Breast Augmentation Sizing – How Do I Choose?

Posted on June 18, 2020

By: Dr. Asaf Yalif

When our breast augmentation patients from Atlanta and Alpharetta come in for a consultation, they always have concerns about implant sizing. Inevitably they have seen a bunch of photos online and think a certain size may be right for them, but what if the person they are looking at has a totally different body type? After all, 4’11” and 100 pounds should not get the same implant as 5’9” and 160 pounds, right?

This blog is designed to explain how we help guide you through implant choices and arrive at a choice that will give you the look you want. Now, we have already done several implant-based blogs in the past, but today we are going to focus on all the issues that go into choosing the breast implant size.

Before Your Consultation

Preparing for your breast augmentation consultation is your first step to choosing the right implants for your procedure. Before your consultation:

• Think about how you want your breasts to look
• Write down your questions for your surgeon
• Look through the internet to find photos of breasts that you like
• Bring those photos with you to the consultation

These photos and information about your goals can help us narrow your implant choices down.

Saline vs. Silicone

We have several blogs on this topic so I won’t repeat them here. I’ll just say that silicone tends to feel a bit more “natural,” while saline implants tend to be a bit more perky (at least initially). This is because the saline implant comes deflated and we fill it “on the table” during the surgery. That means we can fill the device anywhere from 90 to 110% full. That will make it much perkier looking.

Silicone implants come pre-filled and are always either 80-some percent full or 90-some percent full. We cannot change the fill—so we have less ability to manipulate the fullness of the upper pole. That’s not to say that we don’t have other ways to manipulate the breast mound, but this is a simple explanation for one of the main differences between saline and silicone. For a more in-depth discussion, see our related blog post.

Base Width vs. Volume (cc)

There are essentially 2 ways to pick an implant—one based on the measurement of the width of your breast, the other on a volume (cc) basis. We try to utilize your base width to help narrow the implant choices so that you can then focus on the way you want your breast to look. What this means is that we measure your breast width and the thickness of the breast tissue that will be covering the implant and decide on what a reasonable width implant will fit your breast.

Think of it like Goldilocks—we don’t want an implant that is too wide—it will sit in your armpit. And we don’t want one that is too narrow and won’t augment the whole breast. We want one that fits the width of you just right.

Breast Implant Projection

Once we know your base width we can then focus on the next choice (after we have chosen saline/silicone). This is to determine which projection you like best.

All the implants come in a low, mid and high projection. That means for your base width, you have at least 3 choices of the device: One that augments a little, one mid, and one high. That also means that you have one option with relatively conservative ccs (low profile), and one with relatively high ccs (high profile). In the office, we have a sizing kit that helps us try the cc volume for each profile and help you come to a volume and projection that works for you.

Your Implants Are Your Choice

Now I am sure you are saying “Doc why don’t you just pick for me.” We do get that a lot. But it is not our job to make the decision for you but rather to help inform you of the options that will give you a reasonable result and then recommend a choice or two that we think best fit you. In the end, though it is your body and you have to decide what kind of look you want for you. After all, we have just met and what I think may be attractive may not be to your taste.

I can still help you achieve your goal though by doing an excellent operation, even if our tastes differ, by helping guide you to an implant that will satisfy your desires and give you the result you want. In the end, that is always what your plastic surgeon should aim for—to make you happy and thrilled with your results!

I still don’t get it…

We know this is difficult to picture, especially in word form and without the devices in front of you. We are always happy to answer your questions online and in person. You can also call of our offices at (404) 476-8774 to schedule an appointment or use our online form to request a consultation. People come to us for breast augmentation from Alpharetta and throughout the greater Atlanta area.

As a triple board-certified plastic surgeon, I make sure to spend significant time with you to help you realize your goals in breast augmentation. With my years of experience and technical expertise, I know that I am more than capable of providing you with a result that exceeds your expectations.