Breast Implant Sizing

As a prospective patient seriously entertaining the idea of breast augmentation, there are many things that begin to run through her mind.  First for most women is the assessment and assumption of risk of the surgery, and for most this risk is reasonable given the fact that it is safer than driving in a motor vehicle.  After getting past that, many other smaller nuances begin to enter her mind, all having to do with the aesthetics, or how the breasts will look.  I find as a board certified plastic surgeon that specializes in breast augmentation, that one of the most difficult things for a patient to decide on is her breast implant size (not to be confused with bra size).  Some surgeons simply leave this part of the planning unavailable to the patient and choose for them, because they figure that it is too much information for the patient to handle.  To some extent it true, and patients get way to overwhelmed by trying to decide what implant size is right for them; by leaving the patient out of the equation the surgeon can make a quick and easy decision and be done with it.  However, I believe that if the patient is presented with a clear understanding of what is appropriate and safe, and what isn’t, than the patient can make an informed decision and continue to be partners in the planning process.

PHYSICAL CONSIDERATIONS

In general, an implant cannot be physically too small for a women’s body, therefore this leaves only the patient’s aesthetic considerations for choosing a smaller implant size.  The opposite is not true however. There is a physical limit that should be respected based on the prospective patient’s anatomy when choosing a larger implant.  The surgeon’s assessment of her skin and breast tissue elasticity and thickness, as well as the breast based diameter and height should be assessed and will make a significant impact on the maximum sized implant to be used.  To a lesser extent, the surrounding subcutaneous tissues can influence the size of implant chosen as well.  By measuring all these different parameters, the surgeon can determine the maximum sized implant that can be placed, not only in terms of its volume, but more importantly, its diameter and projection.

AESTHETIC CONSIDERATIONS

As useful as it might seem, there is no standardized chart that the surgeon and patient can browse through that gives the correct implant size for a given bra size.  That is because there is no single correct implant size, shape or projection that will give the same bra size for every woman.   In fact, any given implant could lead to multiple bra sizes in many different women!

I use a four step process to determine what is the right implant size and projection for the patient.  It begins with a clear conversation about the bra size the prospective patient has currently and what size she anticipates having. This conversation also includes a discussion about other friends/family who have the bra size she wants to achieve.  The patient then has an opportunity to view multiple patient photos as well as artistic photos of nude models, choosing photos that are appealing.  She is then given a special sizing

bra and shirt, and multiple different sizing implants are placed in the bra so that she may see how she looks with larger appearing breasts.  Given this information and having had the opportunity to examine the patient, I determine the best possible range of implant sizes and projections for the patient.  Lastly, the patient then has the opportunity for final input and an implant is chosen.

CONCLUSION

There is no foolproof way of precisely determining the most appropriate sized implant for each patient, and I believe that this may be due to the fact that a woman’s perception of herself may change after the surgery.  In general, most women will be surprised to find that they ‘could have gone bigger’.  (I wish I had a dollar for every time I have heard that!)  Fortunately, ninety nine times out of a hundred they are still pleased as punch about their new figure.  Conversely, some women are regretful and feel that they went too big, but this occurs less than once in a hundred times.  The vast majority of women will go through the process happily with the right sized implants for them!  For the best results possible, always choose a board certified plastic surgeon that specializes in breast augmentation.  If you have further questions, don’t hesitate to call Dr. Minniti’s office for a consultation with him and his staff.  You will get the most compassionate and careful evaluation and Dr. Minniti will deliver the best breast augmentation possible.