Choosing Appropriate Breast Implants: What to Consider

Choosing to get breast implants is a big decision in itself. You may already know that you’ll likely feel more attractive and self-confident when you have a fuller bustline. But the decision to get implants is only one part of the process.

Another aspect that you’ll have to consider is what kind of implants you want to get, including your desired shape and size. But even that decision has critical additional factors to weigh. In this blog, the providers at Advanced Plastic Surgery Center explain how to make the decision.

Define your end goals

Many women come in for breast augmentation consultations with relatively unspecific goals. For example, you might say that you want to be a C cup. However, that’s not a very useful measurement because so many bra manufacturers have different measurements for the same size bra. What might be a 36C in one brand might be much bigger or smaller in a different brand.

Instead, consider whether what you want is more volume or to restore fullness to your breasts that may have been lost after pregnancy and nursing. Is your goal to look natural or to have a more attention-getting, busty appearance? Do you want to have what we call high-profile implants that stick out a lot from your body, or do you want them to be less prominent? We’ll go over these issues with you during a consultation to help you discover what you hope to gain from the procedure. 

Consider your body shape

Not all implant sizes and shapes are right for everybody. If you have a small or thin frame, we might recommend a slighter higher-profile implant to complement your overall shape. If you are bigger, we might prefer to go for a greater volume with a lower profile.

When it comes to breast implants, we measure the volume in terms of cubic centimeters or cc’s. An increase of 175 to 200 cc’s roughly equals one cup size. There are many sizes of breast implants available, but the most commonly selected ones are around 325 to 400 cc’s. The implant’s shape also determines whether you’ll have more fullness all the way around or more of a teardrop shape.

You should also consider how far apart your breasts are now, as that is not something that we can significantly change. If you have wide-set breasts, for example, you may not have a lot of cleavage. If you have a broader ribcage, you will need a wider implant for it to look natural. Be upfront about what you’re expecting, and we can let you know how realistic it is for you.

Keep your lifestyle in mind 

Consider your lifestyle as you think about what size breast implants to get. If you are regularly active in the gym, for example, you may not want to go for large implants, as they are more likely to get in your way. Many highly fit women prefer smaller, more natural-looking implants that are more proportionate to their body size. Larger implants can inhibit some of your movements or may feel too heavy.

Consider your professional life: there are some professions where having prominent implants is more acceptable than others. If your workplace requires you to dress in a more conservative, buttoned-down style, you’re less likely to want very large implants showing a lot of cleavage.

How to test for the right size

We have test implants that you can wear at home underneath your bra to give you an idea about whether or not your chosen size will be right for you. Something else that you can try at home is the rice test or water test. For the rice test, take about 300 cc’s (about 1 ¼ cups or 10 ounces) and put it in a sock or ziploc bag. Try putting it inside an unpadded bra and add or subtract rice until you reach the desired size. You can also do the same by putting the same amount of water into a plastic bag.

If you would like to have a consultation to determine the best size of implants for you, we would love to talk to you. Please contact Advanced Plastic Surgery Center at 703-260-6446 or request an appointment online.