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!

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