5'9" 145lbs - what is the best cc size for me? (Photo)

Hello,Height and weight are almost completely irrelevant to proper implant sizing. Your aesthetic goal is best determined by in office sizing in front of a mirror.  More important than that is determining your anatomic capacity.  Going beyond that in search of an aesthetic goal will vastly increase your risk of complications and reoperation. Go visit a few ABPS certified/ASAPS member surgeons that specialize in cosmetic breast surgery.Best of luck!

Thank you for your question and photos.  Your wish pictures are beautiful, however, those results will not last for very long.  Please be aware that the larger the breast implant, the sooner you will need corrective surgery to put them back where they belong. The forces of gravity unfortunately, do not cease to exist on your chest. So, you either need to choose smaller implants or you will need to wear strong/supportive undergarments 24/7 to minimize skin stretch deformities and irreversible soft tissue damage typically caused by large implants. I strongly suggest you do your homework and research the risks and complications associated with large implants (>400cc). This site is an excellent start. Best wishes and kind regards,

Thank you for your question and for attaching photos. There are numerous factors that go into choosing an implant size. Your surgeon should take measurements of your breasts including the base diameter, which is the width of your breast. Once you have the base diameter, you and your surgeon can choose an implant size that will fit within the base diameter. The quality of your skin also will play a factor in choosing an implant size. You should be able to achieve the look in the picture you have shown, using a high profile or ultra-high profile and not using as large of an implant. Vectra 3D imaging is very helpful for patients when trying to choose between sizes. It will give you a realistic expectation as to what your breast size will be after surgery. 600cc is certainly on the larger size of implants. The long term complication rates are higher with implants above around 450cc. I am not trying to talk you into going smaller, you should realize the complication rates are higher with larger implants. This said, the number one complaint is I wish I went larger. There are pros and cons with different sizes so make sure you discuss those with your surgeon. Good luck.

Implant sizing for augmentation is a big decision for patients.  To be pleased with your ultimate outcome, you must be honest with yourself and your plastic surgeon.  Good communication is key.  600cc implants are a generous volume but it does appear that your desired outcome requires a generous volume.  However, can you get a nice shape, volume, and projection with 500 or even 400cc implants?  Sure.Larger implants can be worn well especially in taller patients with wider chest widths.  More petite patients with this type of volume tend to look very 'false' and out of proportion with the rest of their body.  Going large can also make clothing purchases more difficult.  Do you wear a size 6 in fitted dresses now?  You will need a new wardrobe and possibly alterations with large implants especially if you want a tailored look.  Keep in mind that 600cc silicone implants will add about 2.8 lbs to your breasts which can feel somewhat significant on anyone's frame.  If you are very active in a sport, large implants can create difficulty in finding sports bras to serve you and large breasts can begin to feel like a burden.  Also, over time, larger implants (larger and heavier breasts) may not age as well as a more modest size due to the stretch on the skin and tissues.  I point out these issues to my patients only because I want them to feel good and look good with their implants for many many years and avoid more difficult revision surgeries in the future.  650cc is the largest augmentation implant size that I have used in recent years and I do few in this size range.  700-800cc implants make just about anyone look top heavy and wide (with any profile).  I am hoping that surgeons and patients will continue to recognize the issues inherent in going large with augmentation and we will see a continued trend towards more modest augmentation moving forward (as was originally intended with breast augmentation).Best of luck to you and I am hoping you will be thrilled with your result!

Hello and thank you for your question. You are a great candidate for a breast
augmentation.  The size of the implant is based on your desired
breast size/shape, your chest wall measurements, and soft tissue
quality.  This decision should be based on a detailed discussion
with equal input from both you and your surgeon.  This entire surgery can be performed with a
small incision technique.  Make sure you specifically look
at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery
performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.   The most important aspect is to find a
surgeon you are comfortable with. I recommend that you seek consultation with a
qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

In my practice I use the vectra 3-d imaging system to simulate breast augmentation for each patient in order to see what size fits perfectly for them. I highly recommend you see a board certified plastic surgeon who has this technology so you can pick what size is right for you. 

Thank you for your question. "Tissue based planning" relies on your chest and breast measurements and is the safest way to ensure good long term results. Your surgeon should determine what size and projection are necessary to give you your desired result based on your body's measurements. The best way to assess and give true advice would be an in-person exam. Please see a board-certified plastic surgeon that specializes in aesthetic breast surgery. Hope this helps and good luck with your surgery.

Hi Ready4Change,  600 is above average in size, but you are tall, and your "wish-boobs" photo shows some pretty large implants.  Keep your PS in the loop. Here are a few tips for you because this is perhaps
the hardest decision for a patient to make, as well as the surgeon.  Also see the video attached to my answer.  We spend up to two hours for our BA consults
to be sure there is careful communication. We do a full exam in front of a
full-length mirror taking six exact measurements.    We
put your photos on a large computer screen for imaging, and go over your
“ideal-size” photos. We then save this information to your password protected
“web account.” First and
foremost the implant should fit the dimensions of your breast and tissue cover.
 Balancing the implant to your
over-all body shape and tissue cover is essential.    The main thing is to
have the diameter of the implant fit the diameter of your breast "foot-print".
 Higher profile implants tend to have a smaller diameter.  Higher is really a marketing term, but often
translates into the same volume implant with a narrower base.  Saline implants actually tend to decrease in
diameter as they are inflated!  The average size chosen over our last 7,000 breast implants was
“350cc”.  BUT, 90% of our patients tell us they wish they were
bigger a year after BA.  (We will see you
every year for routine checks at no charge.) It’s like your mind incorporates
the "new you" into your own self-image over a period of time. Cup size estimates can be misleading, but I generally advise patients
that they will experience an increase of approximately one cup size per 200 cc.
 You can try on implants in the office by
placing them into a special bra.  The implant is also flattened somewhat when under
the muscle, so it is a good idea to bump it up a bit. Approximately 1-ounce (25cc) is added to the final volume to account for
flattening of the implant in the partial sub-muscular pocket.  Once you decide on a size you like, then add
on 25cc, because in real life the implant will be flattened slightly by your
tissues.  Multiple measurements need to
be taken to fit an implant to your exact anatomy.  Have your surgeon's
office show you the charts of the implant dimensions for the various profiles
of silicone and saline from the manufacturer.  Then you and your surgeon
can piece together the puzzle by matching your measurements, with your wishes,
versus your tissue cover and the available implants to arrive at
a surgical plan.  Keep in mind
larger implants tend to have more problems over the years.  Since silicone implants wrinkle less than
saline implants, they might be your best bet.You can
also approximate this at home by measuring out an equivalent amount of rice
placed into a cutoff foot of old panty-hose, and put this in your bra.  Wear this around the house for a while, and
see what you think.  Implant size must
square with assessments of tissue cover, breast diameter, and chest wall width.
 Multiple measurements of your chest wall
are taken (seven in total).  Implant size
selection has been an issue of much discussion. Therefore, I use a wide variety of methods, but the implant size is
always established preoperatively.  Also,
patients are advised to bring reference photos demonstrating their ideal size
and shape.  A photo album of patient
pictures is maintained to assist them.  These photos ultimately help in determining
where the implants will be placed, since they can be shifted inside (to provide
more cleavage), to the outside, up or superiorly, and down or inferiorly during
surgery.  In determining the final size
selection, I always place the highest priority on the preoperative measurements
and potential tissue cover.  Finally,
your verbal requests are factored into the analysis.

 We use
the quick-recovery approach, so click on the web reference link below to have
this explained and you can see the list of Quick-Recovery (Flash-Recovery or
Rapid-Recovery) Breast Augmentation articles from peer-reviewed surgery
journals.  It is a surgical procedure that
uses special instruments and techniques to minimize tissue damage and avoid
touching the ribs. It causes far less trauma to surrounding tissue than
traditional approaches, and it dramatically reduces pain and recovery time. In
published studies of BA patients, 95-percent of women interviewed after the
procedure returned to normal daily activities within 24-hours. Quick-recovery
BA is not a “gimmick.”  These specialized
techniques, which actually speed recovery and get you back to your daily
routine, kids and work, are published in our plastic surgery journals.  Because these PS journals are “peer-reviewed”
and edited, they are the gold-standard in our field as being valid science.
Therefore, these are sound techniques, not marketing hype. 
  Be sure
to see only a board certified plastic surgeon (by ABPS - The American Board of
Plastic Surgery) who is a member of ASAPS (The American Society for Aesthetic
Plastic Surgery) and or a member of ASPS (The American Society of Plastic
Surgeons).  Also, ask if the PS has an
established, high volume breast augmentation practice, performing several
hundred breast augmentations each year.  Be sure the PS has been in practice for a
while, about 20-years might be a good gauge. 
Does the PS offer all three incisions? 
Discuss the implant type (gel or saline), shaped "gummy bear"
or non-shaped, smooth or textured, implant pocket (over or under the muscle)
and the "quick-recovery approach." 
Ask to see their before and after photos if you didn’t see any on their
website.  If they are experienced, they should have several 100 breast
implant patients for you to view.  I would also recommend that your doctor
offer you the chance to talk to past patients who would be happy to discuss
their experience with you.  You need to feel comfortable, so make sure the
environment is safe as in an accredited surgery center.  Also, ask a prospective surgeon if he or she
has ever published journal articles in professional peer-reviewed journals,
which they can provide you.  All the best, “Dr. Joe”

 

 

Thank you for your question. There is a lot that goes into picking the right implant that will best fit your body. During your consultation we take several measurements including your base width, these measurements help us give you a range of implants that would best fit the width of the breast. Once we have these measurements then we have you try on different implant sizers to give you an idea of what the implant would look like. I also recommend that you bring a sports bra and a tight fitting T shirt to your consultation to give you an idea of how the implants will look in clothes. I caution you against picking an implant based on how it looks in someone else's photo. Everyone has different characteristics of their breast tissue and different widths of their chest. What works for you does not work for someone else and vice versa. You do not want to pick an implant that is too wide for your chest because then the implant will sit laterally outside of your native breast tissue. The best thing to do is find a board certified plastic surgeon in your area and go in for a consultation. The 600 cc implant may end up working well with your frame, but there may be another size that is better suited for you. Best of luck. 

There is no way to reliably pick which implant is right based upon your measurements alone and implant "CCs." Many things, such as skin quality, breast width, skin elasticity, existing breast tissue, chest wall shape, and implant size and implant fill, contribute to your ultimate "look" after augmentation. 
No physician can predict what each implant will do on your body until they are "sized in surgery." However, cup size is traditionally a very inaccurate measurement scale (you likely wear different cup sizes in different manufacturers now). 
The best way to achieve the look you want after augmentation is the first consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon and adequate communication with your surgeon. This is accomplished through the consult, exam, measurements, anatomic assessment, and then in-office sizing. We also encourage patients to bring in photos of the "look" they are trying to achieve. Once all of this has been accomplished, the patient needs to trust their physician to make the "best choice" of likely imperfect options. Then, you will get your "version" of your ideal outcome.