Start by watching this helpful video produced by our office staff. It’s helpful, fun and will get you thinking in the right direction.
Don’t Get Hung Up On Bra Cup Size. Seriously.
Women tend to think in cup sizes because that is how we buy our bras. The most common comment we hear from women is, “I’d like to be a C-cup”. When we hear that we translate it to mean, “She wants her breasts to look like they fit the rest of her body.”
This is because cup size for patients having breast augmentation is a very subjective measurement. Everyone wears their bras differently and every bra manufacturer makes them differently. You may be a 36C in one bra and a 34D in another. And when you check out all the different styles at your local Victoria’s Secret, you can understand why the best advice is to think proportion and shape, and forget about cup size.
The Fun Part: Trying on Breast Implant Sizers
What you really want to do is try out our collection of silicone breast implant sizers when you come into the office. It’s everyone’s favorite part of the consultation. You’ll get to visualize what the end result will look like with some expert help from “The Sizer Sisters”.
You’ll want to consider your body frame, height, weight, shoulder width, hip width and current breast volume when you’re choosing an implant. As you increase in size you will need to use a larger implant to maintain proportion (with the exception of starting breast volume of course.) So if you are 5′ tall and petite, you will typically need a much smaller implant than if you are 5’9” with broad shoulders and wide hips.
Breast implant sizers are based on the amount of fluid or gel in the implant itself. They’re available as small as 125cc (great for correcting asymmetry) and can go way up from there. Dr. Reath’s patients are generally in the 300cc to 400cc range.
Keep in mind there is no “perfect” size. Rather, there is a range of sizes that will work well.
Breast Implant Sizers: 8 Important Tips to Consider
Wardrobe: Bring in different types of outfits to try on with your sizers. You want to make sure that you are comfortable in your casual dress as well as your cocktail dress.
Personality: Think about your personality (like are you outgoing or shy?) and how you want to be perceived by the public. Then, make sure that you convey this to your surgeon. Breasts that are larger than what would be proportionate may suit your style. On the other hand, you may lean towards looking great in a cocktail dress without attracting unwanted attention at work.
Fitness: Factor in your exercise routine. If you are a runner or serious athlete, you will want to choose implants that won’t interfere with your fitness routine.
You’re In Charge: Although your surgeon should be your guide, they shouldn’t dictate what size you should be. It’s a collaboration. However, there may be a situation when your surgeon doesn’t recommend going with the size you want. If that’s the case, you may want to have further discussions to make sure you understand the reasoning behind this. It’s important for you to be comfortable that your prospective plastic surgeon has spent the proper time with you and is not dismissing your input. If you’re feeling left out of the decision-making process, find another doctor (Board-certified of course!).
You Do You: Don’t pick your implant size based on how it looks on a friend. Even though you and your friend may seem similar in terms of body size, there are other factors that must be considered. It’s natural to think “My girlfriend has 350’s so I should get the same size because they look perfect on her.” But the important words are “…on her.” If you are open to different implant options, it’s more likely that you’ll find the one that is just right for you.
Bring A Friend: You may find that you would enjoy bringing a friend or spouse with you when you try on sizers. Our staff is great at guiding you in this process but sometimes it’s fun to have someone else there who knows you well. Also, there is a large quantity of information discussed during your consultation so it’s nice to have an extra set of ears. (Speaking of ears, it’s best not to bring the kids.)
Know When Enough is Enough: Remember that you are picking the size of your breasts not just for this year but for many years to come. If you choose an implant that is too big, you may have issues with back pain and sagging later on. Ask any of our breast reduction patients and they will tell you that much bigger isn’t always better!
Ask For Another Breast Implant Sizer Session: Finally, if you’re going back and forth between two choices, don’t be afraid to ask to come back and play with the sizers again just to make sure you have it right.
For more on breast implant sizers you should read our award-winning eBook. It’s a must-read if you are thinking about breast augmentation and it’s written by our office staff. Download the 40-page “Girlfriend’s Guide to Breast Augmentation” free!
Some plastic surgeons are using computer imaging programs like VECTRA to determine implant size. You’ll find that taking the time to work with sizers will give you a much better idea of how the implant sizes you are considering will look and feel. You are not an Avatar, which is why we don’t use computer imaging. If you’re curious about computer imaging versus sizers, Dr. Reath wrote a blog about it:
Why Sizers Are Better Than VECTRA For Choosing Your Breast Implant Size
Without a doubt the most important question in the mind of women anticipating breast enlargement is what they will look like with a certain size implant. And, therefore, the choice of implant size is critical to being happy with the final result of your surgery. I mean, let’s face it: that’s what it’s all about. … Read more »
Choosing the best breast implant size is one of the most important decisions when considering breast augmentation. Generally, I think we do a very good job with this in our office. The use of sizers, silicone implants that we put in a bra to help a patient visualize what they will look like at a certain … Read more »
Listen to Podcast Here
Guess who the American Society of Plastic Surgeons interviewed when they produced their podcast on breast augmentation?
Dr. Reath and one of his patients! If you or someone you know is considering breast augmentation, you’ll want to hear the “Today in Plastic Surgery” podcast. Click on the podcast icon to listen.
In this twenty minute podcast:
Dr. Reath discusses various breast augmentation options, what to expect during the consultation with your surgeon, and safety and recovery issues to consider.
A patient of Dr. Reath’s describes her reasons for having the procedure, how she prepared for her consultation, and how long it took to return to her normal daily routine.
The Latest Breast Implants Posts from Dr. Reath's Blog
Important Letter From Dr. Reath
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For the last 35 years, I have enjoyed the practice of plastic surgery in Knoxville, Tennessee. It is my pleasure and privilege to have been entrusted with your care. In order for my practice to move ahead, I am partnering with a group of plastic surgeons in Charlotte, whom I respect and admire. This change … Read more »
My Top 10 Most Important Blog Posts (So Far)
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Back in November of 2009, I started my Facebook page, got my first smartphone, and wrote my first blog post. Since then, we have been honored with over 11,500 facebook fans, and our practice YouTube channel has 276 videos with over 950,000 views. Pretty amazing, right? Now, twelve years later, I have written over 300 blog … Read more »
3 Ways I Have Made My Breast Lifts Better
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As I continue to practice plastic surgery, I look for ways to improve the operations I have been doing for years to achieve better results. One such procedure is the breast lift (mastopexy), most often using breast implants (augmentation mastopexy). Several aspects of how I perform a breast augmentation and lift at my Knoxville, TN, … Read more »
