Breast Implant Sizes: How To Choose

If you’re considering breast augmentation or breast implant revision, it’s understandable that your main concern will be your new breast size.

Many women feel insecure about their breast size, which is why they choose to use breast implants to accentuate their existing breast tissue. Breast implants can also be used for breast reconstruction in patients who have been treated for breast cancer, or to correct developmental breast asymmetry.

When considering your new breast size, you might be thinking in cup sizes. However, cup sizes aren’t a standard measurement and are instead merely used by clothing companies to define their products (including bras). As such, sizes can differ from one product to the next, depending on the supplier.

Cosmetic surgeons like Sinclair Gore use several implant dimensions to guide breast implant choices and this in turn can predict your final breast size following such an operation. Keep reading to find out more.

How Are Breast Implant Sizes Measured?

Shape

Choosing between anatomically-shaped (teardrop-shaped) and round implants is an important factor in determining future breast shape. Sinclair Gore believes that anatomically shaped implants improve the chances of a natural‑appearing breast over the long term, especially in the upper pole. This choice affects the volume of implants selected, but Sinclair Gore believes that choosing future breast shape is at least as important as any volume considerations.

Width

Sinclair Gore believes implant width is a key factor in breast‑implant selection. He feels it is reasonable to choose an implant no wider than your natural breast base. The width of women’s breasts on their chest wall platform varies, some are broader than others, and this may have an influence on the width of the cleavage between the breasts. Mr. Gore, who constantly seeks the most natural results possible, usually avoids using implants that are significantly wider than your original breast base, as they can appear more unnatural.

Height

The height of a round, or round‑based anatomically-shaped implant equals its width. A natural female breast, however, has a broader base than its height on the chest wall. Therefore, implants whose height matches their width must take this into account. Mr Gore would typically recommend these implant heights for tall patients, those with a long thorax, or for revision breast‑implant surgery where implants have previously been placed. In many primary cases, Mr. Gore is happy to discuss using implants that are shorter in height than they are wide. He believes this maximizes the chance of a natural‑appearing breast base, enhancing the likelihood of a natural‑looking outcome.

Profile

Implant profile, or projection, refers to how far the implant projects forward from the chest wall relative to the implant width. There are two main implant projection types that Sinclair Gore commonly uses:

• Medium Projection: Medium projection implants typically project forward at least 4cm, giving your breast the added projection that you will have trialled in your consultation with Mr Gore. Mr Gore feels these are suitable in slim women who have not had marked breast expansion (such as due to pregnancy) and who seek a natural appearing result.
• High Projection: High projection implants typically project forward at least 5cm, giving your breast the added projection boost compared to medium projection implants. Mr Gore feels these are suitable in fuller figures, or in women who have had marked breast expansion (such as due to pregnancy) in the past. Natural appearing results are very possible but this needs detailed discussion as to your expectations of final breast size and shape.
• Other choices: Other projection choices are available, such as low projection (suitable for very minimal changes) or extra-high projection (the indications for which may include some types of breast implant revision surgery) are available.

Volume

Volume is often the measurement that is focused on the most, as it is the easiest to quantify. However the volume of any breast implant is simply a combination of the factors above: shape, width, height and projection. As such, considering breast implant selection relative to your starting point and your desires is what helps make a sensible decision about implant volume. Sinclair Gore uses biodimensional planning techniques to help you decide what a reasonable implant choice is for you.

Breast Implant Size Calculator

It’s important to remember that, since bra sizes aren’t standardised, and there are several factors that affect breast size, it is impossible to accurately predict the exact size you will achieve.

However, a rough estimate is that each cup size increase requires an additional 175cc in breast implant volume. This is an approximate estimate in the setting of an average size chest; different body shapes and different thorax diameters will affect this of course. With this in mind, please see the below breast implant size estimator for a woman of average body size and shape.

This provides a rough overview of the potential cup size increases you could achieve using common breast implant sizes. To find out more and see how your new breasts could look, book a consultation.

Factors That Affect The Outcome Of Breast Augmentation

As well as the size of your breast implants, several other factors will affect the final size of your breasts following your breast enlargement. These include:

• Recovery: It’s important that patients follow recovery guidelines and make sure they wear a compression bra to ensure optimal recovery following the surgery.
• Existing Breast Size: The current size of your breasts and the amount of breast tissue you already have will impact the results you can achieve with implants.
• Implant Shape: Round breast implants often give a fuller result, while anatomically-shaped (teardrop-shaped) implants can produce a more natural result.
• Skin Elasticity: As you get older, your skin may lose its elasticity, which may mean that the implants may sag and create a different breast shape.

How Sinclair Gore Can Help You Find The Perfect Breast Implant Size

Visualising the size of your breasts following breast augmentation can be challenging, which is why Mr Gore and his team offer sizing support before all breast augmentation surgery.

With breast implant sizers that can be used to emulate the look and feel of your breast implants before your procedure, you can experience life with your new breasts before deciding on the right size for you.

Sinclair Gore has extensive experience carrying out not only breast augmentation, but other breast surgery, including breast lifts and breast reduction procedures across Oxford, Reading and Banbury.

If you’re considering breast augmentation or a combination of breast procedures to give you the look you’ve always wanted, get in touch on +447833 221725 or by emailing admin@sinclairgore.co.uk to create your bespoke treatment plan.