Whatever you know about breasts and cup size, forget it, say the experts.
“Cup size is almost arbitrary when you’re talking about implants,” says Jacob Haiavy, MD, a board-certified cosmetic surgeon in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. “Sizes aren’t consistent between bra manufacturers—there’s no universal size measurement—so it’s important to educate patients on how to choose the right size for them based on volume and fullness.”
With breast augmentation it’s all about the double Cs: the cubic centimeters that measure the volume of an implant. Your current size—say an A cup—will determine how many CCs you need. The average implant size is about 400 cc, which brings an A cup up about two sizes bigger. If you start with a larger bustline, the same sized implant may look bigger—or not. It’s the other factors, like your body frame and stature that make a C cup look big on one person and smaller on another.
Before your doctor suggests an implant size, he’ll take a full set of measurements: the circumference and width of your breasts, shoulders, hips, and more. “I look at the shoulders, chest, height and weight to dictate what type and size of the implant I’ll put in. It’s what will fit a person’s body. For instance, if the patient’s breast base width is smaller than the size of the implant diameter, I advise going down a size to avoid looking disproportionate. Reversely, with a patient who has a wider base, I’ll recommend going bigger as an option,” says Dr. Haiavy.
Also, keep in mind that height is important. If you’re petite, you want to avoid looking top heavy. If you’re tall, you may even be able to go bigger than you had initially thought.
Whatever size implant you have in mind, the goal is to give you what looks natural. “You don’t want to have a surgical, overly operated look that is a tell-tale sign of implants,” says Dr. Marc Yune, a board-certified cosmetic surgeon based in Atlanta, Ga., and fellow of the American Society of Cosmetic Breast Surgery. “It’s got to look normal for you and your proportions.”
Ultimately, the decision is yours, and it’s important not to let outside influences, whether from a partner (husband/boyfriend), friend or the media, dictate what size you want to be. Your best bet? Look to your doctor for guidance.
