7 Things To Know About Choosing the Right Breast Implant Size
Breast augmentation has been a buzzy conversation point here at AW Plastic Surgery! Over the past couple of months, we’ve covered a handful of important topics – from maintaining your existing implants to navigating every step of the procedure, including that initial consultation, recovery, and of course, the surgery itself. This month, experts at AW Plastic Surgery are zeroing in on another crucial aspect of the procedure: implant size.
Size is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when it comes to your breast augmentation procedure. At AW Plastic Surgery, the process typically starts with a sizing session, which involves discussing the right size of breast implants for you. Every patient is different, and choosing the perfect size depends on a variety of factors, including your specific body measurements, and the characteristics of your breast, tissue and chest wall. Here, AW Plastic Surgery experts break down how each of these affects your chosen breast implant size.
1. What Happens During a Sizing Session?
At the initial consultation with your surgeon (which involves discussing your goals, expectations, and any questions you might have), we will do an initial sizing session. During the appointment, you’ll be able to try on a special surgical bra with a variety of different implant shapes and sizes. Notice how the implant changes your body’s silhouette and profile, and take note of how you feel. “We offer t-shirts to try on with the sizing implants as well,” Dr. Wilson says. “People are allowed to take pictures of themselves, and we also offer a mirror for them to assess which size they like best.”
2. How Do You Help Determine the Right Implant Size?
Ultimately, the decision largely hinges on your main goal with breast augmentation – that’s why your surgeon will likely ask you several questions about your needs and wants. AW Plastic Surgery doesn’t go by cup size (as this varies greatly from store to store). Instead, our experts will use the information about your goals as well as your height and stature as a starting-off point. One way AW Plastic Surgery experts ensure you’ve made the right choice? By refraining from telling you the exact sizes you’re trying on until you’ve picked out your favorite. The goal is for you to select an implant based on what it looks like – not because of its CC measurement.
3. What Are Some Important Factors To Consider?
Experimenting with how an implant looks and feels on your body will play a big role in your decision-making process, but there are a few other things to consider: your height, body frame, and proportions. An implant that is too large, for example, might look disproportionate to your body’s silhouette. “Ultimately, we are able to help patients find the perfect size by emphasizing that they get to pick out what they like best – so it is their decision,” Dr. Wilson says. “We do guide people, though, if they want a certain ‘look.’”
4. How Does Lifestyle Play Into This Decision?
Although lifestyle isn’t the primary consideration, it certainly should be a point of conversation with your surgeon. (For example, do you lead a very active lifestyle and are you concerned about your arms rubbing against the implants?) “Implants don’t tend to get in the way of exercise, but if patients are concerned, they can opt to go with a smaller size,” Dr. Wilson says. “Most of our patients who have implants are very active, and we do not hear that they get in the way of exercising.”
5. What Happens if a Patient Is Between Sizes?
Surgery is a big decision! It’s understandable if you’re wavering between sizes – even after trying on various implant sizes and shapes. During your sizing session, your surgeon will likely tell you that the primary reason patients come in for a re-augmentation is to go up in implant size. “If the patient is in between sizes, we recommend they size up,” Dr. Wilson says.
6. What Is the Biggest Misconception Patients Have About Breast Implant Size?
“The biggest misconception that patients have is that they will look ‘unnatural’ with a certain size implant,” Dr. Wilson says. Friends and social media place a large emphasis on the CC size of implants, which might lead you astray. “Patients will compare what they are getting to their friends, which we do not recommend as they may be a completely different size than their friends and it will look completely different on them.” That’s why it’s important to assess your own goals – and most importantly, have the right professionals by your side, guiding you every step of the way!
Considering breast augmentation, revision, or removal of existing implants? Let us guide you through your options at AW Plastic Surgery. Reach out to us here for a consultation, and learn more about breast augmentation and what to expect afterwards. We’re here to help you on your journey to a happier, more confident life!
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