Breast Implant Size to Achieve Full D Cup?

SEE VIDEO FOR SIZING TECHNIQUE:
In reality 450 to 500cc does not represent a significant difference and if 500 is too big then so will 450cc. However, if 450cc is too small, then 500cc may be too small.
I would highly recommend that you stick with your sizing preferences. If you liked 400 then 450cc is an appropriate size. Try on a 450 sizer and if that is too big for you (correlates with a 500cc under the muscle implant), then inform your surgeon and he/she will not use this.
There are sizing techniques such as the rice test or zip lock or water filled condom or commericially sizers.

For your given measurements, I think that about 400-450 cc would accomplish your goals. However, with a wider breast diameter of 14cm, you may need to go with a slightly larger, lower (moderate) profile implant.

The larger the implant, the higher the risk of complications.  In order to make an accurate size recommendation, I would need to assess your chest wall and breast mound measurements and characteristics.  Unfortunately, there is not a general rule of thumb or objective criteria to implant selection.

Your plastic surgeon will perform several measurements of your chest wall and breast anatomy and determine a range of implants that both fit your chest wall and reach your desired goals.
The next step is to try on this range of implants in the office with your doctor.   The key to this success is showing your surgeon the body proportion you desire with a bra sizer and allowing your surgeon to guide you to the right implant.   It will be much easier to communicate in implant cc's than cup size when determining the appropriate implant for you.
I wish you a safe recovery and fantastic result.
Dr. Gill

It is very important to communicate your size goals with your surgeon.  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 cup” or "fake looking" means different things to different people and therefore prove unhelpful.
Also, as you know, cup size varies depending on who makes the bra; therefore, discussing desired cup  size may also be inaccurate.
I use  intraoperative sizers and place the patient in the upright position to evaluate breast size. Use of these sizers also allow me to select the press implant profile (low, moderate, moderate plus, high-profile) that would most likely achieve the patient's goals. The patient's goal pictures are hanging on the wall, and allow for direct comparison.
I have found that this system is very helpful in improving the chances of achieving the patient's goals as consistently as possible.
By the way, the most common regret after this operation, is “I wish I was bigger”.
I hope this helps.

I completely agree with my colleagues; bra cup sizing is extremely variable. Your best option is to stick with the size of implant that you liked in the office. Discuss this with your surgeon and remind him or her that you want to be on the larger side. Most surgeons do bring a few sizes into the OR and use what they think will achieve the patient's goals while preserving the integrity of the tissue. Good luck with your new look! /nsn

If you liked the 400 cc implants and they are size appropriate, then do not worry about the specific cup size. All bra companies are different.

Cup sizing is NOTORIOUSLY inaccurate. A C cup in one manufacturer does NOT match a C cup in others. To further complicate matters breasts are nearly always asymmetrical - making getting symmetrical breasts after augmentation nearly impossible (especially when equal volume implants are used).
A "breast diameter 14 cm" means that you current breast tissue could cover an implant of similar or lower diameter to get a more natural result with less visible implant ripples.
http://www.cosmeticsurgeryspecialists.org/breastsurgery/breastaugmentation.html
When looking through various implants charts, several implants could be used:
Mentor Moderate Plus 2000 series Saline implants
350 to 420 CC implant - 350-2350 350+70 cc 12.1 cm 4.5 cm 11.7 cm 5.3 cm
375 to 450cc implant 350-2375 375+75 cc 12.3 cm 4.6 cm 12.0 cm 5.4 cm
400+80 cc implant 12.6 cm 4.7 cm 12.3 cm 5.5 cm
425+85 cc implant 12.9 cm 4.8 cm 12.5 cm 5.6 cm
450+90 cc implant 13.0 cm 4.9 cm 12.8 cm 5.7 cm
475+95 cc implant 13.3 cm 5.0 cm 13.0 cm 5.8 cm
500+100 cc implant 13.6 cm 5.1 cm 13.2 cm 5.9 cm
550+100 cc implant 14.0 cm 5.3 cm 13.7 cm 6.1 cm

With Mentor Silicone Gel (round High Profile) either one of the following would work
350 cc implant 11.7 cm 4.8 cm
375 cc implant 12.0 cm 4.8 cm
450 cc implant 12.8 cm 5.1 cm
500 cc implant 13.2 cm 5.3 cm
550 cc implant 13.6 cm 5.5 cm
Regardless of what you do, your breasts WILL sag. No one wins the argument with gravity. But, the more weight you pack into a breast (by being born that way or by having one of my colleagues add to the breast weight with an implant), the FASTER this sagging will be. So, bigger is NEVER better. Choose your implant after factoring in all considerations.
"I liked the 400 cc sizers. My doctor said he may have to use 500cc and I'm concerned that it will be too large and weigh my breasts down too much" - You ARE RIGHT.
Pick the smallest / lightest implants you could live with. If you think the 400's are fine -- stick with them.
Good luck.

What is a D cup? I don't really know. Nobody does. Sears thinks it's smaller than Target, who thinks it's smaller than Victoria's Secret, who thinks it's smaller than Frederick's of Hollywood. There is NO STANDARDIZATION.
Why don't you find some photos of what you would like to look like. Then, bring them to your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Discuss what you like, and he'll tell you whether he thinks your desires are realistic. Engage him. Numbers and cups don't mean nearly as much as you getting the "look" that you want.

When you say a full D cup, do you mean a D cup from Macy's or a D cup from Victoria's?
Bras will vary by manufacturer, so you can only be disappointed if you say "I want a full D" but end up being a DD in some bras or less than a full D in others. Also a 50 cc difference is only 1.66 ounces. If you add your present breast volume plus the size of your new implants, is 1.66 ounces going to make a difference in how heavy your breasts will be? Think about all those factors. In the end , you should make the decision together with your doctor, but trust your instincts.

Remember first that cup sizes are not exact. A 450 moderate profile implant should fit your base diameter well. A 500 cc is not nearly as much different from a 450 as a 250 is from a 200. In other words, the larger the implant, the less difference you see in 50 cc increments. Either a 450 or a 500 will probably be fine if you liked the 400 sizer.