How to choose the best size and shape of breast implants?

Choosing the size and shape of your implants can be difficult to do on your own. In most cases, your surgeon will offer their own suggestions on what they feel is going to be best for you which will be based on your chest measurements and also your desired result from surgery.

What size breast implant should I choose?

There is no ideal breast implant size and what looks best on one person, can be completley difference for another. Our team of expert breast surgeons are highly experienced in helping patients pick the best implants to suit their desired goals and body shape.

The thought of choosing exactly how you want your breasts to be can be a daunting experience, so we have put together some tips which we hope you will find helpful.

Don’t base your goals on bra size

The biggest confusion that we find patients have in clinic is knowing what size implant is going to give them a certain bra cup size. This is not how we measure patients and we do not use cup sizes as a unit of measurement in clinic. Bra sizes are not accurate and where you may be one size in one store, you can be a different size when shopping in another.

How many CC’s are in a bra cup size?

Breast implants are sized by CC which stands for cubic centimetres. The larger the CC, the more volume and the bigger the breast implant will be. We estimate that anywhere from 130 to 150 CCs will reflect an increase in bra cup size.

We try to discourage patients from being set on being a particular bra size as this cannot be guaranteed so it is best to work with the CC measurement of implants, and try a variety of sizes as well as different profiles too as these will all impact the final result.

6 weeks following your surgery, we will be able to estimate what bra size you may be but you will need to go and be professionally measured to ensure that you are wearing the correct sized bra post-surgery so we also do not recommend buying any new bras until this stage either.

Understand your body

When you attend an appointment with your surgeon, they will take a lot of measurements from you including details of your height, weight, body frame, shoulder width and starting breast volume. All of these will need to be considered when it comes to choosing your implant.

The best ideal size for a small frame is going to be different when compared to the best ideal size for a medium frame. So it may seem like your surgeon has suggested what you would consider to be a very large implant, but in relation to your body – it is likely to give the same result that a smaller sized implant would on someone who is more petite in frame.

Understanding your body and what is going to look in proportion to your body is very important and this will be the basis of your surgeon’s recommendation during your consultation. It is also important to understand that there may be a limit of how small or how large of an implant that your surgeon is willing to use on you – this will come down to what they think is suitable for you and your shape and is less likely to give your any complications or complaints post-surgery.

Know your comfort zone

Many people think that breast implants are only for people who are outgoing and like to draw attention to themselves – this is not the case at all. We see patients from a variety of backgrounds in our clinics all with their own reasons for wanting to enhance the size of their chest.

Our surgeons are very skilled in finding the right sized implants to give you confidence when wearing swimwear on the beach, but not damaging your credibility in a more professional setting such as in the office.

Your surgeon will take the time to listen to what you wish to achieve from breast augmentation surgery at your consultation so taking the time to consider your decision will help you to guarantee you are getting the results you want.

Consider your hobbies

Having breast implants should not stop you from undertaking any type of activity but sharing your hobbies with your surgeon can also help to ensure that your chosen implants are not going to impact your ability to carry out these activities at your current comfort level.

When it comes to fitness and exercise, the placement of your implant may need to be taken into consideration as well as the profile. We have performed numerous breast enlargement procedures on many athletic and active patients who have not experienced any discomfort or difficulty from having implants.

Vicky is a personal trainer and fitness influencer who came to us seeking breast implant surgery. Her hard work training in the gym meant she had lost volume in her chest and she was hoping to enhance her size without it impacting her weight training.

Although the 6 weeks of no exercise post-surgery was a challenge, Vicky is now back in the gym and says that the only thing her implants have changed is her confidence and she was gradually able to return to her level of fitness that she was prior surgery and beyond.  Find out more about Vicky and her breast implant London patient story here.

Research implant styles

Many patients are surprised to find out that there is not just one size of implant so taking the time to research the different shapes and profiles available will help you in preparation for your appointment.

Breast implants typically come in low, moderate, and high profiles. The profile of an implant refers to the amount of projection that the implant will have.

Implants also come in a variety of shapes, the most common being round or teardrop. Teardrop implants take on the shape of the natural breast whereas round implants are just round. Surgeons often have a preference over which type they prefer to use, and, in most cases, smooth, round implants can achieve a very natural result and is the common option for many of our patients.

Do not compare yourself to others

If your friend or family member has had breast enlargement surgery too, then getting advice and information from them is ideal. However, everyone’s body shape is different and what may look great on them – may not necessarily suit your body frame and could leave you looking out of proportion. We do not use a ‘one size fits all’ sizing policy so be open to what your surgeon is suggesting and don’t expect to have the same sized implants as your friend even if their result is what you are hoping to achieve.

Embrace the sizing appointment

Having an in-depth sizing appointment is one of your most worth-while experiences in your breast implant journey. You may have a brief chance to try on some implant sizes at your initial consultation, but don’t be afraid to ask to come back and spend some more time going through your options once you have had the chance to take in the mass of information that you were given at your first consultation.

We recommend bringing along a trusted family member or friend to your sizing appointment and bring a range of outfits to try on too so you can see how your new implants may look in fitness wear to occasion wear.

Certain surgeons at The Private Clinic are also able to offer a 3D Crisalix scan which enables you to visually see how your implants look on screen. It is important to remember however that a 3D scan and implant sizers are only meant to be an estimate of your postoperative size.

Why choose to have a Breast Augmentation at The Private Clinic?

• 24-hour patient helpline to ensure you are always in the best of hands.
• Three years cover for all surgical, hospital and nursing care, in case of any medical issue giving you peace of mind.
• The Private Clinic offers a unique warranty of £1000 towards surgical costs in case of rupture for 10 years from the date of your operation.
• Comprehensive Breast Enlargement Patient Guide.
• Highly experienced Cosmetic Breast Surgeons who have decades of experience.
• Outstanding hospital facilities.
• As many post-operative care and appointments with your surgeon and nursing team as required.
• Our experience and medical expertise makes your journey a reassuring one
• See breast augmentation before and after photos
• Hear from previous breast augmentation patients
• Read our extensive breast enlargement FAQs
• Find out more information in our breast implant blogs
• Watch our breast augmentation patient journey guide

Expert Breast Surgeons at The Private Clinic

• Mr Adrian Richards, MBBS, MSc, FRCS (Plast.) GMC Number: 3286812
• Mr Navid Jallali, BSc MB ChB (Hons) MD FRCS (Plast)   GMC Number: 4404969
• Mr Dario Rochira, BS, MD GMC Number: 6130664
• Mr Davood Fallahdar FRCS (Plast) Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (Plastic) GMC Number: 4686602
• Mr Maisam Fazel MA(Cantab) MB BChir MSEd FRCS  GMC Number: 4767420
• Mr Adel Fattah, FRCS (Plast.) GMC Number: 4764599
• Ms Helena Antoniadou, MBBS, MD & Surg (Hons), FRCS (Plast), GMC Number: 3700956
• Mr Giuseppe Di Taranto, MD, GMC Number: 7614248

To find out more about Breast Enlargement surgery, please call us on 0333 920 2471 or use our breast implants online contact form.
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