How to Determine the Right Breast Implant Size
The decision to undergo breast augmentation or reconstruction is a personal patient decision. Each woman has different reasons for seeking the procedure, such as wanting a larger size, helping the breasts look as they did before pregnancy and breastfeeding, and reconstructing the breasts after a mastectomy.
It is important for patients to understand the difference between a breast augmentation and a breast lift before inquiring about surgery. Augmentation increases the size of the breasts or makes them more symmetrical while a lift is intended to restore perkiness to sagging breasts.
Consultation for Breast Augmentation Surgery
Patients should have a good idea of the breast size they desire before meeting with a plastic surgeon for a personal consultation. During this session, the doctor will most likely determine the patient’s actual anatomy by measuring the following:
- Broadness of the patient’s chest
- Base width of the patient’s breasts
- Distance between breasts
- Skin laxity or looseness, which refers to having enough tissue to cover the implant
- Breast symmetry
These measurements allow the plastic surgeon to select the ideal breast size that the patient would like to achieve with surgery.
Volume is More Helpful Than Bra Size
Many patients have an idea of the bra size they would like to wear in the future, but this isn’t always a helpful goal. This is due to the fact that a cup size A from one bra manufacturer may be a cup size C from another.
The best way to determine the desired volume for breast augmentation surgery is by speaking in terms of cubic centimeters. This can range from 120 to 850. The patient’s body and tissue type should be considered when suggesting the ideal cubic centimeters for surgery. However, the differences are not as large as a patient might assume. A breast size that is 300 cubic centimeters is really only two ounces less than one that is 360 cubic centimeters.
Implants that are too large for the body to handle can cause thinning of the skin, excessive stretching, and pain, all of which can lead to the need to have breast implants removed.
WMHS Plastic Surgery has a breast sizing system that allows the patient to try on various sizes to determine what they like best.
Choosing the Best Breast Implant Profile
After selecting the volume of implant and whether it should contain saline or silicone gel, the next step is to choose the most attractive profile. The plastic surgeon should advise the patient whether a high, moderate, or low profile will look most attractive. High volume means that the implant has more volume contained in a narrower width. Low volume means just the opposite. A woman’s height and chest broadness are major factors to consider in the implant profile decision.
Texture and Shape Are Additional Considerations
The surface of an implant can be either textured or smooth. When breast augmentation first became available, most plastic surgeons used textured implants due to their low risk of causing scar tissue around the site of the implant. Today, many doctors find that smooth implants offer the same benefit. Both offer the same feel of natural breast tissue as well.
Breast implants can be either circular or shaped like a teardrop. Round implants project a size increase on both the lower and upper parts of the breast. While a teardrop-shaped implant is technically more anatomically correct, it must be textured to prevent unwanted rotation after surgery.
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