. Good luck!Sincerely,

Kelly, my practice is based in New York so patients choose to be a bit more conservative than those in California. It is hard to use the word "natural" in relation to choosing an implant. The appearance of your breasts at this time is "natural." I do agree with my colleagues above that the smaller the implant the more it would be suited to your frame.

The most important question for women who are considering breast augmentation in Los Angeles is- What size breast impant should I choose. It is important to choose a correct size breast implant that fits your body and make you look porportionate. Some Beverly Hills plastic surgeons recommend measuring the chest, or trying out different size bags of rice in their bras. Personally, I feel that it is most useful to have my patients actually try on different size breast implants in our office. It is suprising to see that sometime a large breast implant looks very natural on a petite body. Therefore, just like cloths, before you buy it try them on; because unlike cloths you can't return your breast implants once you buy them!

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

A natural looking result from breast implant surgery requires more than just the right size (not too large) implant. The placement of the implant, the position on the chest wall, the projection of the implant and the base diameter all are part of the plan.Look for plastic surgeons that have demonstrated excellence in providing natural looking results by looking at their before and after images. When you find a plastic surgeon with consistently great results, check their training, philosophy and membership with ASPS and ASAPS. Many women also wish you speak to prior surgery patients. 

Hello Kelly,

The smaller the implant the more likely you will have a natural look.  But be careful when you ask for natural look since this is very subjective; what might be natural to others might not be natural to you.  The best way to make sure you will get a natural look is to look at the surgeon's before/after photos and you decide if the work is natural and then find someone who looks like you and see if the same size implant will work for you.  

A medium size breast implant always looks best. If you go too large on a small or thin frame, it will be obvious that you have implants.

I have the patient bring in a bra of the cup size she wishes to be about two weeks before the surgery, and we try on implants - bigger and bigger - until she sees what she like. We then talk about the shape of the breast and chest if that size were used.

So, I can't give you an exact size, but you probably want to stay short of 300 cc to stay natural.