I’m 34B and I wish to be a 34D. How many ccs would I need to get to be a full D? (Photo)

Good morning!
In general a cup size is around 200cc, so to go up two cup sizes you should be testing the 400cc range. Also in the office I would measure your chest, we would review photos together, and you would have the opportunity to try on the implant sizers with different tops to determine the exact size and profile to achieve your goals. I would also consider under the muscle rather than over- they last longer, look and feel better, and have a lower complication rate!

Breast IMPLANT size has nothing to do with BRA cup size - which varies with each bra manufacturer. The average implant volume placed in the US is 350cc. A very general estimate is that one cup size is 150 to 200 cc of volume, but realize that no direct correlation exists between the two.
Your board certified plastic surgeon will be able to guide you to the correct size implant measurements and desires measurements of the chest wall and breast imprint width as well as knowledge of all breast implant sizes and profiles should make this process easy. Try on a profile bra with various silicone cc sizers your PS recommends under a tailored blouse, tank top, bikini, workout clothes, and other garments you typically wear so that you have the best idea of whether the garments fit as desired with the implant selected. Select the size that boosts your self-esteem, and fits your anatomy. Choosing an implant based on an aesthetic goal that exceeds your anatomic capacity may lead to complications and possibly revision.

Depending on the individual anatomy and desired results, estimations and measurements should be made for each patient individually after a detailed mutual conversation. The elements that form up the breast shape and size and the overall frame can be different in each person. It will be best to consult a board certified plastic surgeon who is experienced in cosmetic breast surgery in person and discuss your goals and options after a physical examination.

I recommend an in person evaluation by a plastic surgeon to be measured and discuss your goals. After I measure and discuss goals with my patients, we then look at pictures of women (my patients) with similar measurements, if interested, with different size and style breast implants. They also get to see what they would look like when the breasts have fully dropped and fluffed and in clothes. You get to see actual results and the surgeon's experience and not a virtual idea of what can be achieved. Women tell me that this process is very helpful in determining what size and style breast implant is right for them. You should also be aware that results of surgery can change in the future with significant weight change and/or stretching of skin from the milk of pregnancy. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee.

Thank you for your question and photograph.  Breast implant selection is an exciting, but stressful part of the breast augmentation process as there are so many choices and because there is no direct correlation between cc amount and ultimate bra cup. I would recommend seeing ASPS board certified plastic surgeons to ensure that the implants you decide upon are the right ones to meet your expectations, they should be able to allow you to "try on" several implants so that you can have a better visual representation as to what they would look like.  Best wishes!

Dear Puddinlova109,
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

Just based on your photos, a full D will be a large and heavy implant for you. I would suggest meeting with a board certified plastic surgeon, being examined and measured, and trying on a range of sizes that best fits your frame and tissue. Please do not choose an implant that is too large and heavy for you. Long term, it will not look good.

The best cosmetic result in any particular breast augmentation patient depends on a variety of factors, including: Your individual anatomy, realistic expectations, a thorough discussion with the plastic surgeon about the options, and an understanding of the pros and cons of any particular implant choice. Proper sizing is not just about the number of cc’s. The thickness of your tissue, breast dimensions which include the width, height, and projection, as well as chest wall width all need to be considered when choosing an implant. Trying on implant “sizers” of various shapes and volumes while wearing a tight t-shirt, bra, or bathing sit at a preoperative visit will help you and your surgeon choose the optimal implant.

There are no manufacturers' standards for cup sizing in the bra industry. The cups of a 34 D and a 38 D are significantly different. Cup size varies from manufacturer to manufacturer and even within styles from any particular manufacturer. Nor is there a direct correlation between implant shape or size and cup size.



Keep in mind that following the advice from a surgeon on this or any other website who proposes to tell you exactly what to do without examining you, physically feeling the tissue, assessing your desired outcome, taking a full medical history, and discussing the pros and cons of each operative procedure would not be in your best interest. I would suggest you find a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and ideally a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) that you trust and are comfortable with. You should discuss your concerns with that surgeon in person.

Robert Singer, MD FACS

La Jolla, California