Here’s a familiar scenario: You visit the hair salon for a whole new do. You saw it in a magazine, and you love it. Your hair stylist gets to work, and you can’t wait to see the finished project.
But when your stylist faces you toward the mirror for the big reveal, it’s not quite what you wanted. Maybe it’s a little too long or a little too short or doesn’t compliment your face shape the way you hoped it would.
(Andrea Piacquadio / pexels)
Herein lies the rub: sometimes you have to make a decision before you can actually see the outcome.
A breast augmentation is an important procedure that can give you beautiful, full breasts to round out your figure. It can boost breasts that have become saggy or droopy and even out asymmetrical breasts. You deserve to be thrilled with the outcome of your surgery.
Our breast implant team is 100% committed to helping you make the most informed decision, as if you’re already seeing the final results. We have performed countless breast augmentations for our customers in Louisville and Lexington. We’ll carefully listen to all of your concerns and preferences and lend our expertise to make sure you end up with exactly what you want.
We’ll walk you through all of the factors you’ve considered–and those that may not have occurred to you yet. We’re here to take the guesswork out of your decision so you end up with the perfect chest size after your breast augmentation is complete.
Measuring implants: cup size vs. ccs
Many people have an idea of what they want based on cup size. They may say, “Dr. Gerstle, I’d like to go from an A cup to a C cup.” The problem with this request is that chest measurements and cup sizes are not uniform between brands. A 38C in one brand of bra may translate into a 36D in another.
To keep things uniform, we measure implants in cubic centimeters or ccs. Unfortunately, very few people know exactly how many ccs they want in their future breasts.
To give you an idea, one cup size equals roughly 250 ccs. So if you want to go from an A to a C, you probably want implants in the 500 cc range. While this doesn’t account for variations between bra brands, it’s a starting place, and we can help guide you from there to ensure the perfect chest size for you.
A few questions to consider
Some people come to us with a photo of a perfect chest size–something they’d like for themselves. But just as with our hairstyle example, what looks good on paper may not translate perfectly onto your chest. That’s because there are many other factors to consider. For a breast augmentation that fits perfectly with your body type and way of life, ask yourself these questions.
-
How active is my lifestyle?
Do you enjoy jogging, playing sports, or doing cardio routines at the gym? Even if you like the look of larger breasts, are they going to get in the way as you exercise? Carefully consider your lifestyle and make sure that your breast size will complement your interests and fitness goals.
-
What is my overall build?
A tall, larger-framed woman with broad shoulders and hips is, of course, a better candidate for larger breasts than a short, petite woman. Your breast size should be in proportion to the rest of your body. This is not just an aesthetic concern; it’s a practical one. If you don’t have robust muscle support in your back, the weight of larger breasts can result in ongoing tension and pain in the neck, shoulders, and back.
While your height and weight are important indicators, so is your shoulder and hip width. If you’re tall but have narrower shoulders, you may not want your breasts to be as large. You should also consider the anterior-posterior balance. If you have a fuller behind, you may want to balance it with larger breasts.
Because there are so many factors, balancing out the body’s unique proportions is not an exact science. This is why it’s critical to make this decision with the help of a breast augmentation surgeon. Their artistic eye and many years of experience can help you decide what size of breasts will look best with your frame.
-
What is my breast width and current size?
A breast augmentation doctor can help you measure your current breast width from side to side. Implants that are too big for your breast width could move out sideways or below the breast folds. When the doctor measures your current breast width, they can also make sure that you have enough skin to cover your implants.
Finally, your doctor can examine your current breast tissues. If your skin is thin and you don’t have much fat in your breasts, you may not have enough cover for larger implants and could end up with skin wrinkling.
-
How noticeable do you want your augmentation to be?
Are you comfortable with people noticing a significant change in your breast size? Some people have no qualms with this. However, if this is going to make you feel self-conscious, you might choose a more subtle increase.
-
What are your clothing preferences?
If you prefer tight-fitting tops or snug athletic T-shirts, you may opt for smaller breasts. If you prefer cleavage to fill out evening gowns or plunging necklines, bigger breasts may fit your wardrobe better.
-
Are you at a stable weight?
If you are trying to lose weight, it is best to stabilize before you have an augmentation. The same goes for potentially gaining weight (due to pregnancy, etc.) Otherwise, you might choose a size in proportion to your current weight only to have your chest size look out of balance as your weight fluctuates.
-
How do you see your lifestyle changing in the future?
There is no expiration date for breast implants. A minority of patients need to replace them within 10 years, but many last for 20 years or more. That means you want to project into the future to make sure you are choosing a breast size that will fit your future lifestyle.
Do you plan to get pregnant (which could cause your breasts to grow)? Will you be happy with larger breasts knowing that there could be some drooping of the skin over time? Or would you prefer a smaller size? (Generally, the larger the implants, the greater the risk for sagging.)
Schedule your breast augmentation consultation
Contact us today to schedule your visit. We can guide you through the decision making process and help you decide on other factors, like breast shape and implant materials.
Our Lexington and Louisville breast augmentation team has helped thousands of women feel 100% satisfied with their new chest size. We look forward to doing the same for you.
Infographic
Breast augmentation is a highly personal decision and one that requires careful planning. Ultimately, the size of your breast implants will depend on many factors, including your body type, existing breast tissue, lifestyle, and desired results. When contemplating the size of your breast augmentation, you should keep a few factors in mind. Check out this helpful infographic, as it guides you through all the variables to consider while deciding on implant size.
