Why do same size implants look bigger on some women than other women?

It is very difficult to determine the exact size and shape implant you will require to best match your ideal breast image without an examination by a board certified plastic surgeon. Not just any board certified plastic surgeon, but one with many years of frequently performing breast augmentation surgery including different approaches, techniques and implant choices. 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 difficult to make this determination. For example, the existing 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 breast, but much less of a difference if you have a wide chest wall and wide breast “foot print”. Therefore, just because your friend may have a great result with let’s say a 350 cc implant to make her go from a “A” cup to a “C” cup size does not mean that you will have the same result with the same size implant. . Further simply placing implants in a bra to determine the size best for you is not always accurate as the bra often distorts the size, is dependent on the pressure the bra places plus the implant is outside your breast and not under it among other variables. Computer software morphing programs that automatically determine the best implant size 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). Using “want to be” photos however are useful if simply provided to the surgeon as I will further explain in the below link.#breastaugmentation#findingtherightsize#BA

Thank you for your intelligent inquiry and congrats on making the decision to undergo a BA surgery!Since every patient is different in terms of anatomy (bone structure, skin laxity, breastfeeding history, age, weight, height, etc) it is only normal that the same size implants with the same placement yield different look in different patients.The best recommendation for you is to schedule an in-person consult with a board certified surgeon who will walk you through the steps of the procedure and what to expect hence being able to formulate a well educated decision on what size and placement to chose.I hope this helped and the best of luck to you.Ali Sajjadian, MD FACS

Thank you for your question.  You are right in saying that implants look different on different patients.  This is due to the differences in patients' anatomies.  To determine what would be best for you, please see a board certified plastic surgeon.All the best,Dr. ResultsMiami, FL

Thanks for your question - this is a very common one asked by my patients as well.  A given breast implant type and size can provide a very different result depending on a person's physical characteristics like their overall body frame, breast size and shape.  Sometimes it is difficult to get a sense of a person's body type based on a photo.  However, looking at before and after photos can be useful when done in consultation with a plastic surgeon who can show you photos of people with similar proportions as you.

The most common reason is all women start out with a different amount of breast tissue. In  addition to this they have different base width diameters as well as narrow v broad shoulders. All of these things will change the size or appearance of size.

Depending on the amount of breast tissue and the chest shape prior to surgery, implants will look different on different people.Take a couple ziplock bags and use rice to fill them with
the amount of volume that will be in your breast implant. You can use regular kitchen measuring cups to
do this. Then take it to the bra store
and try on different bras with the bags stuffed in. This will give you a cheap and easy way to
know what size bra you will fill out after the surgery.

Sheila Nazarian, MD

Beverly Hills

You need to compare apples to apples, so to speak. If you’re starting with a full B cup and your girlfriend started with a mid-A, you won’t end up the same size when you both get 375 cc implants. You’ll be about one cup-size bigger – the extra cup you started with. Also, if you are 32" around, and someone else is 36" around, the same size implant will look bigger on you and smaller on her because your frames are different sizes. For further information on this subject, I'd recommend a plastic surgery Q&A book like "The Scoop On Breasts: A Plastic Surgeon Busts the Myths." 

There are many factors that play into sizing for breast implants. For a woman with more breast volume before surgery, she may not prefer a very large implant. But for another woman with the same amount of breast volume she may prefer to be much larger and go with a larger implant. As well when it comes to augmentations you have to take into consideration the patients height and weight. For a 5'5" woman at about 120lbs she may prefer 300cc's to 400cc's but a 5'7" woman 150lbs may prefer to have an implant ranging from 400cc's-500cc's. Patient preference in outcome,  their height, and even weight are all the things I take into consideration during an augmentation consultation. The patient should look natural and conservative to give the best results. 

The results vary from patient to patient. It depends on how patients natural breasts are starting off, if both breast are symmetrical, and type of body frame (height, weight, and Bra size) patient has.

Thank you for your
question about breast implants.In order to have a good comparison, you need to match for age, height, weight, base width diameter, pre-op cup size and post-op cup size.

To be sure what might be right for you, see two
or more board-certified plastic surgeons in your area for a full and complete
evaluation to make sure you are a good candidate and that it is safe for you to
have surgery.

I hope this helps.