When Trying on Rice Sizers, How Many CCs Should You Add if Going Under the Muscle?

Hello,

Although it is very popular among women contemplating breast augmentation, and it is perpetuated by many surgeons, using a sizer to estimate the implant size desired is an extremely unreliable method.  There are so many factors that will affect how an implant will manifest a change in breast size and shape, and implant placement above or below the muscle is just one of many of these factors. 

In general, sizers over estimate projection and size of what the same sized implant would produce when place either under or over the muscle.  Additionally, sizers don't fill out the periphery of the breast, leaving you with a narrow, overprojected or harsh appearance.

Sizing of a woman for breast implants should be prioritized first for anatomic limitations.  That is to say, your surgeon should perform dimensional analysis to determine what is the optimum implant size and projection.  Only as a secondary consideration should the patient's goal size be used to adjust the final size accordingly.  The surgeon can best determine your goal size by viewing photographs of women's proportions that you have picked.  These should be photos of women in clothing, full body shots; this gives the most meaningful information about how you conceive your ideal appearance to be.

It is not necessary that you determine implant volume at home.  This is the job for the experienced surgeon.  You should know that a vast majority of breast augmentation complications that lead to an early, unexpected surgery are due to inappropriately large implants for the patient's anatomy.  Somehow through the years there has been a reversal of roles regarding choosing implant size, and many women think that they can pick any size that they want, and then expect a perfect outcome.

What a patient should pick carefully is their surgeon, not their implants.  Certification by the ABPS and membership to the ASAPS are important but not the only criteria.  Your surgeon should have a great reputation and be expert in all forms of primary and revision cosmetic breast surgery, not just implants.

Best of luck!

I don't use rice sizes, but the implant always will seem smaller once it is placed, especially when placed under the muscle.  You may consider going up one implant size from 325.  That size is still pretty conservative and will make most women a mid to full C cup.

Sizing of breast implants is dependent on many factors including breast measurements, tissue quality, native breast tissue, patient desires, asymmetries, as well as type of implant.  It is suggested that you are evaluated by and experienced plastic surgeon to determine breast implant options.

can be reliable, unlike what one of the prior posters stated.  But when using any external sizer with an unpadded bra, adding 5-10% to your choice very often produces the results my patients desired when asked about it after their procedure.  The increase in size increases even more if gel implants are used.  Rice may not produce the shape you want but you're only trying to get an idea of what VOLUME will make you happy.  So in your situation, liking 325 in your bra will result in using an implant around 360+ cc's.

I generally will add 5 to 10 percent. If HP I would use a 350 cc implant. Mind you thisis not an exact science!

As to profile, your surgeon would suggest an implant close to 350 cc the width of which most closely matches your breast width. 

All the best. 

 Thank you for the question.  I think that many patients considering breast augmentation surgery have the same concerns and may benefit from the responses provided here.

Unfortunately there is no “standard” amount of volume that should be added when considering conversion of preoperative sizers to sub muscular breast implants. At some point, you will likely need to trust your plastic surgeon who based on  measurements ( dimensional planning),  experience, judgment, and a careful consideration of your goals will be in the best position to recommend or select the best breast implant size/profile to achieve your goals.

Generally speaking, the best online advice I can give to ladies who are considering  breast augmentation surgery ( regarding breast implant size/profile selection) is:





1. Concentrate on choosing your plastic surgeon carefully.  Concentrate on appropriate training, certification, and the ability of the plastic surgeon to achieve the results you're looking for. Ask to see lots of examples of his/her work.






2. Have a full discussion and communication regarding your desired goals  with your plastic surgeon. This communication will be critical in determining  breast implant size/type/profile will most likely help achieve your goals. 
In my practice, the use of photographs of “goal” pictures (and breasts that are too big or too small) is very helpful. I have found that the use of words such as “natural”  or “C or D cup”  etc means different things to different people and therefore prove unhelpful.
 Also, as you know, cup size varies depending on him who makes the bra; therefore, discussing desired cup  size may also be inaccurate.







3.  Once you feel you have communicated your goals clearly,  allow your plastic surgeon to use his/her years of experience/judgment to choose the breast implant size/profile that will best meet your goals.  Again, in my practice, this decision is usually made during surgery.




I hope this (and the attached link) help.

Thanks for this reasonable and common question. It has been my experience in my practice that for the average bra manufacturer approximately 225-250 CCs equates to about one cup size increment . Furthermore sometimes one must allow for an additional 25-50 CCs for the compression and squeezing effect under the muscle. Also there is sometimes considerable cup size variabilty from one bra manufacturer to another. It is always best to consult with your local surgeon and try on different implant sizers in your surgeons office visualizing yourself in the frontal and profile views looking at both your upper and lower body porportions.